Some decisions can’t wait until National Signing Day.

Such is the case with three-star Sugar Land (Texas) Fort Bend Christian Academy offensive lineman Remington Strickland, who committed to Texas A&M over Oklahoma on Friday evening.

The Aggies and Sooners have been in a tight race for the fast-rising Houston-area lineman, who enjoyed a breakthrough senior campaign and saw his recruitment reach new heights leading into the December signing period. In addition to A&M and Oklahoma, other notable schools in the region like Baylor and Texas also extended offers.

Strickland and his family have family ties to Texas A&M and were on-campus as recently as Nov. 29 weekend for the LSU game. He visited Norman, Okla. the weekend prior.

Strickland joins a strong offensive line haul for the Aggies in 2021, which is highlighted by fellow Houston-area talent and Rivals100 offensive tackle Reuben Fatheree as well as Magnolia's Matthew Wykoff. Texas A&M offensive line coach Josh Henson also dipped into Colorado to reel in four-star lineman Trey Zuhn.

The Aggies, who are clinging to the nation's No. 16-ranked recruiting haul, is now up to 18 total commitments with four up front along the offensive line. They are also on the short list of finalists for five-star guard Bryce Foster, who will announce his decision at the tail end of the Early Signing Period next Friday.

"I'm confident in my decision. I've talked with my family and the coaching staff and my family is really proud of my decision and I really like the school. I've gotten to know the coaching staffs for both schools at Oklahoma and Texas A&M, and there weren't many cons for either school. Both had so much to offer and it was a tough decision for me and my family to make. We made a family decision about where we felt I'd fit in best. Both schools had great offensive line programs, great coaching staffs and the chance to get great degrees. A lot of stuff went into it, but I feel confident where I chose."

"I saw myself going to both schools, but when I talked with my family and it came down to where I would fit in best. The quality of degree, the education and how the university could one day set me up for life after football .... we were big on the education aspect and we took that into account."

"The offensive line coach (Josh Henson) built a solid relationship with me, telling me about the guys he recruited in the past that have come from private schools and it's great to hear how he made kids like me and made them into NFL-caliber players. The head coach, Jimbo Fisher, he and I have a great relationship and I've talked with him many times and he's a great guy."

"Tours helped a lot, to see the facilities and stuff. But Texas A&M stayed in touch and they were recruiting me hard every day. They showed me I'm not just wanted; I'm needed there, and that was big for me -- to be not wanted, but needed."

"This year was difficult for sure ... not being able to lift at the gym or school, to train at different places was definitely tough. We had a home gym at the house and I lifted there. I had to train on my own and pretty much take matters into my own hand. It feels good to choose Texas A&M because where I come from, it's not normal for big-time schools to come by and recruit, especially in TAPPs, For me, the ability to represent my school, my city and TAPPs ... it's crazy to think about the work I put in."

A two-sport standout at Fort Bend Christian Academy, Strickland throws shot and disc in addition to playing both offensive and defensive line for the football team. Strickland enjoyed a breakthrough senior campaign for the Eagles playing defensive end and right tackle, leading to a flurry of new overtures during his senior campaign. He's also established himself as a top-50 prospect in the state over the past year.

Strickland, who spent most of the offseason devoted to the weight room, is a well-put together 6-foot-5 and 290 pounds and projects inside as a guard or center for the Aggies, especially in a 2021 class with battle-tested offensive tackles in Fatheree and Wykoff.

Strickland possesses certain athletic traits that are evident playing on both sides of the ball that should translate nicely to an interior line spot. He’s explosive and quick off the line, particularly when playing in a 4- or 5-technique on defense, and is powerful enough to consistently push opposing linemen into the backfield or absorb blockers en route to making a tackle. His short-area quickness and ability to fly to the ball is also quite promising.

That same explosiveness off the line is evident in Strickland’s game along the offensive line, too. He plays with an aggressive demeanor and is eager to pop someone on every snap. Strickland possesses a certain nastiness that’s coveted in offensive linemen and often bullies the opposition with his strength and initial punch.

Strickland is certainly athletic and mobile for his frame and is able to move and block well in space on designed screens and such. He has the ability to move people off the line in convincing fashion or render a knockdown, but could afford to improve his hand placement to improve consistency.

Additionally, Strickland plays with a fantastic motor and fares well at anticipating and exploding out of his hips in pass protection. He’s excellent with proper arm extension, which is another element of his game he’d like to be more consistent with. Strickland has flashed in times able to reach multiple layers of the defense, another promising sign about his ability to slide inside to guard and battle in the trenches.