Before pursuing Dave Aranda, Texas A&M reportedly wanted another SEC coordinator

Texas A&M isn’t messing around this offseason.

After the Aggies backed up the truck to sign former Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher to a massive 10-year, $75 million contract, they’re also looking to make a splash with their defensive coordinator hire.

They’re reportedly heavily pursuing LSU DC Dave Aranda to join Fisher’s staff, but according to Texas A&M beat reporter Brent Zwerneman, who appeared on “The Paul Finebaum Show” on Wednesday, the Aggies kicked the tires on Alabama’s Jeremy Pruitt:

"It looks like it's going to happen. This is something that has been in the works for awhile…once Jeremy Pruitt went to Tennessee, A&M zeroed in on Aranda" – @BrentZwerneman pic.twitter.com/1rB4z1UTn0

— Paul Finebaum (@finebaum) January 3, 2018

Of course, Pruitt ultimately ended up taking the head coaching job at Tennessee, so he is no longer in the mix.

However, Aranda is very much in play, but it won’t be easy for the Aggies to lure him away from the Tigers, as he currently has one of the highest salaries of any assistant.

Still, the Aggies have proven that they’re willing to spend, so it wouldn’t be too much of a surprise to see them make Aranda an offer he can’t turn down.