Freshman safety Daren Bates was approved by the NCAA Clearinghouse on Thursday, according to AuburnSports.com. That leaves one Auburn signee — junior college cornerback Taikwon Paige — in limbo.

Twenty-one of Auburn's 28 recruits have qualified for school.

Although only a two-star recruit, Bates could be a boost for the Tigers, who had already watched two defensive back signees from 2009, Reggie Taylor and Izauea Lanier, fail to qualify. Bates joins junior college transfer Demond Washington as newcomers in the secondary.

Five players — defensive linemen Terrance Coleman and Josh Jackson, wide receiver LaVoyd James, Taylor and Lanier — plan to go the junior college route. Coleman has enrolled at Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Mississippi, while Jackson will go to Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College, according to AuburnSports.com.

Running back Brandon Jacobs is expected to sign a contract with the Boston Red Sox after being selected in the 10th round of last June's MLB amateur draft.