Assessing Texas A&M's recruiting class days before Signing Day

With all the upheaval at quarterback and offensive coordinator, Texas A&M may have solidified the position long-term with one-time Oklahoma State commit Nick Starkel.

While the Aggies have numbers in the 2016 recruiting class, they lack a standout commit that would make rival programs sit up and notice. Only one of their 19 recruits is ranked in the top 100 by 247Sports Composite.

They have two four-star defensive ends committed to eventually replace Myles Garrett and Daeshon Hall, but just one of them, Justin Madubuike is ranked in the top 60 nationally. Though Mark Jackson, Jr. at 6-feet-2 1/2, 221 pounds could have plenty of upside.

Given the fertile recruiting area, all but two of the current commits are from outside Texas — both from Louisiana — including four-star WR Clyde Chriss from New Orleans.

If there was any doubt the priority level the Aggies coaches have placed on DB Brandon Jones, coach Kevin Sumlin and five assistants visited him recently at his home. Another target is DT Chris Daniels, who decommitted from Oklahoma.

What’s clear is the Aggies need a strong finish to curb frustration and anxiousness around a program that deals with regular headlines of Sumlin possibly flirting with the NFL, and a 1-7 record against Alabama and LSU the last four seasons. Not to mention a change at athletic director.

Sumlin no doubt needs more of his signature Twitter expression for an oral commitment — #YESSIR — to avoid his worst recruiting class ranking at Texas A&M. His first four classes were ranked Nos. 16, 9, 5 and 11. Those were all boosted by five-star recruits, a combined nine players. This year’s class so far doesn’t have one five-star.

ASSESSING TEXAS A&M’s 2016 CLASS

Current commits or enrollees: 19

Remaining primary targets: DB Brandon Jones, DT Chris Daniels, DB Cameron Lewis

National/SEC rank: 17/7

NOTABLE COMMITS/ENROLLEES