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The state of Texas has become ground zero for recruiting battles as Oklahoma remains a national power, Texas is trying to re-emerge as one, Texas A&M is quickly rebuilding under coach Jimbo Fisher and LSU among others have had tremendous success recruiting there.
If everything is bigger in Texas, so are the efforts made to land the state’s best players especially with Lincoln Riley, Tom Herman, Fisher and many other high-profile coaches competing against each other for five- and four-star studs.
Last recruiting cycle, the Sooners had tremendous success in Texas especially landing five-star receivers Theo Wease and Trejan Bridges along with numerous four-stars.
The Longhorns failed to land any of the state’s top seven prospects, but four-star athlete Jordan Whittington could be a game-changer and Texas finished with the fourth-best class nationally behind only Georgia, Alabama and LSU. Fittingly, Oklahoma and Texas A&M were right behind the Longhorns.
Texas A&M had a great haul as well especially with in-state prospects. The Aggies landed the state’s top player in five-star defensive end DeMarvin Leal and they were the only team to have three signees among the top six as five-star offensive lineman Kenyon Green and five-star defensive back Erick Young were also in the fold.
FARRELL'S TAKE
We ask Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell whether he thinks Texas A&M won the state last recruiting cycle and whether the Aggies could continue that level of dominance with their 2020 class?
“I’d give the edge to Texas A&M when it comes to last year’s in-state recruiting but not by much. Oklahoma did a great job recruiting out of state in Texas and the Longhorns added some serious talent as well, but the Aggies have the edge. Will that continue? I have no idea. This is going to be one of the best recruiting battles to follow and the state of Texas is up for grabs. All of the coaches, including Ed Orgeron at LSU, are great recruiters and it’s anyone’s state. My gut says Texas will overtake the state in 2020 and beyond, but the competition is fierce.”
