Texas A&M is in the midst of a massive official visit weekend— just like last week— and the Aggies are looking to close out on some big time targets. The Aggies have several five-star players on campus, both committed and uncommitted, as well as some highly-ranked players who have pledged elsewhere.
It's one of those visitor lists that you look at and your eyes widen with each successive name that you read off. It speaks to just how elite the job of recruiting that this Texas A&M staff has done up until this point in the cycle actually is, and the finish that they have in mind is nothing short of mind-boggling.
Of course, you aren't going to win out in every recruitment, though the Aggies have a pretty good hit rate right now in this cycle. If there is one player that Texas A&M could emerge from the weekend with a commitment from, though, the answer is pretty clear.
Texas A&M needs 5-star Kaden Henderson to complete linebacker class
Henderson has been a Texas A&M and Miami battle for quite some time. The Tampa native has been high on the Aggies for a while now, but has yet to pull the trigger on a commitment to the maroon and white.
With so many Sunshine State players jumping in the boat with the Aggies, though, it could be that Henderson is the next in line to make a decision for Mike Elko and company. The Aggies have recently received commitments from the nation's top OT in Mark Matthews— who is also on campus this weekend— as well as ATH Loia Valade, also from Florida.
That's not even to mention Zyron Forstall, out of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida— though he's a Louisiana native originally. Another edge commit, Fredrick Ards, is out of the Orlando area— and the Aggies are making a hard charge for IMG Academy wide receiver Eric McFarland as well.
It's not just the Florida connection that makes this make sense, of course. It's how Henderson could complete this Texas A&M class at the linebacker position. He would immediately be the most athletic player at the position that the Aggies have had since Edgerrin Cooper was on campus (though Daymion Sanford may have something to say about that, of course).
Henderson, were he to commit, would join Aston Whiteside as linebacker pledges in this cycle, with another at the position in Mikahi Allen trending heavily towards the Aggies as well right now. That would be a really solid three-man haul for the Aggies, completing that position group with aplomb.
Henderson's pass-rush ability and generally excellent athleticism would be a huge boon for the Aggies, who don't have a guy of that type in the room right now outside of the aforementioned Sanford. With Noah Mikhail poised to take a big jump, Henderson could join him in the starting lineup as soon as his freshman year.
It's a tough call between Kaden and a guy like CB Joshua Dobson, who is rated more highly by some services, but it came down to the fact that the Aggies already have three five-star DB commits this cycle. Hopefully, they can snag both— but if fans were forced to pick, the choice is clear.
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