TexAgs' recruiting analyst Ryan Brauninger joined TexAgs Radio on Wednesday morning for another edition of Recruiting Country, highlighting the latest news and notes from the recruiting trail surrounding Texas A&M.
Key notes from Recruiting Country
- I didn't not know who Chris Graves was. That was a new name for me. Sometimes those graphics are made for appearances, saying you could beat A&M for a guy.
- The pool party, when you go back and look at the string of commitments we had this summer, those kids had done that without coming to campus. They haven't been to campus as a group of commits all summer. All the communication was on social media. It was important for that bonding experience and for the vibe of the class. We put out over 30 interviews. A lot of them enjoyed hanging with their future teammates and wanted to add more.
- It was important for Gabriel Reliford to come because LSU just offered. Weston Davis came back. Auburn will not stop coming for Cameron Coleman. His visit was as good as it could be. You will fight people off for him. These schools will continue to recruit these A&M commits.
- I guess Xavier Atkins is committed to LSU. Some have taken him off their lists. I haven't gotten a straight answer on that. He has been on other visits. I would think the Tigers would be the least likely to sign him right now. He was intrigued by College Station outside of the university. That is going heavily in A&M's direction.
- Bryce Anderson and Kam Dewberry come up a lot with recruits. We saw a bunch of current players helping out. The current players have seen the importance of the pool party when they came through, and they want good players around them.
- With Kobe Black, I think A&M is looking better than what the national media wants to give A&M credit for. I am not saying A&M is the leader. He has been to a lot of places recently, including A&M and Texas. A&M did a better job. I would give A&M the momentum in that recruitment. I could see this being a fall decision date.
- If Atkins, Terry Bussey, Black or Isendre Ahfua commit, those are pool party commits. Maybe it didn't happen the day of the event, but those are pool party commitments. In the month of August, A&M could add three or four commits.
- A&M was in a solid spot with Bussey. His name came up a lot in our interviews with the commits. I think he wanted to go home, reevaluate and think about it. I think A&M had generated enough momentum to keep it on his mind. I think he really likes A&M. He also sees an opportunity to play really early because there will be a lot of turnover at safety.
- Ahfua is from the same high school as Mark Nabou. He is perhaps the best player in Washington. It's hard for a kid to show up a bunch when he lives across the country. A&M leveled the playing field with Utah. He came across the country for an unofficial visit. That should tell you a lot.
- 3.5 commits before football season? I'm going to take the under. I could see them getting a 2025 commit.
- A&M made big strides with Ryan Wingo. They elbowed their way into the discussion. They are now on the radar.
- I feel good about where recruiting is, but it just depends on what happens on the field. You lay in the bed you make. There is a lot on the line this football season. If they turn things around, this will be a beautiful recruiting class.
- When you are in year six under Jimbo Fisher and coming off 5-7, you have to turn it around. You can get buried with a couple of those seasons.
- Nigel Smith II is a coin flip for me right now. Oklahoma and Texas have done a good job. I like where A&M is at. Myles Davis and Dealyn Evans are helping out there.
- Blake Ivy is a big one. LSU got out in front of A&M. I think they got that thing back 50-50. I do believe that one is like Nigel Smith. I do feel a little bit better about Smith.
- Kam Mikell will return with his teammate Amontrae Bradford. Everyone was impressed by him. He got an offer. Mikell can really run. He is a bigger Ernest Campbell. Mikell is listed as an athlete. He and Bradford will probably return for the Alabama game.