Four-star linebacker JaMichael Garrett, who committed to Auburn in July 2024, remains a priority target for multiple programs, including Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes. While Garrett is firmly committed to Auburn and head coach Hugh Freeze, Colorado is making a strong push to get him on campus for an official visit in the near future.
A native of Alabama, Garrett has transferred from Gulf Shores High School to Auburn High School for his senior year. His ties to the state and continued involvement with Auburn suggest that flipping his commitment will be a challenge for any competing program. Recently, Garrett visited Auburn again, attending a highly anticipated basketball matchup between Auburn and Alabama. Despite his repeated trips to Auburn and firm commitment, he has maintained communication with Colorado.
Colorado is not the only school attempting to sway Garrett. The Oregon Ducks and Miami Hurricanes are also recruiting the talented linebacker and are looking to secure an official visit with him over the summer. According to 247Sports, Garrett is ranked as the No. 8 linebacker in the nation and the No. 10 overall prospect from Alabama. In the national rankings, he stands at No. 152 regardless of position.
At this stage, Colorado faces an uphill battle in flipping Garrett’s commitment. The advantage of proximity clearly favors Auburn, and Garrett appears to be one of the more vocal recruiters among his peers in the 2026 recruiting class. However, Sanders and his staff are known for their persistence and aggressive recruiting approach, which could keep Colorado in the conversation.
Under Sanders, Colorado has built its roster using both traditional high school recruiting and the transfer portal. The Buffaloes’ 2025 recruiting class included 14 high school signees, and they added 17 players from the transfer portal following the 2024 season.
Addressing concerns about Colorado’s reliance on the transfer portal, Sanders emphasized the team’s balanced approach during Big 12 Media Days before last season. He pointed out that out of the 17 high school players they signed in 2025, 13 saw playing time. Sanders made it clear that when Colorado recruits high school players, the expectation is for them to contribute immediately.
Despite these efforts, Colorado’s 2025 recruiting class finished second in the Big 12 behind TCU, according to On3. As the 2026 recruiting cycle progresses, the Buffaloes have yet to secure a commitment, leaving open questions about how their strategy will unfold in the coming months leading up to the Early National Signing Period in December.