In fitting fashion, Auburn's class of 2011 felt a lot like the 2010 national championship the Tigers wrapped up one month earlier.

The feelings were mainly focused on excitement, as Auburn closed strong and finished with a class slotted in the top three of all the major scouting services' rankings. Though it was, perhaps, the best-ranked signing class in the program's history, it came with a tinge of doubt just like the national championship many believe will someday be revoked because of the Cam Newton scandal that hovered over the team for the final three months of the year.

One of the nation's top prospects, offensive tackle Cyrus Kouandjio of Hyattsville, Md., announced on national TV that he would sign with Auburn on Feb. 2. Only he never did. Instead, Kouandjio went into seclusion to think more about his decision, which could ultimately land him at the Tigers' biggest rival, Alabama.

Alas, like he did when hoisting the crystal football, coach Gene Chizik took the same, unflappable approach when he addressed the Tigers' final haul, which features one five-star player and 13 four-stars, according to Rivals.

"I'm only going to talk about the ones that we've got paperwork in and we've signed," Chizik said. "We feel like we're looking for the right fit, we're looking for the right guy, and we don't care about the stars and what they're ranked and what they're rated," he said. "We're just looking for the right fit at Auburn, and that's what we feel the best about."

Returning just seven starters for the 2011 season, the lowest of any team in the FBS, Auburn will likely need immediate contributions from a number of these highly touted players.

"We know that the senior class that we just lost was extremely large," Chizik said. "It creates opportunities for young guys to come in and play. Some of these guys are definitely going to have to do that."

TOP OF THE CLASS

ATH Kris Frost (Matthews, N.C.) -- Frost wanted to commit to the Tigers on national TV during the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, but Auburn rejected his commitment because of number concerns. A few weeks later, the Tigers reeled Frost in and will likely groom him to be an outside linebacker. Frost is a five-star recruit and considered second-best outside linebacker in the nation by Rivals.com.

OL Christian Westerman (Chandler, Ariz.) -- A rare signee from the Western part of the country, Westerman gives the Tigers a potential early answer at left tackle, a place Lee Ziemba occupied for the past four seasons. A longtime Texas commitment before he changed his mind in the final weeks of recruiting season, Westerman has been compared to a young Joe Thomas, the Pro Bowl left tackle for the Cleveland Browns.

QB Kiehl Frazier (Springdale, Ark.) -- One of the nation's top-rated dual-threat quarterbacks, Frazier isn't expected to come in right away to replace Cam Newton, but his potential is considered to be just as high. He provides a similar mix of mobility and strong arm that made Newton one of the best in program history.

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