Valley Stars Ford, Toney Among Auburn Class

New Hope RB Johnathan Ford signs his letter of intent.

New Hope running back Johnathan "Rudy" Ford and Huntsville linebacker Cameron Toney inked their pledges to Auburn University on National Signing Day.

For Ford, it was a signing day decision.  The 4-star back was committed to Vanderbilt until January, when several schools picked up their recruitment.  Ford ended up with late offers from Auburn, Florida State, Georgia, and Tennessee. 

Toney committed to Auburn in August of 2010 and became one of the leaders in the 2013 class.  Toney, a 6-3, 225-pounder who made 107 tackles as a senior for Huntsville, was one of the reasons the Tigers were able to sway 5-star defensive lineman Montravius Adams and defensive end Elijah Daniel.  Both announced their commitments on signing day.

A late push by coach Gus Malzahn's staff helped the Tigers land a top 15 class by most standards.  Deon Mix, a guard from South Panola High School in Mississippi, and defensive back Mackenro Alexander were also signing day additions.

Earlier in the week Carl Lawson, a 6'3" 255 lb. defensive end, announced he was sticking with the Tigers.  Lawson could likely see a lot of playing time in 2013.

The quarterback race on the Plains just got interesting with letters of intent from Alabama's Mr. Football in Jeremy Johnson and transfer Nick Marshall.  They will compete with former 5-star recruit Kiehl Frazier and Jonathan Wallace, who started the last few games of 2012 as a freshman.

The AU Class includes 23 signees overall.

"Our staff really did a wonderful job in developing those relationships in a short amount of time," says Auburn Coach Gus Malzahn.

The Auburn 2013 signing class:

Montravius Adams DT 6-3 310 Vienna, GA/Dooly County

Mackenro Alexander DB 6-0 185 Immokalee, FL/Immokalee

Cameron Artis-Payne RB 5-11 210 Harrisburg, PA/Allan Hancock Coll.

Peyton Barber RB 5-11 206 Alpharetta, GA/Milton

Ben Bradley DT 6-1 305 Norcross, GA/Hutchinson CC

Daniel Carlson K 6-5 190 Colorado Springs, CO/Classical Acad.

Elijah Daniel DE 6-4 250 Avon, IN/Avon

Devonte Danzey OL 6-4 295 Tampa, FL/Hutchinson CC

Marcus Davis WR 5-10 165 Delray Beach, FL/American Heritage

Kenny Flowers LB 6-2 230 Lilburn, GA/Hutchinson CC

Johnathan Ford RB 5-11 175 New Hope, AL/New Hope

Khari Harding DB 6-1 205 Edmond, OK/Edmond Santa Fe

Jeremy Johnson QB 6-5 215 Montgomery, AL/Carver

Brandon King DB 6-1 210 Alabaster, AL/Highland CC

Carl Lawson DE 6-2 250 Alpharetta, GA/Milton

Nick Marshall QB 6-2 210 Rochelle, GA/Garden City CC

Kamryn Melton DB 5-11 175 Dothan, AL/Dothan

Deon Mix OL 6-4 315 Batesville, MS/South Panola

Earnest Robinson WR 6-2 205 Pinson, AL/Pinson Valley

Jason Smith QB 6-1 180 Mobile, AL/McGill-Toolen

Tony Stevens WR 6-3 175 Orlando, FL/Evans

Cameron Toney LB 6-2 215 Huntsville, AL/Huntsville

Dominic Walker WR 6-2 195 Orlando, FL/Evans