Gwinnett Daily Post

Ben Bradley

Ben Bradley is just days from joining an FCS football program, completing a winding journey that saw his potential destination change several times since he finished playing at Norcross.

The 6-foot-3, 315-pound defensive tackle made a commitment Monday to Auburn, where he plans to start classes this week.

"I like all the moves the coaching staff is making and the school lines up with my academic needs," Bradley said. "It just felt like the perfect fit there when I visited."

As a high school senior, Bradley was a West Virginia recruit, but instead he played the past two seasons at Hutchinson Community College (Kans.). His next destination appeared to be Tennessee, where he committed last summer. But he opened his recruitment back up in November when the Volunteers parted ways with head coach Derek Dooley.

He spent the past few months pondering a number of offers, eventually choosing Auburn over Kentucky, Missouri and Nebraska. The Tigers had a rough 2012 season that cost head coach Gene Chizik his job, but Bradley likes the new staff led by head coach Gus Malzahn.

"Recruiting really tells me how it's going (for Auburn)," Bradley said. "They're getting a lot of top recruits and hopefully me coming in will help, too. Coach Malzahn's going to score, so it's just about the defense. I think we're going to be pretty good on the defensive line."