Texas A&M must keep recruiting momentum to catch Alabama, Georgia

Texas A&M’s already historic 2022 football recruiting class got even better on Friday with the addition of Five-Star Plus+ defensive tackle Lebbeus Overton.

The commitment cemented the Aggies as the best recruiting class ever, according to the On3 Consensus Team Recruiting Ranking.

It’s an epic haul featuring nine five-star recruits, the most ever Five-Star Plus+ prospects (four) and only one recruit ranked lower than a four star.

There’s been a number of takes saying signing the loaded class immediately equals a spot in the College Football Playoffs for Jimbo Fisher and Co.

Not so fast.

Yes, it’s right to heap praise on Fisher for his incredible group. But college football insiders are also quick to point out you have to develop that five-star talent. And you also must stack elite classes year over year to close the gap between Alabama and Georgia in the talent department.

Over the past five classes, Alabama landed two top-ranked classes and two more classes that were second. UGA also has two No. 1 classes, a second-ranked class and another two classes that were third. During that same stretch, A&M had only one other class that ranked in the top five.

Even Fisher says the Aggies still have work to do.

“We got most of the guys that we need,” Fisher said on National Signing Day in February. “The class came together, hit a lot of needs, a lot of areas, offense, defense, skill guys, big guys, everything across the board. And we’re just very happy and pleased. And hopefully, we’ll develop these guys the right way that we can climb to the top of college football the way we want to get to.”

Texas A&M becoming ‘cool school’ with recruits

Even though there’s still work to be done to close the talent gap with Alabama and Georgia, recruiting insiders have noticed that more and more top prospects are taking a long look at Texas A&M.

And the success in the historic 2022 class is a big reason why the Aggies are being widely considered one of the “cool schools” with the best players in the country.

“I think it’s definitely trending in that direction,” On3 Director of Recruiting Chad Simmons said. “For me, it kind of started in late July with that famous pool party. It was the two-day event where they had Shemar Stewart, Walter Nolen and so many other top guys in College Station that were just chilling and vibing with the coaches.

“To me, that’s when I kind of started hearing more about A&M’s recruiting and how they’re doing things differently under Jimbo Fisher. I definitely think they’re trending in that direction to be that cool school.”

A&M’s success in 2022 will help with 2024 class

On3 National Recruiting Analyst Gerry Hamilton said he’s noticed A&M being mentioned more with top prospects, especially in Texas.

“As somebody that has covered recruiting in Texas for years, what this No. 1 class has done for them with the Class of 2024 is remarkable,” Hamilton said. “When you talk to those kids, they’re mentioning A&M earlier now. ‘I really liked Alabama growing up. But you know what, I think A&M is going to be really good.’ That’s the value of signing the No. 1 class.”

Hamilton said there are parallels in College Station to what took place in Austin after Mack Brown signed the No. 1 class in the country in 1999.

Brown’s haul that season included heralded prospects like quarterback Chris Simms and defensive lineman Cory Redding. It was widely viewed as the class that transformed the Longhorns into a force on the national recruiting stage.

“It was the class two years behind that group with Chris Simms and Cory Redding where all those kids gravitated toward Texas,” Hamilton said. “When they’re younger, they take note of that. And you can become a cool school in recruiting. And by that, I mean all the kids are more interested in your school.

“I think that’s what this No. 1 class at A&M has done in the state of Texas. It raises the interest in A&M with the younger players in the state. When I ask high school coaches, ‘What schools are your young kids mentioning.’ And it’s almost always A&M.

“I was just at Tyler High. Derrick McFall, one of the top 2024 players in the state, admitted he grew up wearing Bama stuff all the time. But he just recently mentioned to his coach, ‘I really like A&M now.’ That’s what signing the No. 1 class does for you.”

Aggies must keep it going

But there’s work to be done if the Aggies want to catch Alabama and Georgia from a talent standpoint. And it all starts with backing up the success in 2022 with additional success on the recruiting trail.

“I think Texas A&M needs to be more consistent,” Simmons said. “But I think it’s heading in the right direction for them to be on the same level as Alabama and Georgia on the recruiting trail. Every kid wants to mention Alabama. It’s been that way for a decade now. And of course, Georgia is up there for a few years now.

“For A&M to be consistently considered one of those types of schools, they’re going have to put together class after class with success like we saw in 2022.”