JaMichael Garrett chose Auburn over LSU to join its 2026 class, marking another solid commitment.
Auburn engaged in a lot of work early in the recruiting of Top247 2026 linebacker JaMichael Garrett, and it has paid off.
Garrett confirmed his commitment to the Tigers on Saturday at Big Cat Weekend. The Gulf Shores (Ala.) native also considered LSU, along with Michigan, South Carolina, USC, and Miami, among other programs that courted Garrett during the process.
Garrett, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 205 pounds, is listed by 247Sports as the No. 112 player, No. 9 linebacker, and No. 8 player from Alabama in the 2026 class, which Hugh Freeze and his staff continue to develop. This addition was largely the result of a strong push from Josh Aldridge and D.J. Durkin, with Aldridge leading the way in his recruitment before to Durkin’s hiring and taking over the linebacker room while Aldridge went to the defensive ends.
“I love my relationship with Coach (Josh) Aldridge, the linebackers coach,” Garrett previously told Auburn Undercover. “He’s someone I can talk to about football and any other concerns I may have. The relationship we started when he offered me after leaving the Ole Miss game has always stuck with me because he made me feel like a priority. And when I visit Auburn practices, I see the brotherhood and everything that happens on campus. I adore Auburn’s facility.
“I adore Coach Durkin; he’s a fantastic man. He’s an aggressive instructor, yet he delivers the information calmly. I adore that. He can get intense at times. I adore Coach Durkin; he’s a funny person.”
Garrett had lots of suitors after a sophomore season in which he totaled 87 tackles, 26.5 tackles for loss, and 9.5 sacks, but in the end, Auburn and LSU were the main contenders. Garrett, however, had a solid connection to the Auburn staff. His connection to several of the team’s players was very strong, as he grew up playing with them in and around Oxford (Ala.).
So the Auburn Tigers, not the LSU Tigers, win out with his commitment.
“Relationships and a just environment,” Garrett stated. “Auburn’s got the top environment and relationships.”
Garrett is Auburn’s third commitment for the 2026 class on the day, which is now ranked first in the country.
