Keldric Faulk’s college decision went down to the Early Signing Day wire.

A month later, the former Highland Home star has no regrets.

“I’m glad to be an Auburn man,” Faulk said last week at the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s annual Mr. Football banquet.

Faulk flipped from Florida State to new coach Hugh Freeze and the Tigers last month and is already enrolled in school on the Plains. Last week, he was named the Class 2A Lineman of the Year for his work with the Flying Squadron.

“Auburn was really my No. 1 school for two or three years in a row, but there were certain coaching changes that just didn’t fit me personnel wise,” he said when talking about his college choices. “When coach Freeze came in and gave me the opportunity to come look at everything, I took the chance, and I really enjoyed it my last visit. I took the time to really think of my decision, and I really felt like Auburn was for me.”

The 6-foot-5, 270-pound Faulk is No. 12 in the 247 composite rankings of top senior prospects in the state of Alabama. He was No. 8 on AL.com’s final A-List rankings for the Class of 2022.

Faulk said Freeze and the new Auburn staff didn’t really need to sell him on any one point in particular.

“It was just me building the relationship with those guys for maybe two weeks and how I connected with them,” he said. “It was like I’d known them for a couple of years.”

Faulk described Freeze as a “real dude.”

“He just told me if I was destined to be an Auburn man, I need to be an Auburn man, but if I’m not just to let him know,” he said. “He’s a real straightforward dude, and he wanted me to be straightforward with him.”

Faulk finished his senior season with 89 tackles, 23 tackles for a loss and 4 sacks for the Flying Squadron. He also caught 28 passes on offense for 586 yards and 8 TDs and ran 22 times for 155 yards and 5 TDs in helping his team to the state semifinals.

His eventual position on Auburn’s defense is still a little unclear.

“They are going to try me at end and at the jack position,” he said. “They are going to play me at both. I think I can play either. On third or fourth down situations, it could go either way. I think I can go in at D tackle or D end or the jack position. I can play anywhere they want me to play.”

Faulk is rooming with former Auburn High offensive lineman Bradyn Joiner, a finalist for Class 7A Lineman of the Year last week.

“That’s my guy,” he said. “He’s a real dude, too. We get up in the morning for voluntary workouts and run every morning. I’m glad I’m rooming with him, someone who is dedicated to the work, dedicated to the grind. I’ve known him since 8th grade.”

Faulk also had high praise for Auburn’s new performance center.

“The new facility is crazy,” he said. “In my opinion, it is one of the top facilities in the country. My first few days in there, I got lost trying to find my way to the players’ lounge.”

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Mr Football & Player of the year awards