Auburn’s recruiting machine kept on chugging Saturday, and, in this instance, threw a kink in Alabama’s.

More than 100 fans gathered at a Cullman sporting goods store to see big offensive lineman Spencer Region commit to Alabama, but left shocked when he announced his intentions to sign with Auburn in 2011.

AuburnSports.com, AuburnUndercover.com and AUTigers.com all reported the story first Saturday.

“Some stuff happened (Friday) night, and then this morning I chose Auburn,” Region told AuburnSports.com. “There were a lot of Alabama fans (at the announcement) because I guess they took me for granted. They thought I was a lock.

“I felt like I was taken for granted even by the coaching staff at Alabama. That’s just not where I need to be. I’m not about to go into that kind of program.”

Region, at 6-foot-6 and 330 pounds, is expected to be one of the state’s top prospects when the 2011 recruiting rankings are released.

Region joins junior-college safety Izauea Lanier (East Mississippi Community College) as the first two Auburn commitments for 2011.

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