Texas A&M’s 2027 recruiting class is still sitting in a strong place, even with the Aggies’ on-field issues. The No. 1-ranked group took a hit when four-star linebacker Aston Whiteside flipped to Miami, but that move was expected, and the program’s six five-star pledges - including standout blue-chip linebacker Kaden Henderson - are not expected to look elsewhere right now.
Mike Elko has also kept Texas A&M pointed at spots of need, especially at wide receiver. The Aggies have already added four-star commits Jaden Upshaw and Eric McFarland there, and after landing current freshman running back KJ Edwards and Carsyn Baker, they still do not have a running back committed in the 2027 cycle.
That could change with a familiar name. According to AggieYell insider Joseph Hastings, UTEP quarterback commit and three-star Johnny Hamilton is one to watch for Texas A&M at running back.
Hamilton visited College Station for the Aggies’ 41-0 win over The Citadel, and afterward he said only UTEP and Texas A&M will remain in the mix for him. He still views quarterback as his more natural position, but his production on the ground has been hard to ignore: 39 carries for 397 yards, a 10.2 yards-per-carry average and five touchdowns this season.
For Hamilton, the key factor is his connection with Texas A&M running backs coach Trooper Taylor.
“He’s a good coach. Love coach Troop,” Hamilton said.
“He came down (in September) and talked with me. Had a good conversation with him.
(The relationship has) gone pretty far. We still keep in touch, so it’s been going pretty good.”
Texas A&M’s pursuit of backfield help comes after the Aggies lost five-star running back Landen Williams-Callis, who committed to Texas. Their effort to flip four-star Texas Tech running back commit SaRod Baker also appears less likely at this point.
In Other News...
Texas A&M Gets A Costly Chance To Reset At South Carolina
Texas A&M comes out of its bye week still looking for traction, and the timing of the reset could hardly be more important. At 4-4 overall and 1-4 in SEC play, the Aggies remain unranked in the AP Top 25 Poll, which only sharpens the pressure as they head into a road test against a South Carolina team that has climbed into the rankings after a recent win.
The matchup gives Texas A&M a chance to change the conversation, but it also puts the Aggies across from a program riding a little more momentum right now. With the poll shuffle continuing around them and other teams moving up and down after recent results, this trip to Columbia feels less like a routine conference game and more like a measuring stick for where the Aggies stand as the season tightens. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&Ms Final Stretch Suddenly Looks Much More Dangerous
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For Texas A&M, the timing matters because South Carolina and Oklahoma are both still on the horizon, and both now carry a little more weight after that result. The Aggies already knew the stretch would demand attention, but the way those two teams are trending suggests there may be more danger in those matchups than the schedule once appeared to show. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Road Struggles Keep Putting Mike Elko Under Pressure
Texas A&Ms uneven season has left Mike Elko trying to steady a team that has not found much traction away from home. The Aggies sit at 4-4 overall and 1-4 in SEC play after the loss to Alabama in Week 8, and the road results have been especially hard to ignore after lopsided defeats at LSU, Missouri and Alabama.
Elko has kept backing senior quarterback Marcel Reed despite the questions around his play, while also leaning on first-year offensive and defensive play-callers Holmon Wiggins and Lyle Hemphill to help sort out the issues. With the schedule turning and the margin for error shrinking, Texas A&M still has to prove it can travel better before the pressure around this staff eases. [Read more 🡒]