Flagler Palm Coast grad, top JUCO safety Marquise Gilbert commits to Auburn

One of the top athletes in the junior college ranks, Flagler Palm Coast grad Marquise Gilbert will get a taste of SEC football next fall.

The No. 7 overall JUCO prospect in the nation according to 247Sports' composite rankings, Gilbert locked in his commitment to Auburn on Monday night, two days before the early signing window is set to open. He picked the Tigers from a final list that also included Florida State and Tennessee.

Gilbert, a 6-foot-2, 180-pound safety, earned All-Area honors during his senior season at FPC and appeared in three games in 2019 for Bethune-Cookman. He registered three tackles, including a pair against Jackson State in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge.

"The interest was there from the bigger schools, but he qualified late. Cookman was willing to stick with him through the process, so it was a blessing in disguise for them," said Mainland High head coach Travis Roland, who coached Gilbert at FPC.

Gilbert surged onto the recruiting radar this past spring as JUCO football returned to action following an extended shutdown stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. He had nine solo tackles, five pass breakups and two interceptions in seven spring games.

This fall, Gilbert had 22 solo tackles and two pass breakups in 10 contests for the Blue Dragons. Hutchinson defeated Garden City 49-19 in the KJCCC Championship on Nov. 21.

Gilbert becomes the second area native to commit from the JUCO ranks for the 2022 midyear cycle. Former Mainland defensive back Keylon Kennedy chose Jackson State last month and similarly plans to sign on Wednesday.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: National signing day: JUCO safety Marquise Gilbert commits to Auburn