WR Darius Slayton (AJC/Michael Carvell)
After going back and forth for more than a week, Darius Slayton flipped from UGA to Auburn on Tuesday night – the eve of signing day.
The 4-star receiver from Greater Atlanta Christian had been committed to UGA since December. He announced the flip on Twitter.
"I can't believe a few hours ago we were talking about this, and my stomach was in knots," his mother, Pamela Slayton, told the AJC.
“I don’t know exactly if there was one thing that made him go with Auburn. He thinks about things within himself. I think he thought about it, pondered it, meditated on it, and came to his decision. It’s Auburn, and we’re excited for him.”
Auburn has connections to Slayton’s family, as his uncle played linebacker for the Tigers in the late 1980s. Auburn gained momentum when they told Slayton he could play receiver after originally recruiting him as a defensive back.
“I think our family connections to Auburn, along with him growing up as an Auburn fan – I think that helped with this decision,” Slayton’s mother said. “That’s along with the fact that he felt like he was going to have every opportunity to compete and play at Auburn”
Slayton called coaches from both UGA and Auburn before tweeting it out, and his mother said Mark Richt “took it well.”
Darius was in an upbeat mood around his house after revealing the news.
“He seems to be bright and happy,” Pamela said. “We’re excited for him. It seems like a lot of pressure is off his shoulders. He ready to go forward.”
Slayton is the eight de-commit of UGA 2015 class, including the third at wide receiver (along with Van Jefferson and Christian Owens). At one point, this year’s UGA class of receivers was considered to be the best in school history since the 1999 class of Reggie Brown, Durell Robinson and Damian Gary, among others.
The Bulldogs are in danger of losing another receiver when 5-star Terry Godwin will announce at 6 p.m. Wednesday whether he will stick with UGA or follow Slayton to Auburn.
UGA has also flipped five kids committed to other schools, and may try to fill Slayton’s spot on early Wednesday morning with somebody (likely an in-state player) committed elsewhere.
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