J’Marion Burnette stood underneath Jordan-Hare Stadium, a few steps from the Auburn football locker room, and scanned his surroundings.

His Andalusia Bulldogs had just won its first state title in over 40 years and Burnette’s running ability was a large reason why. In the championship on Dec. 2 though, Burnette was sidelined with a concussion suffered in the third round of the playoffs. He felt proud with his teammates, saying it’s “something that we did and it can’t be taken away,” but it was also important that Burnette retain his senior year to defend it on the field.

The 2022 final was held at Auburn, this year will be at Alabama’s Bryant-Denny Stadium. By then, will “Phat” Burnette be committed to the Tigers or Crimson Tide?

Burnette, a 6-foot-1, 210-pound four-star, is currently ranked No. 131 nationally on the 247Sports Composite. He’s the 10th-best running back in the country and tops in Alabama. Coaches and scouts rave about Burnette’s explosiveness and power, which produced 17 touchdowns on 187 carries last fall. In November, Burnette released an SEC-heavy top 10, which included Tennessee, Arkansas, Georgia and the two in-state favorites.

“I’m starting to close out (my recruitment),” Burnette told AL.com.

A season with 1,553 all-purpose yards brought attention from Georgia and Ole Miss, which offered him in November and last week, respectively. Hugh Freeze and the Tigers seem to be in a poll position, especially after securing the top running back in the state (Montgomery Catholic’s Jeremiah Cobb).

Burnette visited the Plains three times last year, taking in two Bryan Harsin-led gamedays on unofficial visits. Burnette returned on Jan. 28 for Junior Day and days after, followed up with a few tweets at Auburn commits A’Mon Lane, Jayden Lewis, and the latest, four-star quarterback Walker White.

With in-state legend Cadillac Williams still on Freeze’s staff, a huge part of Cobb’s securement, the Tigers should have no issue continuing a relationship. Burnette would be Auburn’s highest-rated in-state recruit since acquiring Lee Hunter from Blount in 2021.

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Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at [email protected].