The honeymoon could be over for Texas A&M and head coach Kevin Sumlin. With three-consecutive 8-5 seasons — all squandering down the last half of the season — the Aggies probably need 10 or more wins next season to cool off Sumlin’s hot coaching seat.
Needless to say, Sumlin needs some good juju. A strong finish in the recruiting season could keep that vote of confidence in the Brazos Valley. The first step in that direction is a solid recruiting class. Not just solid by top 10, but solid by closing strong and securing more top recruits. Of course the Aggies need a good spring, consistent summer workouts and to finish back half of the 2017 schedule with more wins than losses.
The 2017 class of Texas A&M, which has 26 commits, is the No. 8 class nationally by ESPN. The Aggies are the fourth-best team in the SEC behind Alabama, Georgia and LSU. Auburn is one spot behind.
In the Rivals.com rankings, the Aggies are sixth nationally and third in the SEC. The Rivals rankings are (in order) Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia, Michigan and Oklahoma in the top five. Other SEC schools are LSU (7th ), Tennessee (9 th ), South Carolina (11th ), Auburn (13th ), Florida (18th ), Arkansas (22nd ) and Mississippi State (24th ) in the top 25.
Texas A&M has one five-star commit in quarterback Kellen Mond (6-3, 199) of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. The Aggies are still in the running for five-star defensive tackle Marvin Wilson (6-4, 320) from Houston Episcopal.
Among their 11 four-star recruits are two defensive ends (Tyree Johnson and Jayden Peevy). Johnson is still scheduled to visit Michigan State and Auburn. Four-star commits include three linebackers and three wide receivers.
Among the three-star recruits is Bremond’s Roshauud Paul, a high school quarterback who is listed as an athlete and who has enrolled early in order to compete in spring drills.
Lastly, Sumlin needs better retention rate after losing many recruits to transfer over the last three seasons.
Texas A&M opens its season Sept. 2 at UCLA.
