Texas A&M’s season opener did more than put up a 50-0 win over Missouri State. It also gave the Aggies another shot to roll out the red carpet for a deep group of 2027, 2028 and 2029 recruits, including one of their top flip targets in four-star athlete Za'Kari Johnson.
Johnson made his first visit to Kyle Field on Saturday, and the trip mattered. The Florida State commit has become a major name for Texas A&M, and Rivals recruiting expert Steve Wiltfong said after the visit that the Aggies are “definitely the leader” to land him.
That kind of buzz makes sense given how Johnson projects. The Miami Carol City standout is one of the more versatile players in the 2027 class, and while his college position is still up in the air, Texas A&M views him as a possible fit in the secondary at nickel or safety. That’s a spot where Mike Elko has already built a reputation for developing NFL talent, and it’s also an area where the Aggies already have one of the nation’s strongest 2026 safety and cornerback groups.
Johnson’s production shows why so many programs are chasing him. During his final season at Plantation, he handled work on both sides of the ball, rushing for 777 yards and 9 touchdowns while also throwing for 551 yards and 7 touchdowns. On defense, he added 10 tackles, 4 pass breakups and an interception.
He’s the kind of player who forces teams to account for him everywhere. The source material calls him a “jack of all trades,” and that fits the profile: a true playmaker who can tilt a game as a quarterback or in the secondary.
Florida State landed Johnson in early July, but Texas A&M’s push comes at a time when the Seminoles’ future is harder to read after Monday’s loss to SMU. That uncertainty could have a direct impact on Johnson’s recruitment.
If the Aggies do manage to pull off the flip, the future of their secondary starts to look even more dangerous. Johnson would join blue-chip safeties Kamarui Dorsey and JayQuan Snell, along with five-star cornerback Raylaun Henry.
In Other News...
Texas A&M Has A Huge Week 2 Recruiting Opportunity
Texas A&Ms Week 2 matchup with Arizona State is shaping up to matter well beyond the scoreboard. The home game will bring a packed recruiting guest list to College Station, with the Aggies set to host several top football prospects from the 2027, 2028 and 2029 classes, including a mix of highly ranked commits and other marquee targets.
Mike Elko and GM Derek Miller will use the weekend to keep building those relationships with a group that includes multiple five-star and four-star recruits. The trip also gives Texas A&M a chance to continue pushing for 2027 four-star athlete Za'Kari Johnson, as the Aggies are viewed as a favorite to flip him from Florida State. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Could Steal A Receiver Florida State Thought It Had
The early recruiting buzz around Texas A&Ms 2027 class has started to circle a name Florida State has spent time trying to keep in the fold. Wide receiver ZaKari Johnson, who reclassified from 2028 into 2027, made a visit to College Station for the Aggies season opener and reportedly came away impressed by both the atmosphere and the program, enough to put Texas A&M in position as the current leader in a possible flip race.
Johnson remains committed to Florida State for now, but the momentum around this recruitment is worth watching because the Aggies are clearly in the conversation and have already made a strong in-person impression. For Texas A&M, this is the kind of battle that can shape the early look of a class, and for Florida State, it is another reminder that holding onto a commitment after a big visit elsewhere is rarely simple. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Secondary Faces A Real Test Against Arizona State
Texas A&Ms defensive backfield is still sorting itself out as the Aggies get ready for Arizona State, with safety Tawfiq Byard expected to be out after missing warmups while recovering from an injury. His absence puts added pressure on a secondary that will need to stay steady against a real test, and the Aggies are likely to lean heavily on Marcus Ratcliffe and Dalton Brooks to handle most of the work at safety.
There is at least some encouraging news on the defensive side, though, with linebacker Daymion Sanford trending toward a return after being sidelined by a spring game injury. Sanford did not play last week, so his availability would give Texas A&M another layer of help as it tries to manage the matchup and compensate for the missing pieces in the back end. [Read more 🡒]