Tashawn Manning, who is recovering from chemotherapy for leukemia, signed a letter of intent with Auburn on Wednesday morning.

Manning may need at least two years to make a full recovery. The Apopka, Fla., native dropped almost 45 pounds from his 6-foot-4 frame. He weighed 270 pounds prior to treatment.

“As far as the leukemia cells that were in his bone marrow, before they were saying it was at 100 percent,” Tashawn’s father, Buck Manning, told AL.com. “Now he is down to zero leukemia cells. God bless. He’s been upbeat, he doesn’t do much moping around or feeling sorry for himself. He’s probably taken it way better than I probably would.”

Auburn coaches reportedly requested a freeze on his eligibility clock to give Manning a full chance at competing when his body is ready.

Gus Malzahn has visited Manning in recent weeks.