Recruiting Country: The latest recruiting news surrounding the Maroon & White

TexAgs' senior recruiting analyst Jason Howell joined TexAgs Live on Wednesday morning for another edition of Recruiting Country presented by American Momentum Bank, highlighting the latest news and notes from the recruiting trail surrounding Texas A&M.

Key notes from Recruiting Country

• High School Football is here. We get the live bullets on the gridiron. It is going to be a lot of fun. We, as a recruiting team, Ryan Brauninger, are really excited to hit the road. Thursday night, I will be out in DISD, Mansfield Timberview vs. Dallas Kimball action. My main focus is going to be checking in with Chance Collins‍, safety at Timberview. He is committed to A&M this summer. A&M won a big contested battle there, and Miami is trying to come on strong for him. The Aggies have his commitment, and Collins has a lot of teammates who are pretty good.
   
• There is a UTSA commit and CB Davin Hill‍. Several guys are drawing attention. Friday Night, I am getting out to Carthage vs. Kilgore. See a couple of A&M commits in KJ Edwards‍, DaQuives Beck‍ and JD Edwards‍. Keep an eye on JD. He already has an offer. That is a team that has a lot of talent. It should be a fun East Texas drag-out fight. Kilgore won last year, so revenge is on the mind for Carthage to start the year right.
   
• The offensive line group in the 2027 class is ridiculous. A very strong group in the state of Texas. A lot of top-end talent and depth. A&M picked up a commitment of DeMarrion Johnson‍ out of Tyler Legacy, who has a lot of tools. Ismael Camara‍, Kaeden Scott‍ and Kennedy Brown‍ are involved in. A lot of talent in that group. I would put the offensive line as the cream of the crop.
   
• As for the 2026 commits, I love what the running backs group with Jonathan Hatton Jr‍ and Edwards. That is one of the top duos across the country. You have strength in the defensive line group, as well as the linebacker and defensive backs group. I love the way it's been put together. They have answered a lot of places of need. They need to tie up some loose ends, maybe another offensive lineman and a big defensive lineman. There are potential flip prospects, Lamar Brown‍, Jaimeon Winfield‍, Boobie Feaster‍ and Tristen Keys‍. But overall, they’ve done a phenomenal job. You may see some new names come up. You saw it last year with Nelson McGuire‍. Definitely something to keep an eye on. With 27 commitments going into the fall, you have to like that.
   
• When I went on the trips to South Carolina and Georgia, I wanted to get as much content as possible. An idea we had was to sit down with the parents as we visited the schools. Just to get an idea of how it all comes together. You can watch it HERE.
   
• I was able to sit down with Brandon Pridgen, Aaron Gregory‍'s dad, Deon and Michele Turner, Jordan Carter‍’s parents, Andrea and Brian Spencer, his grandparents, Martrell Herndon and Twana Watkins-Herndon, the parents of Tamarion Watkins‍ and Brionna Perry-Wright, Bryce Perry-Wright‍'s mom. I was able to sit with all of them. They were phenomenal. Real candid answers. It was a fun time. A really cool project. We edited it all together and put it in a topic form. Talked to them about visiting Texas A&M, feeling the A&M atmosphere. When they were ready to, they made their decision. A lot of really good insight.
   
• Gregory is such a breath of fresh air. He’s got a calm, cool, laid-back personality. But he also has a strong vibe to him. He brings a quiet confidence. He is a magnet for the camera. He is a natural in front of the lens, a very bright kid. He has done some podcasting and interviews of his own. Some sideline reporting, you see it. He is a natural and at ease when it comes to talking and telling stories, and he wants people to get to know him and is excited for the opportunity at A&M. He is going to be a quick fan favorite for fans.
   
• Brandon Arrington‍ is going to be at the game this weekend. A ton of commits will be in this weekend, Gregory, Zaden Krempin‍... Guys making the trip for the 6:00 p.m. kickoff against UTSA. DFW favorite, John Meredith III‍ is someone to keep an eye out for in the 2027 class. You will see some top prospects in town.
   
• When they get into town, they will get everything lined up with the football facilities. Then they will be at the game with some premium seats. You've got to hear what some of them said about the A&M atmosphere at the games against LSU. They will get to see the locker room and some things post-game. The experience of seeing how it all unfolds on game day.
   
• These guys are going to be in the same area with their families. People with A&M ties will be there.  You see those bonds strengthened at those games. Gregory and Madden Williams‍ really forged a relationship. You see that throughout those experiences at games, Perry-Wright spoke of the game against Alabama in 2021 and how much of an impression that made. Getting to know guys who are currently on the roster. Guys who have gone through things before him. Some of these guys have played against each other on Friday nights. A lot of bonding is going on. These games and the family atmosphere can be invaluable.
   
• The flips are still in play. I would keep an eye on Keys‍ and Feaster‍. Keys committed and still took a visit to A&M. He has commits in his ear. Feaster, with the ties to the DeSoto program, I wouldn't be surprised to see him make it a game.
   
• A lot of these guys are gearing up to arrive in January and compete in spring practices. There are a few who have confirmed that it is their plan. The vast majority is planning to make that happen. You will have some outliers. Evan Jacobson‍ is a dual-sport guy. He is not planning on enrolling early. Some are sorting things out.
   
• With the flips, you have to hold to what you have, as well. As things stand with the rankings, A&M is in the No. 5 to No. 6 range. That is not going to change. There are not a whole lot of key uncommitted targets. I think we will see them add a couple of names here and there. You could see them jump a spot. Barring some flips across the country, I think that's where things will stay going into November, as A&M takes care of business on the field.
   
• Position groups to keep your eye on in this 2026 class are offensive line, defensive line and receiver. There are guys who could put themselves on A&M’s radar in a bigger way with strong falls. Keep an eye out as the season progresses.
   
• In the last few years, we have seen the tendency for guys to commit early. Maybe not 27 commits, but you go into the fall with the great majority of your class. They want to have their classes and academic schedule in order, too. I think that will be the trend.