Texas A&M is still in the hunt for one of the biggest names left on its 2027 board, but the latest buzz points in a different direction. Five-star running back Landen Williams-Callis, a priority target for the Aggies, has now been predicted to land with Texas, even after taking official visits to Indiana, SMU, Oregon, Houston, Missouri, Texas A&M, and the Longhorns on June 19.
The race may ultimately come down to money. Williams-Callis’ decision is expected to be shaped by an NIL bidding war, and Texas A&M has already shown it is willing to play that game in a big way.
Under third-year coach Mike Elko and Athletic Director Trev Alberts, the Aggies’ NIL spending in the 2027 cycle has reportedly reached $10 million. That kind of investment has helped Texas A&M build the No. 1-ranked recruiting class in the cycle, which also includes five-star offensive lineman Mark Matthews, the No. 1-ranked tackle in the class.
Williams-Callis has the kind of production that makes the fight worth it. At Randle HS in Richmond, Texas, he has piled up 4,049 yards and 66 touchdowns, including 2,103 yards and 43 scores during his 2024 junior season. He kept rolling in 2025, finishing with 3,502 rushing yards and 59 touchdowns while averaging 10.8 yards per carry.
Still, according to AggieYell insider Jaxson Callaway, Texas, Houston, and SMU have “picked up momentum” and are prepared to spend heavily to land him. Texas A&M, meanwhile, may not feel the same urgency to go all-in, especially after adding freshman running backs KJ Edwards and Carsyn Baker.
If Texas does end up winning out for Williams-Callis, Callaway says the name to keep an eye on is current Texas Tech commit and four-star running back SaRod Baker, who is expected to make his way back to College Station sometime this fall.
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LSU Suddenly Has Real Tension In Battle For Elite 2027 Back
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Williams-Callis has built a profile that has made him one of the more closely watched backs in his class, and the next stretch of his recruitment figures to matter. For A&M, the appeal is obvious: landing an elite runner this early would give the program a major head start, but the competition is now down to a handful of schools and the pressure is only going to rise from here. [Read more 🡒]