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

TexAgs' recruiting analyst Ryan Brauninger joined TexAgs LIVE 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

• Recruiting was a success. When these kids come in, they're not tied to the result. They are looking for the feeling that the atmosphere gives them. Now, that isn't to discount the importance of winning a game. Mike Elko had Kyle Field did what it often does and left an impression. It was a good mix of commits.
   
• Deondrae Riden‍ played on Saturday, and Kelvion Riggins‍ had a test he couldn't get out of because he's trying to graduate early. I was a huge fan of what Conner Weigman did at the press conference, but it was cool to see Husan Longstreet‍’s support. It makes you feel better in terms of where Husan's standing is with this team.
   
• When Collin Klein went and combed through the 2025 QB class, Husan Longstreet was at the top. We were hearing that Collin Klein has zeroed in on this kid from California, and he did. There were some intriguing options in-state when you look at a guy like Keelon Russell‍ at Duncanville who could operate coach Klein's offense, but they never wavered in their pursuit of Husan. His brother is on the team here. There are growing connections, and he's visited College Station a lot. It's hard to imagine him not fitting into any type of offense.
   
• If you've been in Kyle Field, you've probably seen that most of the football recruit section is from the A&M bench side from the endzone to the 25-30 yard line, this time it stretched from the 25-30 yard line to the south end zone. There were some big 2026 recruits there, and it was the first time I've seen them in that section. That's when I knew this was different.
   
• It's Kyle Field at its best. People can be negative and talk about all they want, but at some point, this place is going to break through in football. I'm convinced of it. I don't know when it will happen. “Why can't A&M do it? Why can't A&M do it with Mike Elko?” I thought the loss had a lot of anger and emotions from previous seasons.
   
• From a recruiting aspect, some of the recruits who haven't been to an A&M football game in the 2025 commit class, and you look at some of those guys: Noah Mikhail‍, Adonyss Currie‍, Jamar Beal-Goines‍, I think they come to A&M and see that atmosphere, and it cements their decision. There are going to be some guys that take some visits where you have to weather the storm. I think a lot of people believe in coach Elko, believe in his vision of the program, and that's the beauty of year one. You can sell the sizzle.
   
• Texas is coming off of a College Football Playoff appearance. They're in the top five. To the outside eye, it looks like they're going in the right direction. As long as Texas wins games, they're going to recruit very well, and they're also NIL machines. Oregon is going to be a threat. USC tried to get Husan Longstreet. As of today, I'm not anticipating anyone who's waffling right now. That could change, though, and that's the nature of recruiting.
   
• DJ Sanders‍ had a great night and a great opening week. If you asked me who was the best defensive lineman in A&M's recruiting class, I would have to go with Landon Rink‍. He is so technically gifted. However, DJ Sanders has such a high upside. I have not seen many kids who are 6-foot-4, 300 pounds, but move around like a 200-pounder.
   
• Husan Longstreet has been hurt. He is coming back from a significant ankle injury. If you have played sports at any high level, you know that you can't pick when you're going to have a bad game. You can do everything right during the week, show up and have a stinker. Football is a little less forgiving because you only get 12 opportunities. In baseball, you expect to have a couple of stinkers when you're playing 60 games. Longstreet, just like Weigman, I fully expect to bounce back if they are healthy.
   
• DeSoto is going to have big wins against almost everybody. I am not sure how much Tiger played. They are legitimately maybe the best high school football team in the country. The other one would be Duncanville, which is right down the road. I have discussed with some high school coaches about needing parity back. It looks like we are dead set on another Duncanville vs North Shore State championship game. We have had four or five, and we could be going on six. Is that good for Texas High School Football? Is it bad? If so, can you fix it? Do you need to fix it? It looks to me that in Dallas, there is a clear line of Duncanville, Desoto and South Oak Cliff. In Houston, it is North Shore and then who? Atascocita looks awesome. I am going to see them on Friday night.
   
• Noah Mikhail told me he had been playing a lot of offense. He looks great. In terms of what you are looking for in a high school linebacker, he checks every box. I talked to him Saturday, and he came off as a very cerebral and self-aware kid. 
   
• Hitchcock lost to Houston Legacy, who has Josh Moses‍ and a couple of A&M targets. That game was awesome. Hitchcock had jumped out to a double-digit lead in the second half, and Houston Legacy came back and ended up winning it. It was a really entertaining game. Kelshaun Johnson‍ is so much like Ainias Smith in what you can do with him. It does not surprise me to see him return a kickoff for a touchdown. 
   
• The Tom Lenning event was interesting because he has been in the recruiting game for so long. He held an event because A&M and Notre Dame was a primetime matchup, and he knew there would be a bunch of kids on campus. We got to talk to a lot of kids and take some headshots. 
   
• Tomorrow night, I am going to watch Willis play. They have 2026 superstar Jermaine Bishop‍, who reminds me a lot of Terry Bussey. He can be an impact player on both sides of the ball. To say he will only play one side in college is short-changing his ability. I am going to talk to him about Kyle Field and the atmosphere. I want to talk to kids like him about their experience at Kyle Field. 
   
• I will be at Willis against Klein Collins tomorrow. Friday, I will be at Katy, who is hosting Atascocita. Jason Howell will have a game tomorrow then he is going out of town. Cade Draughon will be at Fulshear against Fort Bend Ridge Point and then Clear Creek vs. Shadow Creek to see A&M commit Cobey Sellers‍.