The Pitch: Envisioning Texas A&M's recruiting sell at each position

Everyone knows recruiting is the lifeblood of a college football program.

A strong recruiting class or two can lead to championships. A weak one can set a program back a year or two, if not more.

Therefore, recruiting strategies are needed. Cases must be made to influence a player to join your team. In some instances, cases must be made to influence a player to snub a rival.

No doubt, Texas A&M coaches have their strategies. They need no help to making their case to prospects.

Still, if I may be so bold as to make suggestions, here’s some ways I’d sell the program at each position:

Quarterbacks: You’ll get to throw frequently at A&M. Who wants to spend three or four years just handing off? NFL scouts want quarterbacks who can throw. Don’t worry if our rivals try to make you second guess playing in a spread offense. Jarred Goff played in a spread much like A&M’s and he was the first player taken in this year’s NFL Draft. Marcus Mariota played in a spread at Oregon and was the second player taken in last year’s NFL Draft.

In just the last five years A&M has had two quarterbacks — Ryan Tannehill and Johnny Manziel — selected in the first round. Hey, Jameill Showers was a backup here and he’s on an NFL roster.

Not only can you get to the NFL from Texas A&M, but there is an opportunity to be a starter within a year, if not immediately.

Receivers: Some NFL observers are calling Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans the next Calvin Johnson. That’s high praise. By the way, Evans played at Texas A&M.

He only played two seasons here after a redshirt year. That was after being primarily a basketball player in high school. Think about that. A&M took a raw talent and developed him into the seventh player selected in the 2014 draft in just three years.

Imagine what you can become at A&M where you’ll be coached by Aaron Moorehead, who played receiver in the NFL.

By the way, there are receivers on the roster that some day have a good chance to be high draft picks.

Josh Reynolds came to A&M from junior college. He’s caught 103 passes for 1,749 yards and 18 touchdowns in just two seasons. No doubt, NFL scouts are well aware of that.

Christian Kirk had 80 catches for 1,009 yards and seven touchdowns as a freshman. As soon as he’s draft eligible he’ll be a first round pick.

Ricky Seals-Jones and Speedy Noil played quarterback in high school. They’ve both had seasons in which they’ve caught more than 45 passes and scored at least four touchdowns. They’re still getting better, too.

In a few years NFL rosters will be infested with former A&M receivers. You could be one of them.

Offensive line: A&M has had an offensive lineman taken in the first round in each of the last four NFL drafts. The only other college program to accomplish that feat is USC. That was 30 years ago.

Luke Joeckel was the second player taken in 2013. Jake Matthews was taken sixth in 2014. Cedric Ogbuehi was picked 21st in 2015. Germain Ifedi was taken 31st this year by Seattle, which also has Aggie Patrick Lewis at center.

Jarvis Harrison was also drafted in 2015.

Almost all of those guys were recruited and developed by Jim Turner, who is back at A&M after coaching a few years in the NFL.

He can develop you, too.

You know you want to become a first round pick. So, you know where you need to go.

Running backs: True, most of the attention is focused on the A&M passing game, but the fact is since 2009 A&M has had three running backs drafted and all of them — Mike Goodson, Cyrus Gray and Christine Michael — made the teams.

The plan is to run the football more frequently in Offensive Coordinator Noel Mazzone’s system. By the way, two running backs that played for Mazzone at UCLA have been drafted – Paul Perkins this year and Johnathan Franklin in 2013.

You’ll run behind Jim Turner’s offensive line. Did I mention A&M’s offensive line has produced a first-round pick in each of the last four NFL drafts?

Defensive line: Defensive ends will be coached by Terry Price, who’s done a great job with his current players. Myles Garrett may be the first player taken in next year’s draft. Daeshon Hall also will be drafted, perhaps in the first round.

There will be playing time available, but you’ll have to earn it. There are other good ends on the roster, too. Some of them have NFL potential. Come here, you will, too.

Defensive tackles: You will be coached by David Turner, who did a great job with defensive linemen at Mississippi State.

Did you notice Mississippi State’s Chris Jones was selected in the second round of this year’s NFL Draft? David Turner recruited and developed him. In fact, in the last five years Mississippi State defensive linemen Josh Boyd, Fletcher Cox and Pernell McPhee were also drafted. Cox was a first-rounder.

All developed under David Turner.

You can learn behind Kingsley Keke and Daylon Mack, who will both be in the NFL someday. But there is playing time available right away in the tackle rotation.

Linebackers: Did you see the Super Bowl? Did you see Von Miller named MVP?

Miller developed at A&M. Indeed, he developed into the second selection in the 2011 draft. He’d tell you that A&M prepared him for NFL stardom.

True, the linebacker situation has been disappointing in recent years. That means there is opportunity to distinguish yourself and play right away.

Besides, you’ll be coached by John Chavis, who is one of the best defensive coordinators ever.

Secondary: Speaking of Chavis. He took a running back — Brandon Williams — who had never played cornerback and in one year turned him into a third round draft choice.

Now, think about what he can do for you.

Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arias even acknowledged the fact that Williams played under Chavis was a factor in the Cardinals selecting him.

Special teams: Three punters were taken in this year’s draft. The first was A&M’s Drew Kaser. He’ll play in San Diego, where he’ll be reunited with former A&M kicker Josh Lambo.

Not many programs can say they have a punter and a kicker on NFL rosters.

A&M could have two at each position. Shane Lechler is punting in Houston. Randy Bullock, who was drafted in 2012, is a free agent that will probably get a chance to win a job.

If that’s not reason enough to choose A&M, then look at it this way:

A&M had as many punters taken in the NFL Draft as Texas had players.