TexAgs' recruiting analyst Ryan Brauninger joined TexAgs Radio on Wednesday morning for another edition of Recruiting Country, highlighting the latest news and notes from the recruiting trail following a big visiting weekend for A&M's Maroon & White Game.
Key notes from Recruiting Country
- Good recruiting job by Bryant Gross-Armiento as a position coach with help from TJ Rushing to get Josh DeBerry. He is from Michigan and had a great career at Boston College. With Bobby Taylor entering the portal, you had to have it from a numbers perspective. They will have the available scholarships. At corner, they may need another body. He is leaving Boston College to play at A&M. They will try to put him on the field a bit. With D.J. Durkin, Bryce Anderson has played at linebacker, deep safety and nickel. You could see DeBerry there too. It gives you versatility and a lot of options. A&M can give you what you need academically and athletically. Give the scouts the best look possible. It's interesting how this is playing right before us. A three-time all-conference player packs it up to leave and go try it somewhere else.
- We are keeping tabs on JD Davis. He played at Middle Tennessee and Jackson State. There are other schools getting in his ears. Kentucky is making a push. The Aggie coaching staff had a Zoom call with him last night that went well. We are monitoring that throughout the day and week. If they are able to land him, it would be just like DeBerry. It's an important and quality get for your roster.
- They are being more proactive with coach Durkin with the linebackers. The need to do something with the high school ranks. There is a good group out there. Payton Pierce is going to Ohio State. They are doing a great job with Tyanthony Smith. Justin Williams took his first visit to A&M in a long time. They have a lot of work to do with him. Maurice Williams and Xavier Atkins both committed to LSU. Brandon Booker just committed to Baylor. You can get those guys, but the job is getting tougher. I love the offer to Andrew Marsh.
- A&M’s top targets have not set commitment dates. I don't know if there will be a big domino to fall to get the class to nine to ten commits before the season starts. The time for sale pitches is about done. Those kids and parents want to see it put into action. People are apprehensive about going all in on A&M. You have to swim through all the drama of the problems with the 2022 recruiting class.
- I don't like unlimited official visits at all. Jim Schlossnagle likes it for baseball recruiting. On the football side, I liked they cut it down to five. It gave like guys like Jason Howell and I a better read on who a kid's top schools are. The official visits may clash with high school football. Will they still come to school and practice? Does their performance drop off? It will make things harder to read on our end. I need to go back and see what the rule was before they could take five. If you set the system up that way, you can't say kids are abusing the system. If they take 20, are they abusing it or doing what they are allowed to?
- You had Weston Davis come into town. Drelon Miller is an important deal this cycle. Joseph Jonah-Ajonye looks like if he matures, he will have to be in a five-star discussion. He is rocketing up. A&M has done a great job with TJ Lindsey. A&M can be picky with who they take on the defensive line. Justin Williams was on campus this past weekend. Christian Peterson is high on A&M early. Even the 2025 list, I was pumped about that.
- I think they will take three linebackers in this class. If they get JD Davis, he is a one-year guy. The number on the 2023 recruiting class, what does that look like? They could have a 30-man class in 2024. They should have spots open.
- Schools are waiting to see how Freddie Dubose bounces back after blowing his knee. He released his top six, and A&M is in it.
- Reggie McNeal Jr can be a quarterback like his dad but dabbles in receiver. He has shown a quick transition into grasping those concepts. He was a late bloomer, but a good-looking prospect.
- Micah Hudson did not come to the spring game. A&M will have to show him something on the field. Texas Tech is done a great job with him.
- A&M coaches will be getting back on the road to see kids on their campuses. The portal should be more active than high school recruiting for the foreseeable future.
