Shawnee (Okla.) OL Creed Humphrey commits to Texas A&M

On Wednesday, just two days after picking up a commitment from one of the nation's top quarterbacks in IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) QB Kellen Mond, Kevin Sumlin was dancing in the streets of Spain again — this time after receiving word that one of the premier prospects in the Sooner State had chosen Texas A&M.

Then again, if anyone is more excited than Sumlin this afternoon, it's probably Aggie offensive line coach Jim Turner.

That's because the first-year (second time around, of course) position coach landed a player that many consider one of the nation's most coveted interior OL prospects in Shawnee (Okla.) standout Creed Humphrey. The 6-4, 300-pounder — ranked as a top-three player in the state of Oklahoma — ultimately chose the Aggies over Bob Stoops and the in-state Sooners and Alabama.

Humphrey also had teams like Texas, Ole Miss, Arkansas and Oklahoma State fighting to jump into the mix, to no avail.

Turner was among the very first to discover Humphrey and actually did so during film study prior to the spring evaluation period. What Jimmy T. saw on tape was an exceptionally athletic and agile, 300-plus pound center moving around like a 260-pounder. Humphrey also shows the ability to reach the second level and lock onto linebackers with eye-catching quickness and ease.

More than anything else, however, the Ags' most recent verbal is an absolute mauler in the trenches — an SEC West-style blocker who possesses the strength, explosion, power and tenacity necessary to finish off his target with authority on nearly every snap.

Putting it simply, this is a young man who was built to play in the trenches in the Southeastern Conference and who will have no problem holding up — and even thriving — against some of college football's best interior defenders.

On film, Humphrey reminds me of 2016 All-American and Alabama standout Ryan Kelly. With Turner leading the way, it will come as no surprise whatsoever to see Humphrey follow Kelly's career arc as an All-SEC lineman and an All-American before eventually adding his name to his new coach's growing list of first-round draft picks. He's that talented a prospect.

Landing Humphrey is pretty special for Sumlin, Turner and the Aggies on several levels.

First and foremost, he's the second player who ranks as one of the nation's very best at his position to choose Texas A&M this very week. Second, it essentially allows the Ags to close things out along the offensive line, or at least gives them the luxury to hold out for a 'best available' type if five looks like the need as the season progresses.

In addition, beating out a Sooner program coming off of a 2015 CFB Playoff berth for a top-flight prospect out of Bob Stoops' own backyard is as impressive as it is rare.

Finally, recruiting is all about momentum ... and I'm not sure there's a hotter team in the country right now than Texas A&M.

The Aggies' recent run of commits has them threatening the top five of the composite rankings. Recruits around the state and — as recent commits from Humphrey and IMG standouts Santino Marchiol and Mond would indicate — the nation have taken note.

Humphrey's commit pushes the Ags' total on the offensive line to four, which means that it's entirely possible that the A&M offensive staff has closed things out at quarterback, tight end and perhaps offensive line and tailback before July 1. A pretty remarkable accomplishment considering the caliber of talent assembled in A&M's Class of 2017.

Creed joins close friend Adrian Wolford of Meeker (Okla.), Cy-Creek tackle Grayson Reed and Southlake Carroll tower Carson Green as members of Turner's first crop of blockers since returning to Aggieland.

The latest national top-100 addition to the Aggie class pushes the total number of commits to 16.