A&M inks No. 7 class with potential to continue climbing national rankings

To illustrate just how far football recruiting has some under Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher consider this:

The Aggies added Cy-Fair’s LJ Johnson Jr‍, the fourth-ranked running back in the nation, on National Signing Day to their seventh-ranked recruiting class, and it was almost anticlimactic.

“But it was big getting him,” Fisher said Wednesday. “He’s a great player. I’m very excited what he can bring to us.

“(He’s) big, physical, fast. Very, very smooth. It’s almost like you don’t even realize how good he is by his nuances of making people miss and not wasting motion and getting vertical. He catches the ball. He blocks. Just a tremendous player. We’re very blessed to have him.”

Johnson apparently chose the Aggies over Texas on Tuesday night but revealed his decision on Wednesday at a signing party by putting on a Texas A&M cap and donning a black golf shirt with an A&M logo.

Walker Lott, TexAgs

LJ Johnson Jr is the fourth-ranked running back in the nation for the class of 2021.

Adding Johnson, a four-star rated prospect and ranked the No. 45 overall recruit, was like a rich dessert after a gourmet meal. He solidified the Aggies third-consecutive Top Ten ranked recruiting class.

A&M was momentarily ranked eighth on Wednesday, but with Johnson’s addition, they climbed to No. 7 and seem to be closing in on No. 6 Oregon.

The Aggies are still hoping to add junior college offensive tackle Jordan Moko‍ and Walker, La., receiver Brian Thomas‍. And maybe even more.

“We still have some other guys in the mix,” Fisher said. “We’ll see what happens. I’m very excited about what the future is going to bring. We’ll add a couple of more guys, probably three or four, before this weekend is out.”

Though Johnson was undoubtedly a prize, the class's meat and potatoes were on the offensive and defensive lines.

In the early signing period in December, the Aggies added six defensive linemen, headlined by five-star tackle Shemar Turner‍ of DeSoto and four-star end Tunmise Adeleye‍ of Katy Tompkins.

They also added a heralded offensive line quintet headed by five-star guard Bryce Foster‍ of Katy Taylor and four-star tackle Reuben Fatheree‍ of Richmond Foster.

“I’m very excited about our offensive and defensive lines,” Fisher said. “I think we’ve got guys who will be great football players here and I think have a chance to play on Sundays when they get out of here.

“(They’re) very intelligent, sharp, good young guys. Very athletic. Not only athletic and powerful. Intelligence and being able to process information is so critical to advance in this game. I think we’ve got those guys in this class. I can’t wait to get those guys and work with them.”

Those linemen, Johnson and star prospects like North Shore receiver Shadrach Banks‍, Denton Guyer quarterback Eli Stowers‍ and cornerback Deuce Harmon‍ and Beggs, Okla. safety Kendal Daniels‍ ensured the A&M class would be among the nation’s best.

This class continues a talent surge since Fisher took over the program. 24/7 Sports rated A&M’s 2019 class No. 4. The Aggies 2020 class was ranked sixth.

It’s the first time since recruiting services began that A&M has had three consecutive top-ten rated classes.

Fisher seemed eager to get started for spring football, which begins in March. He’ll start the process of mixing many of the highly-regarded prospects with veterans from last season’s stellar team that finished 9-1 and ranked No. 4 in the nation.

“We’ll let our older guys show them how we work and what we do,” Fisher said. “These (incoming) guys are very talented. Freshmen are making an impact across the country. You’re recruiting these high guys. You’ve got to get them on the field because they’re too good not to. You’ve got to get them taught.

“I’m happy, too, because our older guys aren’t fighting us. They say, ‘I’ll fight for my position, but I’ll help you because I need you if I’m going to win a championship.’ We all have to be in this thing together. Those young guys are very talented. I love those guys coming in ready to play. Hopefully, they will learn the culture of how we do things and play at a championship level.”