Derrick Moncrief Commits to Auburn: Tigers Land No. 1 JUCO Safety

Derrick Moncrief will remain close to home (Prattville, AL), as he has given the Auburn Tigers his verbal commitment. Considered the top JUCO safety of the 2014 class by 247Sports, Moncrief gives Auburn its sixth commitment of the class, according to Rivals.

"I feel like it's so exciting. I love the coaching staff, I like the atmosphere around Auburn. It's fantastic and it's a championship school," Moncrief told AuburnSports.com.

"It's a great situation. I looked at what they need to win a championship. It's close to home, and it's a great deal. I was very interested in Auburn in high school, and I loved the environment."

After the season the Tigers had last year, they need a lot before thinking about a championship. However, defense was a serious concern, as they finished the year ranked 13th in the SEC and dead last in run defense. Moncrief, who spent his junior college days playing for Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, will likely play the "Star" position.

Needing athleticism to drop back into coverage and size to be a factor in the running game, Moncrief has that, as Justin Hokanson of Rivals tweeted:

This commitment only took a few days. Moncrief took an unofficial visit to Auburn on May 7 and received an offer that same day. The top recruit told Rivals that he was already familiar with the school, which is why such a quick decision was made.

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"When they offered I knew the situation, I was familiar with Auburn," Moncrief said. "The academics, the campus, they really took me in. It's a good fit for me. The highlight was the academics really, it took me over the top. They care about their athletes and their graduation. The football facilities, the coaches, it's all great."

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According to the report, Moncrief plans to graduate from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in December and hopes to enroll at Auburn in January. He will have two years of eligibility remaining and a redshirt available, although it seems this kid is ready to play right away.

While other schools were showing interest, Moncrief's only other offers were from Kentucky and Oklahoma State.

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