Auburn landed a significant addition to its 2027 recruiting cycle on Friday, when four-star edge rusher James Pace III from DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Maryland, went public with his decision to commit to the Tigers.
Pace, who measures 6-foot-3 and weighs 225 pounds, selected Auburn over offers from South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Maryland, and Colorado. His pledge marks the second commitment Auburn has secured this week, following his high school teammate, three-star safety Knyair Crumb, who also gave his verbal commitment to the Tigers.
In terms of recruiting evaluations, Pace is regarded as one of the premier defensive prospects in the 2027 class. According to 247Sports’ composite rankings, he is rated as the No. 17 edge rusher nationally with a 0.9366 composite score. Meanwhile, 247Sports places him at No. 133 overall, and the Rivals Industry Ranking slots him at No. 167. Within his home state of Maryland, he holds the No. 2 spot among edge rushers and is ranked as the No. 3 overall player in the state.
With Pace in the fold, Auburn now has 20 total commitments for the 2027 class, 12 of whom are blue-chip prospects. He stands among the highest-rated members of the Tigers’ haul, currently occupying the fifth- or sixth-highest position in the class depending on which ranking service is consulted. He also represents Auburn’s second edge-rusher commitment of this cycle, joining fellow EDGE Rion Jackson.
Auburn’s coaching staff, under the direction of head coach Alex Golesh, along with edge coach Coleman Hutzler and assistant Wayne Dorsey, were instrumental in landing his commitment. The addition further strengthens Auburn’s emerging recruiting presence in Maryland, as Pace becomes the third 2027 recruit from the state to commit to the Tigers, alongside Crumb and Jackson.
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