Texas A&M Football

Texas A&M landed one of the best recruiting classes in the country for the 2022 cycle, and head coach Jimbo Fisher didn't hesitate to rebut rumors suggesting the program paid players a hefty sum via name, image and likeness rules to commit. 

"That had nothing to do with this class. ... This was hard work by our staff," he said during an appearance on CBS Sports' national signing day show. "... It's insulting to the kids who come here that you insinuate that. And people insinuate that off things that were taken off a message board BroBible by a guy named Sliced Bread, whoever the heck that is, who has no clue about what goes on."

"That had nothing to do with this class, this was hard work by our staff ... it's insulting that to the kids that come here that you insinuate that."

Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher GOES OFF on NIL rumors about the Aggies #SigningDay @LateKickJosh | @247Sports pic.twitter.com/O6zsFpcYWf

— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) February 2, 2022

As for the rumor Fisher was addressing, BroBible published an article titled "Texas A&M Boosters Spent Unfathomable Amount of Money to Land No. 1 Recruiting Class, per Report."

The article included a rumor from the message board user SlicedBread suggesting the Aggies paid up to $30 million to secure their recruiting class:      

pic.twitter.com/fSxvzLhL1a

— - (@Spicoli_____) January 5, 2022

Regardless of such speculation, Texas A&M has impressed on the recruiting trail. In fact, it has the No. 1 overall class, per 247Sports' composite rankings, and finished ahead of traditional powerhouses such as Alabama and Ohio State, as well as the defending national champions in Georgia.

Brian Perroni of 247Sports noted Wednesday's commitment of defensive lineman Shemar Stewart clinched Texas A&M's spot as the highest-rated class ever based on the site's composite ranking system that goes back to 2010.

The Aggies have 328.59 points compared to Alabama's record of 327.76 set last year.

Insinuating rival schools are cheating to land recruits has long been a part of college football fandom, especially when it comes to message boards. The formation of the NIL rules will likely only fuel speculation that programs are paying head-turning amounts of money for players.

Rarely does it reach the level that a head coach addresses it, but Fisher did Wednesday while putting the finishing touches on his class.

Next up for the Aggies' fifth-year coach is parlaying this impressive recruiting class into a double-digit win season, which Texas A&M has done just once since the 1998 campaign.    

Shemar Stewart, a 5-star defensive end from Opa Locka, Florida, committed to Texas A&M on Wednesday.

#BREAKING: 5-star Shemar Stewart adds to Texas A&M's No. 1 class.

https://t.co/jak5gVz82V pic.twitter.com/TerZebJN7C

— 247Sports (@247Sports) February 2, 2022

"I feel like we have the potential to be the best in the nation, especially in that front four," he said of A&M to Andrew Ivins of 247Sports. "I feel like if everything clicks and we come together as a team, I don't think anyone is going to be able to stop us."

Stewart is the No. 3 defensive lineman and No. 10 overall player in the 2022 recruiting class, per 247Sports' composite rankings.

Being a man among boys is a tired cliche, but it applies to Stewart. He's 6'6" and 272 pounds, so he almost looks out of place physically at the high school level. For context, Jadeveon Clowney was 6'5" and 255 pounds coming out of South Pointe High School in 2011, and Chase Young was 6'5" and 251 pounds before signing with Ohio State in 2017.

I got this clip of Shemar Stewart at Miami back in June. At first I thought he was a JUCO kid when he was registering for the camp given his size. pic.twitter.com/A1t45LhdrC

— Andrew Ivins (@Andrew_Ivins) August 8, 2019

Barton Simmons of 247Sports evaluated Stewart in March and unsurprisingly rated him a 10 out of 10 in "frame."

He also graded the Monsignor Pace star as a nine out of 10 in point of attack, closing speed and athleticism while comparing him to Kansas City Chiefs star Chris Jones: 

Long, lean, muscular defensive lineman with no bad weight, an imposing frame, long arms and thick lower half. Body type has the potential to continue to bulk up as a jumbo edge rusher or even kick inside long term given early stage of his development. Plays to his size on film. Brutish pass rusher that has an effective long-arm, can walk offensive tackles back to the quarterback and can win with speed. Has top end combine athleticism. Controls and sheds blocks effectively against the run. Has downfield speed in pursuit. Very limited nuance or finesse in his pass rush. Has some stiffness in space. Plays too high right now but can get away with it.

Simmons said Stewart has the potential to be a No. 1 pick in the NFL draft if he hits his ceiling.

Stewart owes some of his success to the fact that he can overpower opposing blockers, whether he's facing single- or double-teams. His advantage in that regard could wane in FBS, but he'll still have an edge in size and strength over a lot of offensive tackles and tight ends.

At worst, Stewart should become a very good pass-rusher who piles up a handful of sacks. If he can hone his technique, he can be a dominant All-American-type defender who wreaks havoc in the pocket on almost every play, much like Clowney and Young did.

Stewart is a massive addition for the Aggies defense in 2022 and beyond.

When he denied any interest in the LSU job, Jimbo Fisher pointed to the 2022 recruiting class as one reason why he was staying in College Station. 

The Aggies are first in 247Sports' composite team rankings with previous commitments from six 5-star players: wide receiver Evan Stewart, defensive lineman Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy, quarterback Conner Weigman, cornerback Denver Harris, defensive lineman Walter Nolen and edge defender Enai White. Now, Stewart is entering the mix.

An 8-4 regular season wasn't what fans expected, but 2022 could be a pivotal year for Fisher and A&M.

Harold Perkins, a 5-star linebacker from Cypress Park High School in Texas, has decommitted from Texas A&M, according to Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports.

"His options are open right now," his uncle, Alvin Walton, told Wiltfong.

Perkins has already visited Florida and will visit LSU this weekend.

While potentially losing the No. 4 overall recruit in the country is a blow for Texas A&M, Jimbo Fisher still has compiled the top-ranked class of 2022, per 247Sports.com's composite rankings.

The incoming Aggies have a whopping six 5-star incoming recruits: wideouts Evan Stewart and Chris Marshall, defensive linemen Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy and Walter Nolen, cornerback Denver Harris and quarterback Conner Weigman.

Five of those players are considered top-20 recruits nationally for next season. 

The top-ranked linebacker and the top-ranked player from the Longhorn State, Perkins would have bolstered the Aggies defense in a big way, though. Per Gabe Brooks of 247Sports, he's a "dynamic two-way player with big-play ability with the ball in his hands and as an attacking defender" who could "legitimately could be a high-major running back prospect in addition to elite linebacker recruit."

He added that Perkins "possesses the potential to become a multiyear impact starter at the high-major level with long-term early-round NFL draft upside."

So schools like Florida and LSU, among others, will be monitoring this situation closely. Nabbing Perkins would help bolster any incoming recruiting class. 

HEIGHT: 6'0 3/8"

WEIGHT: 217

HAND: 8 5/8"

ARM: 31 3/4"

WINGSPAN: 6'2 1/8"

40-YARD DASH: DNP

3-CONE: DNP

SHUTTLE: DNP

VERTICAL: 30"

BROAD: 9'6"

POSITIVES

— Good height with an above-average build.

— Active feet and can utilize jump cuts to make defenders miss.

— Competitive player who runs hard and is a willing blocker.

— Good hands working out of the backfield.

— Above-average lateral quickness.

NEGATIVES

— Long legs can get him tripped up on ankle tackles. Also leads to him taking a second to get going after stopping and starting on cuts.

— Can be indecisive when planting his foot getting north. Tries to work against the grain too often and will end up jump-cutting one too many times.

— Average acceleration and long speed.

2021 STATISTICS

12 G, 179 ATT, 1,011 YDS (5.6 AVG), 6 TD, 25 REC, 189 YDS, 1 TD

NOTES

— 2021 second team All-SEC

— 2020 first team All-SEC

OVERALL

Spiller has good height with an adequate build for the running back position. He likes to start and stop to set up his blockers, utilizing jump cuts before getting north. He is a competitive player who runs hard. Spiller has good hands working out of the backfield and is a willing blocker in pass protection, but he will still need improvement with his understanding of protection assignments.

Spiller has long legs and runs upright. He is also indecisive with his cuts and lacks consistent vision and anticipation for holes developing and lacks the acceleration to make up for it. Although he has the ability to utilize jump cuts, they can be ineffective and unnecessary. And he will too often look to cut runs back against the grain when he does not need to. His lack of feel for holes developing becomes more glaring since Spiller lacks overwhelming burst. So it gives him a smaller margin for error when he’s attempting to get north and hit the holes that are blocked for him.

Overall, Spiller has potential as a three-down running back because of his size, hands and willingness as a runner and blocker. He would be best used as a rotational back behind a bellcow or as part of a committee where he doesn’t have to take a majority of the carries. His upside as a lead back is limited because of his lack of top-tier athleticism and ability to make defenders miss in space, along with his average vision, tempo and anticipation to be consistently effective on a down-to-down basis.

GRADE: 6.6 (Potential Role Player - 4th Round)

OVERALL RANK: 145

POSITION RANK: RB11

PRO COMPARISON: T.J. Yeldon

Written by B/R NFL Scout Nate Tice

Texas A&M's future defense got even better Sunday.

That is because highly regarded outside linebacker Harold Perkins chose the Aggies during the Under Armour All-America Game, per ESPN's Tom VanHaaren.

Perkins, who checks in at 6'2½" and 210 pounds, is a 5-star prospect and the No. 5 overall player, No. 1 linebacker and No. 1 player from the state of Texas in the 2022 recruiting class, per 247Sports' composite rankings.

He caught the eye of some of the best programs in the country, as Alabama, Ohio State, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oregon, Penn State, Texas and USC were all on his list of interested schools at some point during the recruiting process.

There is no better testament to Perkins' athleticism as a linebacker than the fact he was also a dangerous running back during his high school career.

The speed that helps him play the running back position translates to the defensive side of the ball, with the ability to pursue ball-carriers in space and rush the quarterback off the edge. Opposing offensive linemen will have a difficult time keeping him out of the backfield as a pass-rusher, which should help him play his way into the rotation during his freshman season.

Perkins is also solid against the run and can make tackles in space.

Gabe Brooks of 247Sports pointed to Perkins' versatility as a defensive playmaker, which should allow him to contribute in 4-3 and 3-4 sets while remaining on the field for passing downs as someone who can keep up with tight ends or running backs coming out of the backfield.

Between his explosiveness as a pass-rusher, his tackling ability and that tendency to impact the game in a number of ways, Perkins has the potential to be one of the best players in the entire 2022 recruiting class.

If he lives up to that potential, he can help Texas A&M compete in the daunting SEC.

The Aggies nearly made the College Football Playoff during the 2020 campaign, which was just their second season with fewer than three losses since 1994. The best way to maintain more consistency moving forward is by landing playmakers like Perkins on the recruiting trail, so this was a significant victory for the program.

Texas A&M has droppede out of the Gator Bowl due to an outbreak of COVID-19.

TEXAS A&M WITHDRAWS PARTICIPATION IN TAXSLAYER GATOR BOWL DUE TO COVID-19 ISSUES

Full Press Release ⤵️ https://t.co/KsniwCVj7T pic.twitter.com/cyvH3Rb5jZ

— TaxSlayer Gator Bowl (@taxslayerbowl) December 22, 2021

Ross Dellenger of Sports Illustrated first reported the news.

The Aggies were scheduled to face Wake Forest on Dec. 31 at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Florida.

"We are disappointed that Texas A&M University and the Aggie fans will be unable to represent the Southeastern Conference in Jacksonville at this year’s TaxSlayer Gator Bowl game. However, the health and safety of the student-athletes, coaches and staff remains our primary concern" TaxSlayer Gator Bowl Chairman John Duce said in a statement.

The Gator Bowl is seeking a replacement, but Dellenger reported this would only happen if another bowl game was affected by COVID-19, leaving a second team without an opponent.

Dellenger noted teams do not receive a payout if a bowl game isn't played; the Gator Bowl's payout would be $5.35 million.

Texas A&M reportedly hadn't practiced in about a week because of COVID-19 concerns, with several athletes testing positive on Sunday and Monday, per Jeff Tarpley of 247Sports. The team met virtually on Tuesday.

Gator Bowl president Greg McGarity said on Tuesday that "everything is still a go for the game."

"We've been made aware of those concerns," he said of Texas A&M. "If there are any issues, we'll find out as soon as possible."

If it can't play, Texas A&M will finish its season 8-4 without the chance to win its fourth straight bowl game. 

At 10-3, Wake Forest has already clinched its first double-digit win season since 2006.

The Texas A&M secondary will be dangerous in 2022 with the addition of cornerback Denver Harris. 

Per his Twitter page, Harris committed to the Aggies on Saturday after picking them over schools like Alabama, LSU and Texas. 

I’m Stayin Home #GigEm pic.twitter.com/V1lpKJLrTX

— Denver Harris (@DenvoBandz) December 18, 2021

A standout defensive back at North Shore High School in Texas, Harris is regarded as one of the best players in the 2022 recruiting class. He's a 5-star prospect ranked as the No. 3 cornerback and 17th-best prospect overall, per 247Sports. 

Harris already possesses the kind of size (6'1", 180 pounds) that would fit right in with any college program.

The scouting report by 247Sports' midlands region recruiting analyst Gabe Brooks is indicative of the type of talent Harris is bringing with him to the Aggies:

"Tall, long cornerback prospect with elite frame potential relative to the position. Size already gives opposing wideouts problems. Possesses a ton of potential as a jammer. Uses frame to advantage and plays physical brand of coverage. Physical nature translates to tackling ability. Light on his feet and sinks hips. Shows impressive redirecting ability, whether in coverage or pursuit. On-field top-end speed looks encouraging."

Head coach Jimbo Fisher is definitely making his mark on the Aggies, but they are still trying to catch Alabama atop the SEC standings. 

Last year was a step back for Texas A&M after a strong 2020. The program went 9-1 overall and finished the season ranked No. 4 in the Associated Press Top 25 two years ago.

Despite beating the Crimson Tide during the 2021 regular season, the Aggies managed a disappointing 8-4 record. 

The easiest way for Fisher to build a roster that can consistently challenge Alabama and compete for SEC titles is recruiting well in the state of Texas. Harris, one of the best 2022 recruits in the country, is from Houston. 

Getting Harris to commit to the Aggies gives Fisher a building block to center his entire defense around next year and beyond.

Texas A&M added one of the top defensive prospects in the 2022 class with the commitment of Enai White.

The defensive end announced his decision during Wednesday's early signing day.

#BREAKING: 4⭐️ EDGE Enai White out of Philadelphia has committed to @AggieFootball 🔥

White gives the Aggies to No. 1 class in the country! pic.twitter.com/ueipNrUM02

— 247Sports (@247Sports) December 15, 2021

"I just like they are going to show my versatility," White said of Texas A&M, per Brian Dohn of 247Sports. "I don't get to really show that in high school much, but I am going to be able to show that I can drop in coverage and still get to the quarterback and still play the run. I will still do that but I am going to be more versatile with their defense."

White is considered a 4-star recruit and the No. 37 overall player in the country, per 247Sports' composite rankings. He is rated the top player from the state of Pennsylvania.

The first thing that stands out about the Imhotep Institute product is his size. He is listed at 6'5", 230 pounds. This could give him a lot of upside if he continues to add strength to his frame.

He also has plenty of athleticism, as evidenced by playing both basketball and football in high school while spending time on the gridiron at tight end and defensive end.

However, he continues to round out his game.

"I want to show that I can drop in coverage and cover the flex if you need to, I want to show that I'm not just a pass-rusher but that I can stop the run," he said last August, per Glen West of Sports Illustrated.

A strong work ethic to go with his high ceiling could allow White to develop into one of the best defensive linemen in college football.

The upside led to a long list of offers that included some of the top programs in the country, with him eventually narrowing it down to a top eight of Clemson, Alabama, Texas A&M, Florida, Ohio State, Oregon, Georgia and Miami.

He ended up choosing the Aggies, further strengthening a team looking to take the next step in the SEC.

Texas A&M has also shown it can send defensive linemen to the NFL, including recent contributors like Myles Garrett, Kingsley Keke and Justin Madubuike.

Even if it takes some time to see the field, White has a chance to be a difference-maker down the line.

To hear Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher tell it, paying players in college football has been around well before they were allowed to make money off their name, image and likeness.

"There were a lot of NIL deals going on before all this was going on, they just weren't legal," Fisher said on The Paul Finebaum Show (h/t Dan Wetzel of Yahoo Sports). "Nobody told nobody."

Fisher's comments came on Wednesday's early national signing day and in the light of plenty of discussion about how the NIL possibilities and the transfer portal has impacted recruiting and college football as a whole.

Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin told reporters of the transfer portal, "We have free agency in college football. The kids, a lot of times, go to where they get paid the most."

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day also addressed NIL during a press conference, saying, "To say that I'm not, at the very least, concerned about what's going on around the country right now, that would not be accurate."

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney also discussed the transfer portal and the number of players who are looking to switch schools telling reporters, "It's chaos right now. Tampering galore. Adults manipulating young men. Education is like the last thing now."

Swinney also said he would like a return to the system that required players to sit out for one year if they decide to transfer.

Fisher has navigated the new world of college football rather successfully when it comes to the recruiting trail.

As of Wednesday, he has the No. 2 overall class for the 2022 cycle, per 247Sports' composite rankings. That is the type of recruiting that is necessary to compete with some of the powerhouses in the SEC such as Alabama and Georgia.

The Aggies went 8-4 this season and will face Wake Forest in the Gator Bowl.             

Texas A&M's defense got a lot more dangerous with the addition of prized defensive lineman Anthony Lucas to the 2022 recruiting class. 

Lucas announced his decision Wednesday during the early signing window:

ESPN 300 defensive lineman Anthony Lucas just committed to Texas A&M. Another big get the #Aggies in the race for the No. 1 class.

— Tom VanHaaren (@TomVH) December 15, 2021

🚨 COMMITMENT ALERT 🚨

Texas A&M has landed a commitment from #Rivals100 DE Anthony Lucas. @rivalswoody and @adamgorney break down what he's bringing to the Aggies 👇 pic.twitter.com/n2o0ABNb7w

— Rivals (@Rivals) December 15, 2021

Lucas is regarded as one of the best defensive players in this year's class. The Chaparral High School standout is a 4-star prospect, the No. 7 defensive lineman in the country and the No. 50 overall player, per 247Sports' composite rankings. 

247Sports lists Lucas at 6'4½" and 275 pounds, with Blair Angulo's scouting report for the website comparing his size and skill set to Green Bay Packers star Kenny Clark:

Big and hulking frame with plus-plus length. Built through his lower half and carries 300 pounds very well. A physical force at the line of scrimmage and has the prototypical size of an elite line prospect. Quick and agile out of his stance. Shows great burst to instantly put tackles on their heels.

In 17 games between his sophomore and junior seasons, Lucas had a total of 25.5 tackles for loss and 13 sacks for Chaparral's football team. 

Given that level of production and scouting report, it's no surprise that most of the top programs in the country made Lucas a formal scholarship offer. He had offers from Alabama, Notre Dame, Texas A&M, LSU and Georgia, among others. 

The Aggies ultimately came out on top in the recruiting battle. Lucas will have the ability to make his presence felt as soon as next season. His ability to get after the quarterback as an interior defensive lineman makes him incredibly valuable. 

Head coach Jimbo Fisher and his staff continue to do a great job of stockpiling high-ceiling talent to keep the Aggies competitive against the elite teams in the SEC. 

Even though Texas A&M has yet to really break through with an appearance in the SEC Championship Game, it did score a huge win over Alabama during the 2021 regular season. 

Lucas' ability to disrupt the opposing quarterback will boost an Aggies defense that was already among the best in the nation this season (18.1 points allowed per game). 

Teams like Alabama and Georgia reload their talent pools every year. Fisher is doing his best to keep the Aggies close enough to those two programs that they might finally get their moment in the SEC spotlight sooner rather than later.