Linebacker Kareem Palmer pledged to Auburn on Sunday after a Big Cat Weekend visit, giving the Tigers their first 2027 linebacker commitment and second defensive commitment overall.
Auburn’s 2027 recruiting momentum picked up on Sunday after linebacker Kareem Palmer made his commitment following a successful Big Cat Weekend visit.
Palmer, a three-star linebacker from Toombs County High School in Lyons, Georgia, was among around 30 prospects at Auburn on Saturday during Big Cat Weekend. He informed the coaching staff shortly after the visit and then publicly announced his pledge on Sunday.
The commitment comes with strong production and stacked evaluation marks.. Palmer is listed at 6-foot-2 and 210-215 pounds, rated among the top linebackers in the 2027 class.. The 247Sports Composite ranks him as the No.. 505 overall player nationally, the No.. 39 linebacker, and the No.. 61 player in Georgia.. Other rankings list him as the No.. 41 linebacker, while additional evaluations place him as high as the No.. 32 linebacker in the country.. Even within in-state lists, placement varies, with him listed as the No.. 57 Georgia player in some rankings.
On the field, the numbers help explain the interest.. Over the past two seasons, Palmer has accounted for 112 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, three sacks, and three forced fumbles.. During his junior season alone, he recorded 79 tackles, nine tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles, according to MaxPreps.
Palmer’s recruitment included roughly 25 scholarship offers, and Auburn became a consistent top contender after first extending an offer in December. He also visited Auburn multiple times, with Big Cat Weekend marking his fifth trip to campus.
The coaching staff involvement was clear throughout the process.. Defensive coordinator and linebackers coach DJ Durkin played a central role in Palmer’s recruitment. alongside outside linebackers coach Brad Wilson and head coach Alex Golesh.. Palmer described his relationship with the staff as direct and consistent over several months.
With his pledge. Palmer becomes Auburn’s first linebacker commitment in the 2027 class and the second defensive player overall. joining defensive lineman Donivan Moore.. Auburn’s 2027 class now totals seven commitments. featuring prospects at quarterback. running back. wide receiver. tight end. offensive line. defensive line. and linebacker.. The group ranks around No.. 32 nationally and includes four recruits from Georgia, the most from any state in the class.
One important thread runs through the week: Palmer was among the roughly 30 prospects who arrived for Big Cat Weekend on Saturday, he made the decision shortly after that visit, and Auburn’s staff had been building the groundwork since an offer extension in December.
For Auburn, the timing matters. After an already growing 2027 class, Palmer’s Sunday commitment adds a new piece at linebacker while the Tigers continue assembling a group that now spans multiple positions and sits around No. 32 nationally with four Georgia recruits.
Auburn Tigers Kareem Palmer 2027 recruiting linebacker commitment Big Cat Weekend Toombs County High School DJ Durkin Alex Golesh Brad Wilson Donivan Moore