Recruiting Bonanza Part I: A look at Ags recruiting ahead of the Early Signing Period
Sitting at #15, Jimbo and crew are like a thoroughbred waiting in the back of the pack for their time to slingshot to the front. By: Slim Slocum
IT’S TIME TO TALK CROOTIN’. While the Ags are having a storied year on the field in 2020, one of the best in our history, Jimbo didn’t come to A&M to be a one-hit wonder. He came to build an SEC West power that competes for SEC titles year in and year out and to win a national title.
Recruiting is A1 in the steps it takes to make that vision a reality. So, with the 2021 Early Signing Period right around the corner (December 16-18), where does A&M stand in terms of recruiting?
The answer is that the Aggies are in a great position to finish strong and bring in another blue-chip laced class. While we sit at #15 in 247’s rankings, our strategy is like Seabiscuit...hang around in the back of the pack to see what’s going on, get our competitive juices flowing, then watch us whip (and watch us nay nay; pun INTENDED) and glide to the front of the pack. Will we end with the #1 recruiting class? No. But a Top 10 or better finish is not out of the question. A&M only has 17 hard commits right now, so plenty of room left to put big-time names on the board.
First, though, we need to take a look at the current roster to get a sense of how well we are doing in recruiting. Recruiting to your roster is imperative, and sometimes a whole bunch of flash and stars don’t mean squat. Do you remember all those stars and high recruiting rankings during the Sumlin years, only to look at the product on the field and wonder “I thought we were signing big-time recruits, why is our defense getting shredded like they were in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?”
I remember. Oh, I definitely remember. I need extensive therapy from those years. But this is a new era, and IT AIN’T LIKE IT USED TO BE. No more recruiting just for stars, only to have those kids transfer because the culture inside the building was terrible or underperform because they weren’t being developed. Jimbo recruits at a high level for culture fit, talent, and to build a roster with depth. At no time in recent memory have the Aggies had as deep a roster as they do now. It is difficult to find holes. But there are areas we need guys and need to improve, starting on the offense.
While we have big-time recruits at wide receiver, it’s obvious that we need more production from our wideouts. Part of our problem is due to injury and players who decided to leave early or opt-out, and part of it is due to youth and inexperience. But you can never have enough dudes competing to catch the ball. After that, it’s the O-line. We have bulldozers this year, but four are seniors. Much like receiver, Jimbo has been recruiting well on the OL, but youth and inexperience will take over next year. The more Maroon Goons the better. Running back could also stand to add one more. Jimbo’s said it before, you can never have too many horses. After transfers depleted our roster last year, Jimbo did an excellent job of patching it up through recruiting (Achane, Hubbard, Crownover). Adding one more as the heir apparent bruiser to Spiller would be ideal. Spiller is all but certain to leave after next year, and Achane is not built to be your every-down back. It would be great to have a competition heading into 2022 to see who takes over Spiller’s thunder throne. Tight end could also use bodies, as Ryan Renick graduates, Wydermyer will be gone after next year and it remains to be seen how Baylor Cupp and Blake Smith will recover after injuries.
On defense, it also wouldn’t hurt to add some depth at linebacker. With Buddy and Hansford graduating, it will be all youth and inexperience next year. Once again - we have some promising young talent at LB, but we could stand to add a one or two, especially if they are uber-talented. We’re pretty deep on the D-line and in the secondary, but you always have to be adding kids in those areas too.
So, how’s it looking?
With that in mind, does it look promising? Yes - it looks good - but it can get better, and there’s plenty still on the field for pickups. Here is what it looks like to plug the holes we just mentioned:
Wide Receiver
Shadrach Banks (WR; Top 150 recruit; 21 in TX; long-time Aggie commit)
Yulkeith Brown (ATH; 4-star; Achane/Ainias-type; teammates with Amari Daniels; keeps the Florida pipeline hot)
Running Back
Amari Daniels (APB; 4-star; Achane-type)
Tight End
Dametrious Crownover (3-star; 6’6 275; brother of Aggie RB Earnest Crownover)
Fernando Garza (3-star; torn his ACL this year; underrated)
Offensive Line
Reuben Fatheree (4-star; Top 100 nat’l; 15 in TX)
Trey Zuhn (4-star; Top 300 nat’l; 2nd in CO)
Matthew Wykoff (3-star; 61 in TX)
Linebacker
Kaci Seegars (OLB; 3-star; 44 in NC)
Looking at that list, I feel pretty good about where we stand heading into the final stretch before the early signing period. Two things stand out: 1) We could add another running back with bulk, as Amari Daniels is an Achane-type APB, and 2) it would be nice to add another LB next to Kaci Seegars, who will be signing live with our man AggiesToday.
So will we be able to add more where we need it?
There are still dudes out there that the Aggies could land to fill the positions of need we just talked about, as well as instant-impact and depth guys. Let’s take a look at who the Ags are still pursuing who could fill the needs and rocket this class into a top 10 finish.
Running Back
LJ Johnson (4-star; 8 in TX; near 50/50 split on 247 crystal balls between A&M and t.u.)
Johnson is compact at 5’10 205, but he’s the thunder we need to an Achane/Brown lightning. He’s a star in the making. He’s got game-breaking speed with a 4.42 40 and watching his highlights, you can tell he’s a yards-after-contact machine. The Aggies could really use his help, and his commitment would give this class a big boost. The Horns are also hard on his trail, and it looks to be coming down to a battle between us and the ‘sips.
Offensive Line
Bryce Foster (4-star; 12 in TX; near 50/50 split on 247 crystal balls between A&M and OU)
Remington Strickland (3-star; 78 in TX; 90%+ 247 crystal balls to A&M)
A&M is hot on Foster’s trail and stands a very good chance at landing his commitment. Our biggest competition is Lincoln Riley and the Sooners. At 6’5 330, Foster could come in and compete right away for a starting spot with the four seniors leaving. He’s known for his run blocking, and pairing him with LJ Johnson and Amari Brown running behind him? That sounds like a scary combo. Strickland would also be a great pickup - he’s 6’4 300 and OU is recruiting him hard as well. He’s set to announce December 11 at 6:00 PM CT.
As far as the other positions of need, it doesn’t look like A&M plans to add another linebacker or wide receiver, barring a surprise. Linebacker worries me a bit, but in a 4-2-5 system, we should be okay with just adding one in this class with the depth already on the roster. Our roster was deep at wide receiver (even though we don’t rotate them for completely unknown reasons), but with the news that Dylan Wright could be transferring, it’d be nice to add another WR to complement Banks and Brown in this class.
Who else is still left on the board the Ags are chasing?
As I mentioned earlier, there are still some big fish out there who Jimbo is chasing who would be a splash and add depth at positions we already have good depth at. Here’s a look at these big-time young bucks:
Shemar Turner, DE (5-star; 5 in TX; 100% crystal balls to A&M)
Another freak who could make an impact immediately. Turner is a Myles Garrett, Demarvin Leal type monster who would make an impact on the outside for years to come in Aggieland.
Tunmise Adeyele, DE (4-star; 6 in TX; Bama, OU, A&M are in the hunt)
Tunmise is an active social media presence and a solid troll, always trying to throw fan bases off his scent. He’s also throwing constant shade at t.u., which we love. A&M has a great chance to land him, and whoever lands his services will be getting a solid player with big-time potential.
Elijah Jeudy, DE (4-star; 9 in PA; 90%+ 247 crystal balls to A&M)
One word: speed. This kid has speed off the edge and would be a great addition to this class. If A&M lands 2/3 of these guys, watch out. A&M already boasts arguably the best DL in the conference - with the depth on the roster and two of these dudes coming to College Station in 2021, Elko would be building a sustainable power along the line the SEC to rival Alabama.
Prediction
Just like Seabiscuit, the coaches needed some competition to get that fire in their eye and close strong for the 2021 class. Jimbo and the gang have proven they can recruit at a high level and go toe to toe with the big boys. I expect multiple dominoes to fall in the Aggies favor to boost this class into elite territory.
With what the rumor mill is churning out and who the Aggies are still looking to sign, this will be a Top 8 class when it’s all said and done. LJ Johnson is the prize - if the Ags can land him, we’re in great shape.
That should get you primed, ready, and stoked for the Early Signing Period...approaching at ludicrous speed.
Gig’em and #BTHOEarlySigningPeriod.
