Biggest Texas A&M recruiting needs in the 2023 class

Coming off a historic 2022 class, which saw the Aggies sign 30 players in total, the Aggies will look to take a smaller class in 2023, but have some key positions of need to address on both sides of the ball. For Jimbo Fisher and the staff to take Texas A&M to the level of perennial contender, high-end depth is needed at every position so expect the Aggies to push for high-end talent once again at defensive line, secondary and wide receiver, positions that were addressed in a big way in the 2022 cycle. However, in addition to stacking depth, the staff does have some true holes that need to be addressed in 2023.

The biggest need in the 2023 cycle is at linebacker. The Aggies signed just two linebackers in Ish Harris and Martrell Harris in the 2022 cycle, two intriguing prospects but Martrell Harris projects more to an edge rusher than a true linebacker, and Ish Harris will likely need some time in the playbook before he’s ready to see the field. Veterans like Tarian Lee Jr, Chris Russell Jr. and Andre White Jr. are entering their fourth year in the program. Edgerrin Cooper looks to be a key playmaker in D.J Durkin’s defense next year, but will be eligible for the draft after the 2022 season. If he has the year some expect, and emerges as one of the top linebackers in the SEC in the fall, he could look to make the jump to the league. Suffice to say, the Aggies have a need at the position.

The good news is, linebackers coach Tyler Santucci has Texas A&M heavily involved with some of the top linebackers in the country, including most notably, Denton (Tex.) Ryan five-star Anthony Hill, the No. 1 linebacker in the country. The Aggies are battling Oklahoma, Texas primarily, with schools like Alabama, Miami and USC among other schools involved. Texas A&M is the favorite to land Hill’s commitment, at least per the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine, which favors the Aggies with a 65.1% chance to land Hill. The five-star has official visits set up to USC, Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas and Texas A&M set, with the Aggies expected to have Hill on campus for his OV July 29th, the final official visit he’ll take. In addition to Hill, the Aggies are in pursuit of Marlin (Tex.) High four-star Derion Gullette, another recruitment the Aggies hold the edge in per the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine, with a 47.6% chance to land the four-star. Texas A&M is battling Texas and Alabama primarily in Gullette’s recruitment. The four-star already has an official visit set up to Texas next month and will likely make OVs to Texas A&M and Alabama as well. Gullette has visited Texas A&M nine times to date, and has a great relationship with Santucci. Jimbo Fisher, graduate assistant Tony Jerrod-Eddie and defensive coordinator D.J Durkin are among others involved. In addition to Hill and Gullette, the Aggies remain involved with Jacksonville (Fla.) Andrew Jackson four-star Grayson Howard and Pittsburgh (Penn.) Brashear four-star Ta’Mere Robinson

Offensively, running back and offensive tackle are two key needs.

At running back, the Aggies currently have Devon Achane, Earnest Crownover, Amari Daniels, LJ Johnson Jr., and incoming freshman Le’Veon Moss on the roster. Achane is expected to step into a bigger role this season, with the departure of Isaiah Spiller to the NFL, but Achane could be close behind Spiller if he has the year people expect. Behind him, it’s a lot of unproven talent. Daniels was third on the team in rushing last season behind Spiller and Achane with 119 yards. The Miami (Fla.) Central product had a strong spring, and looks capable to step into a bigger role, but will likely contend with Johnson for the second back spot behind Achane in the fall. Crownover is a bigger back that could carve out a role in the offense, while Moss is a truly unproven commodity, who will have a chance to earn some early playing time upon enrolling this summer.

With so much unproven talent behind Achane, there’s a need for a go-to back in the 2023 cycle. The Aggies are heavily in the mix with Orlando (Fla.) Edgewater four-star Cedric Baxter, the No. 1 running back in the On300, and El Campo (Tex.) High four-star Rueben Owens, the No. 2 running back in the country in the On3 Consensus and a long-time Texas A&M target. Owens is looking to be a Texas-Texas A&M battle down the stretch with momentum swinging back and forth depending on the week. Baxter is down to eight schools, with Florida, Miami and Texas as the three main contenders to know outside of the Aggies. Behind Baxter and Owens, the Aggies are in good spot for Baton Rouge (La.) Liberty Magnet four-star Kaleb Jackson, who is also considering Oregon and LSU.

Offensive tackle is another position of need. Sophomore Rueben Fatheree is the Aggies’ right tackle for the next two seasons, while redshirt freshman Trey Zuhn and Jordan Spasojevic-Moko will battle for the other tackle spot. Behind Fatheree, Zuhn and Spasojevic-Moko, it’s a lot of developmental projects at the position. Dametrious Crownover and incoming freshman PJ Williams have intriguing upside but need time in the weight room and general development. Junior Blake Trainor rounds out the room, as a do-it-all pice on the line that will likely provide valuable depth at the position in 2022. There could be some movement between guard and tackle in fall camp, but as things stand, offensive tackle is a major need for new offensive line coach Steve Addazio.

Addazio has Texas A&M in the mix for Brockton (Mass.) Thayer Academy four-star Samson Okunlola, but the Aggies still have work to do in order to become a true contender for the No. 4 offensive tackle in the country per the On3 Consensus. Okunlola is taking his process slow and the Aggies’ best bet in getting the four-star on campus would be on an official visit at this point in the process. Outside of Okunlola, the “big fish” on the board at this point, New Orleans (La.) St. Augustine four-star Tyree Adams, Frisco (Tex.) Wakeland three-star Connor Stroh, Arlington (Tex.) Lamar four-star Isaiah Robinson, Gretna (La.) De La Salle three-star Caden Jones and Philadelphia (Penn.) Northeast Naquil Bertrand, who’s currently committed to Colorado, are other names to know. LSU has the advantage in Adams’ recruitment, but the Aggies continue to push. The staff recently offered Stroh, an Aggie legacy, and could make a serious surge in his recruitment in the coming months, though Texas remains the school to beat. The Aggies are circling back on Robinson, and could emerge as the school to beat in the coming months. Florida and LSU are two to know in Jones’ recruitment. The Aggies are pushing for Bertrand and dependent on his place on the board, Addazio and the staff could look to flip him from Colorado sooner rather than later.