AUBURN – Lincoln tailback D.J. Howard was sitting around his living room Sunday when he realized where he wanted to play college football.

A few minutes later, he called Auburn safeties coach Tommy Thigpen before he even told his mother where he was going.

“I just realized I wanted to commit to Auburn,” Howard said Monday after announcing his decision at a press conference at Lincoln High School. “So I called coach Thigpen and said, ‘I’m ready to commit. War Eagle.’”

That mom, Teresa Gaines, wasn’t the first to know turned out to be fine in this instance. Howard said the decision elated Gaines, a lifelong Auburn fan.

Howard, who committed to the Tigers as an athlete, chose Auburn over Clemson and a host of other scholarship offers. That list included Kentucky, where Howard’s cousin and former backfield partner, Jonathan George, signed in February.

Howard ultimately chose the in-state school after last weekend’s camp.

“I’d already been down five times in the summer and I decided it was the place I best fit in,” Howard said.

In high school, Howard has been one of the area’s most distinguished runners. He knows, though, that the Tigers might elect to use him as a safety, where Thigpen would direct him.

Lincoln coach Keith Howard thinks D.J. Howard would best serve Auburn as a running back. In fact, the coach said he thought D.J. Howard is the best back to come out of Alabama since former Auburn great Carnell Williams – obvious high praise for the senior.

D.J. Howard has good speed – he ran a 4.38 in the 40 at an Alabama camp. Keith Howard said he’s a threat to score any time he touches the ball.

When bone spurs in his ankle cost D.J. Howard a chunk of his junior season a year ago, some schools, like Auburn, considered him more of an athlete prospect. Keith Howard said that changed this summer with the senior’s first game-situation performance.

“They were looking at him as a safety before he played Oxford in the Jamboree and he had four carries for around 100 yards and 2 touchdowns,” Keith Howard said. “Now coach Thigpen and coach Chiz said he would play running back.”

D.J. Howard did say he was open to other positions if that’s what Auburn ultimately decides. It was Howard’s relationship with the “laid-back” Thigpen that helped him make up his mind about signing with Auburn on the 2010 signing day.

He also liked the peace of mind. Many recruits wait until close to National Signing Day to make their decisions public, but Howard said he found relief in announcing his choice early.

“No doubt this takes a lot of pressure off,” Howard said. “If I was to get hurt, I have a scholarship already in pocket. I don’t have to worry about losing a school or getting a scholarship. I already have my mind made up, so I feel like I did the best thing for me.

“I can focus on the season now and focus on trying to lead our team to a state championship.”