Where Texas A&M’s No. 1 recruiting class ranks historically

Going into Signing Day, Texas A&M is poised to finish with the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class, according to the On3 Consensus Team Recruiting Ranking.

Texas A&M has an elite group that already has six five-star signees. That number could grow, depending on what happens Wednesday with defensive lineman Shemar Stewart, the On3 Consensus No. 3 player in the country.

No matter what happens with Stewart, it’s a special class that Jimbo Fisher says helps prove the growth of the Aggie brand in the Lone Star State and throughout the country.

“I think they see the vision we have,” Fisher said. “I think they see the commitment we have. And I think they see the staff that can get them there and the things that go on. And the past recruiting classes. You live in vision, you live in circumstance. I think we’re living in vision. We see it. I think it’s right there. We just got to finish it.”

So, just how good is the Texas A&M class from a historical perspective?

Some have called it the best recruiting class ever in the modern era. But it’s not quite there, according to the On3 Consensus Team Ranking.

Texas A&M 2022 class is 2nd all-time

As things stand heading into Signing Day, the Texas A&M 2022 class ranks second in the history of the On3 rankings.

It should be noted that the On3 Consensus Team Ranking goes back to only the early 2000s, so it’s hard to officially quantify how it would fit against classes before that time frame. But it’s safe to say that this Aggie class is one of the best of the best – period.

	Team	Year	Score	5-Stars	4-Stars
1	Alabama	2021	95.993	5	20
2	Texas A&M	2022	95.556	6	20
3	Alabama	2013	94.853	7	16
4	Alabama	2017	94.749	7	17
5	Georgia	2018	94.622	9	15
6	Alabama	2014	94.465	10	14
7	Alabama	2019	94.018	3	23
8	Florida	2010	93.752	6	17
9	Georgia	2020	93.656	5	14
10	Alabama	2015	93.632	6	16

If Texas A&M adds Stewart, it should push the Aggies to 95.65 points. That still would leave them behind Alabama’s 2021 class. If the Aggies were somehow able to add a surprise or two, that could change.

Maybe five-star linebacker Harold Perkins has a change of heart and recommits to Texas A&M?

What if five-star safety Jacoby Mathews shocks the recruiting world and picks the Aggies?

Perhaps Fisher has another trick up his sleeve with a local unsigned prospect? Or just maybe Five-Star Plus+ 2023 defensive lineman Lebbeus Overton commits to the Aggies and reclassifies as a senior.

It likely would take a combination of something like that to push Texas A&M to the top. Even if it doesn’t happen, it’s a historical class in Aggieland and will go down as A&M’s first No. 1 class in the modern era of recruiting.

“We got most of the guys that we need,” Fisher said. “The class is coming together, hitting 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.”

Alabama’s 2021 crop reigns supreme

Nobody has dominated the recruiting trail over the past 20 years like Nick Saban. The Crimson Tide has landed No. 1 classes in eight of the past 13 recruiting cycles. But the 2021 class is the highest-ranked ever.

It was a class that was 93% blue chips and featured three Five-Star Plus+ recruits in offensive tackles JC Latham and Tommy Brockermeyer and EDGE Dallas Turner.

Turner made an immediate impact and was selected to the All-SEC Freshman team by conference coaches and made three starts. Latham saw action in 14 games as a true freshman, and Brockermeyer redshirted.

Other five stars, such as cornerback Ga’Quincy “Kool-Aid” McKinstry and receiver Ja’Corey Brooks, played roles in helping the Crimson Tide reach the national championship game.

It’s a class that is expected to keep the Tide in the title hunt for years to come.

Tide’s 2013 class featured Derrick Henry

Alabama’s 2013 recruiting class ranks third overall in modern recruiting history. And you could make an argument that it was one of the most impactful of the past 20 years.

It’s a class that produced four SEC titles, two national championships and Heisman Trophy-winning running back Derrick Henry over the course of five seasons.

Other big names from the 2013 class included first-round pick in defensive lineman Jonathan Allen, Butkus Award-winning linebacker Reuben Foster, first-round tight end pick O.J. Howard and star running back Alvin Kamara before his eventual impact transfer to Tennessee. Heck, four-star safety Eddie Jackson had a good college career and has become a mainstay on the Chicago Bears’ defense.

Bama’s 2017 class lived up to hype

The Crimson Tide’s 2017 class is just percentage points behind the 2013 class and is the fourth-best in On3 rankings history. But you could make a serious case that no class impacted a program more than this one.

The 2017 recruiting class consisted of the likes of quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa and Mac Jones, Heisman Trophy-winning receiver DeVonta Smith, Biletnikoff Award-winning receiver Jerry Jeudy, first-round offensive tackles Alex Leatherwood and Jedrick Wills, first-round running back Najee Harris and many others.

The class also produced on the field; it won two national championships, played for another in 2018 and some members of the class were still around for this season’s run to the championship game.

The 2021 class may be the highest-rated in the On3 rankings, but the 2017 class was one for the ages.

UGA’s 2018 group paved way to title

Georgia’s 2018 recruiting class ranks fifth in On3’s ranking history, and you could see proof of how impactful it was in this season’s national championship game.

So many highly ranked players from the 2018 class were key parts of the Dawgs’ title run. They included running back Zamir White, All-American offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer, Outland Trophy-winning defensive lineman DL Jordan Davis, starting linebacker Quay Walker, impact running back James Cook, second-team All-SEC linebacker Channing Tindall, return specialist Kearis Jackson, first-team All-SEC punter Jake Camarda and many more.

Also, don’t forget that the 2018 class also included Five-Star Plus+ quarterback Justin Fields before he ended up at Ohio State. It also included five-star cornerback Tyson Campbell, who started every game in 2020 and was drafted in the second round in 2021 by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Plus, former four-star EDGE Azeez Ojulari was a second-round pick and led the New York Giants in sacks in 2021.