He’s not Marcus Lattimore, but Auburn landed quite possibly the most important late addition to its 2010 signing class Monday when four-star defensive tackle Jeffrey Whitaker committed to the Tigers.

Whitaker, a 6-foot-3, 295-pound prospect from Warner Robins, Ga., is just the second defensive tackle to commit, plugging one of the few remaining holes in Auburn’s highly touted class.

Whitaker, who announced his decision at his high school Monday, said he’s determined to make an “immediate impact.”

“If I came in 340 and overweight, yeah, I think I’d be redshirted,” Whitaker said at a press conference streamed live on the Internet. “I’ll work my butt off and come in looking to do some great things.“

Whitaker joins Greenville’s Kenneth Carter, who recently got upgraded to a four-star on Rivals.com, as Auburn’s new additions at defensive tackle. Four-star Byran Jones (Junction City, Ark.) could be the third. Jones, who is choosing between Auburn and Arkansas, will announce his decision Wednesday on National Signing Day.

Auburn has four true defensive tackles returning for 2010 — senior Mike Blanc, junior Nick Fairley, redshirt sophomore Derrick Lykes and sophomore Jamar Travis — and two players who can play both end and tackle — seniors Michael Goggans and former Opelika standout Zach Clayton. Considering how much defensive line coach Tracy Rocker likes rotating two full lines as a means to keep players fresh, Whitaker’s prediction probably isn’t just conjecture.

Whitaker, rated Rivals.com’s No. 5 defensive tackle in the nation and the 54th-best player overall, chose Auburn over a bevy of offers from major programs, but narrowed his choices down to Miami and Georgia before making his final decision.

“It just felt comfortable,” Whitaker said. “There was no question. I couldn’t turn away from it. It just felt like home.“

Auburn’s class now stands at 24 commitments for 2010 with five more, all of whom are already enrolled and on campus, counting back to the 2009 class. Recently introduced SEC bylaws allow schools to sign 28 players to Letters of Intent and the NCAA allows just 25 to be on scholarship.

The Tigers are waiting on the decisions of three more top-tier players.

Lattimore, a five-star running back from Duncan, S.C., will announce if he’s choosing Auburn or South Carolina today at his church. Along with Jones, four-star defensive end Corey Lemonier (Hialeah, Fla.) will make his decision on Signing Day, choosing between Auburn and Florida State.

Auburn’s signing class currently ranks fourth in the nation on Rivals.com and fifth on Scout.com and ESPN.com, respectively.