Five teams that will benefit from Sumlin's exit at Texas A&M
Multiple reports, including this story at Yahoo! Sports, indicate that Texas A&M football coach Kevin Sumlin is expected to be fired after Saturday's game against LSU. While a coaching search unfolds in College Station, recruiting dominoes will fall elsewhere. Exactly what will take place in the wake of a coaching change is impossible to forecast, but it’s clear that A&M’s shakeup will benefit some programs more than others.
Rivals.com examines and ranks the five teams that stand to see a recruiting boost in the wake of a Sumlin dismissal.
TEXAS
Texas A&M’s SEC affiliation and on-field success helped it become the destination school in the state for a short time. Those days seem to be coming to a close. The Aggies are obviously faced with a rebuilding project, and the timing is perfect for Texas, which is looking to continue its upward trajectory under head coach Tom Herman. The Longhorns suddenly appear to be one of the more stable programs in the Lone Star State, which will come with recruiting advantages. A&M commits Jalen Preston, Bartom Clement and Max Wright are among the prospects that could consider Texas now that uncertainty rules in College Station.
LSU
LSU may not be off to a rousing start when it comes to recruiting its own state under head coach Ed Orgeron, but the program has always feasted on Texas. These days, the Tigers are a more appealing option than A&M for Texas-based prospects looking to play in the SEC. LSU fell short of expectations this season, but not being fire-a-coach bad will help them with Texas-based prospects down the stretch. A&M, which currently has zero commitments from Louisiana-based players, hasn’t been shut out in the state since 2008.
OKLAHOMA
Oklahoma has long relied on the Lone Star State as a recurring ground. The argument can be made that the Sooners took a step back in Texas when A&M was winning in the SEC and hauling in classes full of highly ranked prospects. OU doesn’t go head-to-head with A&M as often as it does with Texas and TCU, but having A&M in crisis mode certainly opens things up for the Big 12’s most stable program. Four-star A&M commits Leon O'Neal and DaShaun White have had one eye on the Sooners, and could be names to track in the month ahead.
TCU
TCU’s impressive season coinciding with a coaching change at A&M is fortuitous, as the Frogs have established themselves as a player for top talent in the state. Currently, Gary Patterson’s team is the most successful team in the massive state, which always comes with a boost in prestige. It’s good to be the Frogs at the moment, and a moment of panic at Texas’ only SEC school makes everything a little easier in Fort Worth.
ALABAMA
Alabama’s inclusion here is mostly because of Rivals100 wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, who is considering the Tide and the Aggies. Alabama was thought to hold an edge, even before A&M decided to make a change, so Sumlin’s expected departure will probably be yet another boost for the Tide. The new A&M staff will have limited time to build a bond with Waddle, and playing from behind against Nick Saban is less than ideal.
