Published Dec 28, 2008
Aggies score five-star RB
Adam Gorney & Olin Buchanan
Staff Writer
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SAN ANTONIO - Texas A&M added a five-star running back to its 2009 class Sunday.
Beaumont (Texas) West Brook's Christine Michael said at registration for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl that he plans to pick the Aggies when he announces his decision Saturday during the game.
"Going to A&M, felt right at home there," Michael said. "The fans were nice. The coaches were nice. They accepted me as a person. I'm real respectful of them and they were real respectful of me. I felt like I was at home."
Texas A&M loses Jorvorskie Lane, who has completed his eligibility, and Mike Goodson is expected to declare early for the NFL Draft so there is an opportunity for early playing time. That was one of the deciding factors in his decision. Also fighting for playing time will be Cyrus Gray, who rushed for 363 yards and a touchdown as a freshman.
"They (the coaches) said they would put me out there my first year and they would build the offense around me," Michael said. "That's another reason."
Michael said he would have Texas A&M, LSU and Oklahoma hats on the table at the Army game but that the Aggies would be the choice.
Florida, Miami, Nebraska and others offered Michael, a 5-foot-11, 202-pound back who rushed for about 1,700 yards with 29 touchdowns on 189 carries this season. He rushed for 28 scores as a junior and 21 TDs as a sophomore.
Rivals.com rates him as the fourth-best running back in the country behind Miami commit Bryce Brown, Alabama pledge Trent Richardson and Notre Dame commit Cierre Wood. He's eighth in the Texas top 100 and No. 28 in the Rivals top 100 of 2009.
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