Ask Farrell: Is Jimbo Fisher's recruiting success a surprise?
Only one team in Rivals history dating back to 2002 has landed the top-three players from the state of Texas and it was more than a decade ago.
In the 2008 recruiting class, Oklahoma got R.J. Washington, Jermie Calhoun and Stephen Good. It was the only time that the best three recruits from that state went to one school.
It could happen again this recruiting cycle.
Texas A&M has already received commitments from five-star receiver Demond Demas and four-star cornerback Jaylon Jones. The only one remaining is the state’s top player - the enigmatic five-star running back Zachary Evans.
The Houston North Shore standout has been highly interested in Texas A&M for a long time and coach Jimbo Fisher and his staff are definitely making Evans, who could be one of the best running backs ever from the state, a top priority.
But Georgia, LSU and other programs are also in the Evans sweepstakes and there’s absolutely no telling what the five-star running back is going to do in his recruitment.
MORE ASK FARRELL: Could Bama end up regretting choosing Tua over Hurts?
Even if Evans heads elsewhere, Fisher has put his stamp on in-state recruiting during his short time in College Station.
Last recruiting cycle, Texas A&M signed the top player in the state, five-star defensive end DeMarvin Leal out of Converse (Texas) Judson, and now the Aggies are back in it to land the top-three recruits in the state for the 2020 class.
FARRELL'S TAKE
We ask Rivals National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell if he’s surprised by Fisher’s early success and if this is a sign of more things to come for the Aggies in coming recruiting classes?
“Surprised? No, not at all. Is this a sign of better things to come? That depends.
"The problem is that Texas, Oklahoma and LSU are all recruiting at an elite level as well, so the Aggies will need to break through in the SEC West to take that next step. Recruiting will go well for all four teams mentioned and Texas A&M will finish near the top 10 as long as Fisher is there, but will it be enough? I’d put A&M third on this list of four ahead of only LSU when it comes to chances to win a national title. The Big 12 programs could be in better shape.”