Texas A&M Football: Why this 3-star 2023 OT is a diamond in the rough

Sometimes, ratings don’t tell the whole story when it comes to high school recruiting. While Jimbo Fisher’s recent classes for the Texas A&M football team have been highlighted by playing with high ratings, he doesn’t always rely on guys who are near the top of the class.

2022 won’t be the best example of this, as Fisher brought in the highest-rated overall class in the history of college football. That said, some of the best players on the current roster were not blue-chip recruits.

Just look at players like Chase Lane and Ainias Smith, who could be the team’s top two receivers next season — both were four-star prospects. Layden Robinson and Blake Trainor are both strong examples, too. As a result, Fisher is always looking at potential diamond-in-the-rough recruits to add to his roster.

The Texas A&M football staff has their eyes on an underrated three-star offensive tackle

To find their next diamond in the rough, Jimbo Fisher and his staff have their sights set on an offensive tackle out of Orange, California. That prospect goes by the name of Elishah Jackett, a quickly improving offensive lineman in the class of 2023.

Jackett isn’t a four or five-star recruit — he only has three stars to his name. Still, his offer sheet speaks for itself. The Aggie prospect holds offers from Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Texas, Washington, UCLA, and a handful of others.

Recently, Jackett named Texas A&M in his top-five schools.

The beauty of having a player like Jackett on campus is simple — longevity. While there will be plenty of high-profile prospects who feel deserving of early playing time, there won’t be that same pressure with this three-star blocker.

After being unranked for a while, Jackett is finally moving up the ranks of 247Sports. Heck, it seems unlikely that he’ll finish the 2023 cycle as a three-star prospect.

Jackett is not lacking in size, as he’s listed at 6’7″ and 280 pounds. He could potentially play early if necessary, though he’ll likely be a reliable four or five-year player. He won’t catch many headlines but Jackett will soon be a priority prospect for any relevant Pac-12 or SEC team.

The Aggies 2023 class is currently ranked just 12th in the nation, though Jimbo Fisher has been known to make late-cycle surges. Look for Jackett to become another early piece in a class that could eventually rise in the rankings.