For the second straight year, Auburn has landed a commitment from one of the top running backs in the state of Alabama.

Andalusia rising senior J’Marion Burnette committed to the Tigers on Friday morning while in Auburn. The Tigers landed Montgomery Catholic running back Jeremiah Cobb in the Class of 2023.

“Obviously, I never got into the where or anything like that,” Andalusia coach Trent Taylor said of Burnette’s recruiting process. “I told him nobody on staff would push him one way or the other, but I know the relationship he has with coach (Cadillac) Williams is something that has been real special to him. They have similar backgrounds. Cadillac just has that charismatic type of personality that draws young men to him.”

MORE RECRUITING

A look at the top in-state players in 2024

Tide commit Sterling Dixon visits Auburn again

Top recruit Jordan Ross is a “physical specimen”

The 6-foot-2, 225-pound Burnette is listed as the No. 10 overall prospect in the state in 247 Sports’ newest Class of 2024 rankings. He is currently the No. 2 running back in the state — behind Tuscaloosa County’s Kevin Riley – and the No. 10 running back in the nation.

As a junior, he rushed for 1,473 yards and 17 TDs on 187 carries in just 11 games. He missed Andalusia’s state semifinal and state championship game after suffering a concussion in the quarterfinals. Taylor said this week Burnette was cleared in February to return to full workouts.

“The way he has attacked his workouts since he has been cleared has been impressive,” Taylor said. “He would be the first to tell you that he has a lot to work on at the next level, but that won’t be an issue for him. He’ll get the coaching he needs and whatever flaws he has will be corrected because he wants to be good.”

Burnette joins Moody cornerback A’Mon Lane and Anniston cornerback Jayden Lewis as top 20 Auburn commits from the in-state Class of 2024. Burnette visited Florida State earlier this week and told 247Sports then that the Seminoles and Tigers were recruiting him the hardest along with Penn State, Arkansas and Ole Miss.

Asked what makes Burnette so special, Taylor didn’t hesitate.

“The 225 pounds at running back doesn’t hurt,” he joked. “He is an extremely physical back. “Obviously, we are expecting big things out of him this year, especially after losing four of our five starting offensive linemen. He may have to create some holes early on. He can do that because he’s a load. When recruiters were coming through here when he was a sophomore, they were calling him a mini-Derrick Henry. He’s a well-built young man.”

Burnette is the fourth overall commit for Hugh Freeze’s Class of 2024, joining Lane, Lewis and Little Rock, Ark., QB Walker White.