Decatur (Ala.) Austin linebacker D.T. Shackelford, a Tennessee commitment since August, will take four official visits in the month of January with his first coming next weekend to Auburn.
The 6-foot-1, 220-pound Shackelford will also visit Ole Miss Jan. 16-18 as well as LSU and Tennessee. He has yet to set a date for either LSU or Tennessee, but plans to soon.
Shackelford, ranked by Rivals.com as the No. 17 overall prospect in the state, spoke to new Tiger head coach Gene Chizik and assistant James Willis recently.
"I talked to them right before the (Recruiting) Dead Period," said Shackelford. "It went really good. They were saying that they would love to have me there, that they liked the kind of person I am.
"Coach Chizik said he wanted to get to know me, but he had heard about me in the (Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic) and that I also had a good senior season. He said he wants to meet with me."
Shackelford said he would visit four schools before making an ultimate decision.
Shackelford said he's done research on the Tigers' new head coach and so far has liked what he's seen and heard.
"I know he had one of the best defenses at Auburn the year he left. His history on the defensive side of the ball is real strong." said Shackelford. "I know a great university like Auburn wouldn't hire just anybody. They are going to hire somebody who knows what they're doing, knows what they're talking about.
"From all I've heard, he's a great person and a great coach. I feel like he could change it around at Auburn."
In addition to Chizik, Shackelford has been in contact with coaches from Tennessee, LSU and Ole Miss. He said he would sign with one of the four on Signing Day.
"Right now I'm committed to Tennessee, but I'm still looking at Auburn, Ole Miss and LSU," he said. "All four of those schools I have high interest in. They're all great schools. You can't go wrong with any of them.
"I'll take my visits and then make my ultimate decision on where I want to go on Signing Day."