June 20, 2026
Auburn Lands 4-Star EDGE James Pace as Blue-Chip Commit No. 12
The DeMatha Catholic standout chose the Tigers over Georgia, Tennessee, and Colorado.
Auburn's recruiting momentum continued Friday when four-star edge rusher James Pace announced his commitment to the Tigers, giving the program its 12th blue-chip pledge of the cycle.
Pace, a product of DeMatha Catholic in Hyattsville, Md., chose Auburn over Colorado, Tennessee, and Georgia, among other suitors. He is rated the No. 155 prospect in his class.
A Major Defensive Addition from the DMV Region
The commitment is described as one of Auburn's biggest defensive wins of the recruiting cycle and adds another blue-chip defender to a growing class under head coach Alex Golesh.
Pace represents a significant recruiting footprint for Auburn in the DMV — the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia corridor — a region the program has targeted as it builds its 2026 class.
DeMatha Catholic, Pace's high school program in Hyattsville, Md., is a well-established pipeline for college football talent, and Pace's pledge continues a stretch of positive news on the recruiting trail for Auburn.
With Pace now on board, Auburn's class features a dozen blue-chip prospects, underscoring the Tigers' ability to compete nationally for top defensive recruits in the current cycle.
