Elite RB Jonathan Hatton Jr. commits to Texas A&M: 'College Station is a great place for me'

At one time, Cibolo (Texas) Steele four-star running back Jonathan Hatton Jr. was committed to Oklahoma. He made an early decision before backing off that pledge in December. Even before he opened his recruitment back up, there was buzz around Texas A&M and after taking a few months to think about it, he has committed to Mike Elko and the Aggies.

“I have had this feeling for a while,” Hatton told On3. “Texas A&M has been high on my list for some time, but I would say I knew 100% of my decision around a month and a half ago. I wanted to make sure and the more I thought about it, the more clear it became. Earlier this year, it just became clear Texas A&M was the place for me.

“What really made it clear was getting back on campus, being around the coaches me and just continuing to talk with coach Troop (Trooper Taylor) and coach Elko. They made me comfortable, I knew they wanted me and they not only recruited me, but they recruited my family and made them feel involved.

“College Station is a great place for me.”

The consistency paid off for Elko and co. in Hatton’s recruitment

Elko and his staff came in and made sure Hatton knew he was a target. Even though he was committed to Oklahoma, they recruited him respectfully, they worked to get him on campus and over time, that paid off.

“They stayed consistent with me. They saw me practice last spring, they invited me for a visit, and when I finally got on campus, it felt different. I had been to other places, but College Station felt different from the start.

“I have been there four times now and it is about family. Everyone takes care of each other, everyone makes sure people are happy and it is just a great environment to be in. It is a great fit for me and my family and our feeling is just different.”

Hatton is excited about the future at Texas A&M

Hatton is the No. 6 running back this cycle, he is the No. 10 prospect in Texas and he is the No. 73 overall prospect in the On3 Industry Ranking. He was a top target for Elko and Co., and he could be a big piece of the puzzle moving forward.

“Coach Elko is building something scary at Texas A&M,” Hatton said. “That is something I am excited about being a part of. Coach Elko is changing the whole program around, coach Troop is changing the running back room and the program is really on its way up.

“Oklahoma is a great program. Ohio State and Tennessee were pushing hard too, but Texas A&M is the right school for me. The staff made me a priority, they made my family feel important and the people at Texas A&M help their players on and off the field. I know I will be in good hands in the future.”