5 main takeaways from Texas A&M's first day of Early Signing Period
Jimbo Fisher is having an impact.
There’s no question about it: the Aggies’ head coach is bringing in one of the best, if not the best, recruiting classes in program history. A total of 21 recruits signed letters of intent on Wednesday, the first day of the Early Signing Period, which runs Dec. 19-21.
Of the 25 commits (21 officially signing on Wednesday and the others expected to follow), the Aggies have pulled in two 5-stars and 12 4-stars.
Here are five takeaways from one of the most exciting days in Texas A&M program history.
1. Quality
Not only did Fisher make a big haul on Wednesday, he did it with quality athletes. And he continued to put an emphasis on being physical, landing a pair of 5-stars in the trenches, one on each side of the football.
Offensive tackle Kenyon Green (6-4, 330) is rated the top recruit out of the state of Texas by 247Sports.com. He is also ranked No. 2 nationally at his position and the No. 11 overall recruit in the country. The Humble (Atascocita High School) product was named the Houston Touchdown Club 2018 Offensive Player of the Year.
Defensive tackle DeMarvin Leal (6-4, 280) is rated the No. 3 DT in the country and the No. 4 overall recruit out of the Lone Star State. A Converse Judson High School standout, Leal totaled 195 tackles over three seasons, including 43 for loss, and recorded 13 sacks.
It is quite a pair to lead the Aggies into what all indications are a very bright future.
2. Secondary addressed
Fisher shored up an area of concern with this year’s group. Three of the Aggies’ top six recruits play in the secondary, where Texas A&M gave up large chunks of yardage throughout the regular season.
The 4-star trio is led by safety Brian Williams (6-1, 211). The Dallas-area product has 4.47 speed and is ranked by 247Sports.com as the No. 2 player in the nation at his position and the No. 8 overall recruit out of Texas.
Safety Demani Richardson is ranked No. 4 nationally at his position (12th overall in Texas), and cornerback Erick Young is No. 10 in the nation at his position and the 15th overall recruit from Texas.
That’s how you start to shore up a secondary.
3. In-state dominance
Fisher pulled in 15 of the top 22 recruits from the state of Texas, including four of the top nine and seven of the top 16.
Here's where the top 20 kids in the state of Texas are committed/signed on as of noon on #NSD19 (via @247Sports' composite ranking) pic.twitter.com/wVC3YMwhOj
— Ben Baby (@Ben_Baby) December 19, 2018
Those are incredible numbers from a state that is considered among the hotbeds for top talent. It’s even more amazing when you compare it to the other major programs vying for the same talent. While Fisher grabbed seven of the top 16 recruits in the state, Oklahoma got just three, while Texas was able to attract only two.
This is how you build a championship program. Fisher did it at Florida State, and these are the types of recruiting classes that did it for him.
4. Aggies flip DE Derick Hunter
The 4-star commit to Florida State flipped at the 11th hour and is following Fisher to Texas A&M. The 6-5, 285-pounder from Fort Myers, Fla., is quick and agile but with a big body and can play inside as well.
Rated the No. 19 strongside defensive end in the country by 247Sports.com, Hunter is expected to graduate this month and enroll early (January) at Texas A&M, where he hopes to hit the ground running and compete to replace the Aggies’ DEs, both seniors this year.
5. More on the way
While a few commits did not officially sign their LOIs on Wednesday, they are expected to do so soon.
Tight end Jalen Wydermyer, a 3-star tight end from Dickinson, will hold a ceremony on Thursday to officially sign his papers. It’s a birthday gift he’s giving to himself.
A couple of 4-stars are working on getting through some academic issues to sign in February. Defensive end Braedon Mowry and defensive tackle Josh Ellison will be valued additions in the trenches when it becomes official for those two potential stalwarts.