Eli Johnson

We just updated our rankings yesterday and I wanted to dive into some of my thoughts on 2027QB - I get the sense that one is headed out of state again this cycle. Valdosta (GA) Lowndes standout Jayce Johnson is the one I'd place the best odds on right now. The Aggies are in his top five with Florida State, Mississippi State, South Carolina, and Tennessee, he's announcing August 3, and he has visited several times over the last year. He has some nice size at 6-4, 205 and comes equipped with a big arm and mobility.Peyton Houston of Shreveport (LA) Evangel is another to watch, but I do like the USC prediction with Riley's history with QBs of shorter stature and his close friend Boobie Feaster currently committed out there. If you are looking in-state Palestine Westwood's Kavian Bryant is the one I'm watching the closest. In addition to choosing from his multiple college options - including Texas A&M - he's also trying to figure out whether he will play football or basketball or try to do both on the next level. Being a dual-sport QB on the college level is a tough road especially in basketball and football with the crossover of those seasons. I think back to Charlie Ward, Ronald Curry, and Donovan McNabb as the last one's I can truly remember making the football-basketball combo happen as QBs. Duke PG and Syracuse QB Greg Paulus played both but didn't do them at the same time Anyway, Bryant is a high-level player on both the football field and basketball court and wherever he goes is going to have an elite athlete on their hands. The Aggies are taking a good look and he is taking a good look back, and I'll leave it to those coaches in those sports and him and his family to figure out how that will work out. OL - Good gracious what a strong year in the state for OL, and the Aggies are right in the hunt for several. Gilmer's Ismael Camara, Kingwood's Kennedy Brown, San Antonio Roosevelt's Kaeden Scott, and Anna's Peyton Miller have all been on campus several times over the last few years and I think there is a strong mutual interest between them and the Aggie staff. I'm not ready to predict where each ends up or how many the Aggies can or should land out of that four, but I will say I get the sense the Aggies are in a really strong position with both Camara and Miller. DBs - This conversations starts with cornerback John Meredith III, and the Aggies are in a very good spot there. His last visit to Texas A&M really helped the Aggies push way up his list. I'm hearing a lot of talk about them even being at the tip top of that list. Now Meredith is headed towards five-star status in my book, and there is no doubt in my mind he will be hotly pursued by top programs near and far.I do think Texas A&M and College Station are very much his vibe, and proximity to home and playing in the SEC are a few things I feel are very much positives for the Aggies. Throw in Elko being a defensive minded coach, Jordan Peterson's personality and coaching style, and an already strong connection with Mason Smith and there's some really big pluses for the Aggies. At S the Aggies are also off to a great start with Waxahachie's JayQuan Snell. He has visited multiple times, he has worked with and gotten to know coach Ish Aristide well, and former Waxahachie and Texas A&M standout Demani Richardson has also been in his ear. He's another one I hear really likes the feel of College Station and Texas A&M, and on and off the field it sounds like a good fit. Of course, just like Meredith he is already well established on college radars and he is being hotly pursued especially by programs in and around the state, but I do like what I'm hearing about Texas A&M's position right now.Cibolo Steele's Eli Johnson is another to watch at safety. I don't have as many thoughts or as strong of feelings about where things stand with him, but the Aggies have done well there in the past and he has visited multiple times including this summer.LB - I'm a pretty big fan of both Cooper Witten of Argyle Liberty Christian and Braylon Williams of Arlington Lamar, and again I get the sense there is a strong mutual interest between them and the Aggies. Them and their families have already visited and coach Elko and coach Bateman have been in communication.DL - Talking big bodies Cedar Hill's Jalen Brewster and DeSoto's KAdrian Redmond are two to watch in-state. The Aggies have offered others, but when it comes to in-state prospects, particularly in DFW, these two are guys really have my attention. Brewster has visited a few times since receiving his offer in January, and he has cemented his standing as one of the nation's top big, athletic DLs. Redmond received his offer last summer, and he has since moved from Lake Dallas to DeSoto. He is raw, but you can see the traits and I could see him taking a big step forward on the field this fall.Waxahachie DE Sedrick Marsh is another intriguing prospect. He doesn't have a ton of tape, but he caught the Aggies' attention this spring and he earned MVP honors at one of Texas A&M's big man camps this summer. With a strong start to the season, I could see his name coming up more and more too.Guyer's Zane Rowe is undeniably a hot prospect, and the Aggies are definitely in pursuit. There is mutual interest there, and while I would say the Aggies are high on his list, I get the sense others may have a little better foothold right now. TE - North Crowley's Jeramie Cooper is where it starts in-state and the Aggies have situated themselves well. He is kind of an Amari Niblack type of versatile, receiver type threat, but do not sleep on his blocking he will bury you. He has already been to multiple games and visited this spring and summer. He speaks highly of coach Ellsworth as well. Then there is Ruston (LA) dual-sport standout Ahmad Hudson who has now visited a few times. Basketball will definitely play a role in his recruitment and LSU is going to be tough to beat. That said there is some interest and he is one of the more uniquely gifted prospects in the country at 6-7.Out of state I mentioned Jayce Johnson and Peyton Houston. I would keep an eye on some guys like S Omarii Sanders of Nashville who has a strong family connection to QB Marcel Reed. The Aggies were one of his few visits this summer. Baltimore (MD) St Frances Academy CB Raylaun Henry vaulted the Aggies up his list after his camp experience. S Myles Baker of Chatsworth (CA) Sierra Canyon visited with his parents and I could see him as a viable candidate to carry on the Aggie pipeline to the west. Edge Chris Whitehead of Chesterfield (VA) Bird, Zyron Forstall of New Orleans (LA) Jesuit, and Alabama commit Jabarrius Garror of Mobile (AL) Vigor were a few highly touted guys who made their way to camp this summer. Hattiesburg (MS) Oak Grove DT Deven Robertson has also visited multiple times now and is taking a good long look at the Aggies. WR the Aggies already have a commitment from Quitman (GA) Brooks County standout George Lamons Jr, but it still has my head swimming with so many interesting in-state options. Pflugerville Weiss standout Tre Moore definitely has my attention after getting some eyes on him this summer. Running back, I think that begins with Landen Williams-Callis in-state and then you see what happens from there. I'd also keep Myson Johnson-Cook on the radar, he's just a big uniquely gifted athlete with physical traits you can't coach.I'm not going to guess on how many in the class or at each position right now, but I do think we'll see the Aggies have a stronger in-state presence next cycle.Alright that's quite a bit, so I'm going to eat some lunch.