Texas A&M Football: Early Signing Day Tracker

Early signing day is here, and Texas A&M football is set to ink at least 16 high school players from the high school ranks, with a couple of decisions to follow along with for Aggie fans.  As of writing, the Aggies have officially received the papers from several players, listed below:

• OL Naquil Betrand
• OL Colton Thomasson
• QB Marcel Reed
• EDGE Rylan Kennedy
• LB Daymion Sanford
• P Tyler White
• DB Bravion Rogers
• DB Dalton Brooks
• OL TJ Shanahan
• RB Rueben Owens
• LB Chantz Johnson
• LB Taurean York
• TE Jaden Platt
• DB Jayvon Thomas
• OL Chase Bisontis
• ATH Micah Tease

This list will continue to update as the day progresses.

One decision that was of interest to Texas A&M football fans was that of Alabama DB commitment Tony Mitchell out of Alabaster, AL.  Mitchell officially visited Aggieland last weekend and had seemed to always have a certain affinity for the Texas A&M football program to the point where some expected the flip here on signing day.  Now, according to Hayes Fawcett of On3, it does not appear that will happen.

This is one that has kept a lot of fans guessing as ESD approaches— some intel even came out favoring Auburn within the past few days— but it looks as though Mitchell will be sticking with the Crimson Tide.  The Aggies have DB Bravion Rogers and DB Dalton Brooks in the boat already, though, with one more set to sign in Jayvon Thomas.  This was a huge position of need coming into the day, and a commitment from Mitchell would have been huge for the Aggies.  However, this further serves to underscore the need to sign CB Tony Grimes out of the transfer portal.

The OL class for Texas A&M football, despite the struggles in that position group this year, is impressive as it currently stands, with the potential to add more.  TJ Shanahan and Chase Bisontis are super highly rated guys with the film to back it up, while longtime commit Colton Thomasson has flown a bit more under the radar nationally.  Naquil Betrand is definitely a project, but, much like a player currently on the roster in Dametrious Crownover, he has all the physical tools OL coaches dream of.

The Anthony Hill miss looms large over the LB class that Texas A&M is bringing in, which is unfortunate.  Taurean York and Daymion Sanford are really talented players.  Sanford compares well to current Aggie player Martrell Harris— both have insane athleticism but are a bit more raw skill-wise.  The same can’t be said of York, who is very polished at the position but a bit undersized.  However, that potential knock is counterbalanced by his knowledge of the game, ability to get to the right place at the right time, and the fact that he will be playing behind one of the best defensive lines in the nation during his time in Aggieland.

The Aggies flipped a top-100 player in TE Jaden Platt last night to add to their quickly-growing offensive skill group for the 2023 class.  Platt was a longtime target for the Aggies but had been committed to Stanford for quite some time.  However, with a lack of certainty at the head coaching position for the Cardinal, the Aggies were able to capitalize.  He, along with RB Reuben Owens (an absolute stud and the future of the Aggie backfield) and QB Marcel Reed are the current A&M offensive skill group incoming.  The Aggie faithful will be watching the decision of former Arkansas WR commit and top player in Oklahoma Micah Tease later today, as all signs point towards the Texas A&M football program in that recruitment.

Keep it right here, as this page will be continued to updated throughout the day with news and notes on commitments.

***11:30 AM UPDATE***

Texas A&M football has signed two more prospects in RB Rueben Owens from El Campo and the newly-committed LB Chantz Johnson out of College Station.  Owens is one of the crown jewels of this class and flipped from Louisville.

Johnson compares well to Taurean York: a bit undersized but has a high football IQ and a nose for the ball.  Both York and Johnson help to fill out a depleted LB room, though the Aggies will still be in the market for a linebacker through the transfer portal.

***12:30 PM UPDATE***

Both Jayvon Thomas and Jaden Platt have now signed their NLIs.  TCU made a huge push for Jayvon Thomas down the stretch but the Aggies weathered it well, having Jayvon and his father attend the official visit weekend last Friday-Sunday.  Both are high-level prospects and huge gets for this Aggie team.  Platt will be part of a crowded TE room but, with his skill, will be sure to figure in the rotation, as will Thomas with the depleted Aggie DB group.

***1:30 PM UPDATE***

Big news for the Aggies, as not only does Chase Bisontis make things official, continuing to round out a standout offensive line class, but Oklahoma ATH Micah Tease commits to Texas A&M!  Tease is an explosive athlete who projects as a slot receiver.  For a team that held no commitments from offensive skill position players only about one month ago, the Texas A&M football staff has closed out strong with Marcel Reed, Micah Tease, Rueben Owens, and Jaden Platt.  The only remaining commitments left to sign are DL David Hicks (who will be signing on Friday morning, per Texags) and DL Samu Taumanupepe (who will be signing on January 23, his birthday— also per Texags).