AUBURN, Ala. — Four-star defensive tackle Jeffrey Whitaker committed to Auburn on Monday, the first of four high-profile announcements that could go the Tigers' way in the days leading up to National Signing Day.

Whitaker, a 6-foot-3, 295-pound tackle from Warner Robins, Ga., made his decision known at his high school.

"It just felt comfortable," Whitaker said at a press conference streamed live on the Internet. "There was like no question. I couldn't turn away from it. It just felt like home when I went to Auburn."

Rivals ranks him as the No. 5 defensive tackle in the country and the No. 54 player overall. He also considered Georgia and Miami.

Whitaker is the 24th player who has agreed to sign with Auburn on Wednesday. Five players who enrolled in January, including junior college quarterback Cameron Newton, count against last year's class.

Whitaker is the second defensive tackle in the Tigers' class, joining Kenneth Carter, a four-star recruit from Greenville, Ala.

Auburn hopes Whitaker's announcement is the start of a trend. The Tigers await decisions from three more prized recruits in the upcoming days.

Five-star running back Marcus Lattimore (Duncan, S.C.) will choose between Auburn and South Carolina tomorrow night at 6 p.m. ET. On Wednesday, defensive tackle Byran Jones (Junction City, Ark.) will pick between Auburn and Arkansas and defensive end Corey Lemonier (Hialeah, Fla.) between Auburn and Florida State.

Here's an updated commitment list:

• Joel Bonomolo, DE, 6-3, 245, New Orleans, La. (4-star)
  
• Kenneth Carter, DL, 6-5, 270, Greenville, Ala. (3-star)
• Ed Christian, OL, 6-5, 280, Valdosta, Ga. (4-star)
  
• Steven Clark, K, 6-5, 230, Kansas City, Mo. (2-star)
  
• Shon Coleman, OL, 6-7, 275, Olive Branch, Miss. (5-star)
• Chris Davis, ATH, 5-11, 175, Birmingham, Ala. (3-star)
  
• Justin Delaine, DE, 6-5, 225, Linden, Ala. (3-star)
  
• Michael Dyer, RB, 5-8, 201, Little Rock, Ark. (5-star)
  
• Antonio Goodwin, WR, 6-2, 170, Atlanta, Ga. (4-star)
  
• Jake Holland, LB, 6-1, 228, Pelham, Ala. (3-star)
• D.J. Howard, ATH, 6-0, 195, Lincoln, Ala. (3-star)
  
• Shaun Kitchens, ATH, 6-3, 211, College Park, Ga. (3-star)
• Eric Mack, OL, 6-4, 315, St. Matthews, S.C. (4-star)
  
• Demetruce McNeal, DB, 6-1, 180, College Park, Ga. (3-star)
  
• Jonathan Mincy, DB, 5-10, 175, Decatur, Ga. (3-star)
• Dakota Mosley, TE, 6-4, 252, Little Rock, Ark. (3-star)
  
• LaDarius Owens, LB, 6-2, 225, Bessemer, Ala. (4-star)
  
• Cody Parkey, PK, 6-2, 195, Jupiter, Fla. (3-star)
  
• Trovon Reed, WR, 6-0, 173, Thibodaux, La. (4-star)
  
• Jeremy Richardson, WR, 6-4, 220, Springville, Ala. (4-star)
• Chad Slade, OL, 6-6, 316, Moody, Ala. (3-star)
• Jeffrey Whitaker, DT, 6-3, 295, Warner Robins, Ga. (4-star)
  
• Jawara White, LB, 6-2, 220, Troy, Ala. (3-star)
• Ryan White, ATH, 6-0, 185, Tallahassee, Fla. (3-star)
  

These five players have already signed and are in school:

• Jessel Curry, LB, 6-2, 215, Buford, Ga. (3-star)
• Roszell Gayden, OL, 6-7, 310, New Hope, Minn. (4-star)
• Brandon Mosley, OL/TE, 6-6, 285, Jefferson, Ga. (4-star)
• Cameron Newton, QB, 6-6, 247, Atlanta, Ga. (5-star)
  
• Craig Sanders, DE, 6-4, 230, Ariton, Ala. (4-star)