Recruiting Country: The latest recruiting news surrounding the Maroon & White

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 surrounding Texas A&M.

Key notes from Recruiting Country

• Although nothing has been made official yet by Texas A&M, there have been enough outlets saying all signs point to Joe Hamilton leaving Florida and coming to College Station. Joe Hamilton is another savvy hire by Mike Elko.
   
• Joe is a grinder. He works exceptionally hard. Joe has made a name in this business from basically nothing. He’s from Lewisville, so he has a lot of DFW connections. He went to Texas Southern so he has time spent in Houston, and he is super connected throughout the state.
   
• Billy Napier hired Hamilton at Louisiana Lafayette because he kept reaching out to different staffs, and then he was so good there Napier took him to Florida. That’s really where he made a name for himself nationally in his work ethic, his ability to connect with kids and parents and his ability to be structured. He was a key component for a lot of the kids from Texas that Florida got to commit. 
   
• This can’t be understated. This is a big-time hire for this Texas A&M football program. Joe Hamilton will be a huge asset for them. I don’t know if his title will matter. Joe is so good. He can perform in a lot of different roles, but the number one thing you want him to do is you want him to start making connections with kids you bring to campus and utilize his connections throughout the state. I don’t know what exactly his title will be, but just getting a guy like that in the building, makes it not matter.
   
• It starts at the top, and I think Mike Elko is looking for that work ethic in the coaches and player personnel staff he is bringing in. There were guys on the last staff as grinders as well, but the returns that we’ve gotten on incoming coaches have been similar regardless of coach.
   
• It’s a staff that's coming in with a lot less known about them as recruiters but the more people we talk to, they are all very similar in that they’re organized, communicate well and are very focused. We have kids who tell us how they have multiple coaches communicating with them every week. It’s clearly an initiative that starts at the top.
   
• Kiotti Armstrong‍ is a first-off-the-bus kind of kid. If you lined up the top 50 guys in the state, you would probably pick him to be one of the best players. That kid can grow into an elite left tackle or pass rusher. He’s just a jumbo superathlete. I would project him to stay at tight end.
   
• The ceiling on Armstrong is crazy high. He compares physically to Darnell Washington the tight end who was at Georgia. Linkon Cure‍ grew up a massive Collin Klein fan. That hire has kind of opened up that part of the country for A&M. I would imagine his top schools are Kansas State and Texas A&M and the only reason A&M is in it is because of Klein.
   
• Nicholas Townsend‍ is a tight end, but it's a disservice if you only consider him a tight end. He plays running back or slot receiver. His tape is sensationally good. He would be unlike anything A&M has had as that tight end, halfback role. He makes plays as a running back, tight end and receiver. Insanely athletic.
   
• Jason Howell and I were actually just on the phone talking about our 2025 rankings, and I was saying Townsend has to skyrocket. He’s in line for a 50-spot move in our rankings. It’s as impressive of a halfback prospect as I’ve ever seen in the state. Just looking at what A&M could do with him in Klein’s offense. I think A&M is at the top of his list right now along with Ole Miss and Texas.
   
• Wide receiver targets lean-heavy Dallas. There are a couple of Houston guys and one in San Antonio named Michael Terry III‍, who is a jumbo wide receiver who can play multiple positions. A&M is super interested in him, along with Texas and Oregon. They are in a good spot for Terry. We haven't talked much about him because he is in San Antonio.
   
• Kelshaun Johnson‍, Jacorey Watson‍, Quanell X Farrakhan Jr‍ and Andrew Marsh‍, I would project as an inside slot receivers.
   
• Kelshaun is built like Ainias Smith coming out of high school and has similar skill sets. He has better top-end speed. He is good in tight spaces.
   
• Jacorey Watson, the only knock, if there is one, is he has not played a bunch of receivers because of team necessity at quarterback. He is electric with the ball in his hands. There is a good group in Houston.
   
• They have a lot of offers out, but who gets the big pushes heading into the spring and summer?