re: 2017 Taylor Hamm Recruiting VIP Info Thread

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summer recruiting cycle is about to come to a close with August quickly approaching. However, before it ends, Texas A&M will close out with one of the biggest events on the recruiting calendar – the Who’sNext BBQ.

In June, the YESSIR! BBQ led to several key commitments, with running back Travis Etienne and safety Keldrick Carper committing during the weekend. Over the next few weeks attendees Creed Humphrey, Kellen Mond, Santino Marchiol and Camron Horry all decided to pledge to the Aggies.

The WhosNext BBQ features a similarly strong and select group of key prospects, and could see similar results with many Texas A&M commitments planning to be in town for the weekend.

Quarterback Connor Blumrick leads a group of commitments which includes Roshauud Paul and Devin Morris, who have been committed the longest, and the two newest additions in Devodrick Johnson and Camron Buckley. Oklahoma offensive linemen Adrian Wolford and Creed Humphrey will make the trip, and Grayson Reed will make his way up from the Houston area. Houston-area safeties Derrick Tucker and Myles Jones will also be in College Station.


Tight ends Camron Horry and Keynel McZeal are both maybes at the moment, but do not be surprised if the lure of brisket gets those guys back to Aggieland.

The 2018 class will also be represented by $#@!inson receiver Montel Parker, who committed to A&M in February.

There will be plenty of key targets, too, with quite a few already on #YESSIR Watch. Stafford wide receiver Hezekiah Jones — who is making his second trip to a Texas A&M BBQ — and out-of-state defenders Ben Hutch of Tennessee and Tyree Johnson of Washington, D.C. all have the Aggies high on their lists going into the event.

Linebacker Anthony Hines is without a doubt a priority target, and it looks like he will arrive on Sunday. Getting him to campus again and around the coaches is a big need considering he would like to make a decision somewhat early because he is graduating in December.

Defensive end Ondario Robinson is another prospect expected to not arrive until Sunday. He’s another set to make an early season decision, and the Aggies are in a good position.

In fact, the defensive line could be the place with the most activity. Texas A&M currently does not have any committed and the weekend could see that change in a big way. Jayden Peevy and Josh Rogers are both returning to Texas A&M for their second BBQ of the summer. Both left feeling high on the Aggies the first time and the Aggies remain high on their list going into round two.

At defensive tackle, Katy’s Corey Bethley and Plano East’s Deiontae Watts both have been hot and cold on the Aggies, but a good visit could be the thing to reignite that fire.

Not every 2017 expected to attend already holds an offer, but that does not make them any less important. DeSoto wide receiver K.D. Nixon is one quickest in the state and he has seen the interest from Texas A&M pick up in recent weeks. Baton Rouge running back Jacob Kibodi is another prospect the Aggies have been watching closely especially after a strong camp in June. If the Aggies take another running back, he is the guy many insiders believe will be the next to receive an offer.

The 2018 class of defensive linemen will also be well represented. Katy Taylor defensive end Max Wright is the highest-ranked lineman in the class and he will be joined by DTs Keondre Coburn and Dominic Livingston who have also been made priority targets by the Aggies early in the process.

Houston is also a hotspot for 2018 offensive line targets. Cy Ranch’s Colten Blanton and Fort Bend Marshall’s Barton Clement both picked up early offers and have been heavily recruited by the Aggies from the start.

At the skill positions, the top prospects are very deep.

The Dallas area will be well represented with cornerback Verone McKinley, safety Isaiah Humphries, linebacker Bumper Pool, wide receivers Drue Jackson and Maureese Wren and Orji brothers Alston and Anfernee (2019). Yoakum twins Josh and Jordan Moore will also spend a few days in College Station, and Arkansas standouts Nathan Page (WR/S) and Hunter Swoboda (TE) will as well.

Bossier City (La.) Parkway wide receiver Terrace Marshall is also a possibility to show. He received an offer from Texas A&M after a standout performance at the Aggies' camp with Tulane in Shreveport.

The 2019 group will also have a couple of standouts in addition to Anfernee Orji. Stafford receiver Jalen Curry has turned quite a few heads this spring and he will be returning for another trip to College Station. One of the fastest rising 2019s in Cuero’s Jordan Whittington. He has been picking up offers left and right and after the BBQ he is on offer watch this weekend.

If all goes well it could end up being a very big weekend for the Aggies. The commitments may not come all at once, or during the weekend, but if last BBQ was an indicator it could go a long way to helping move some key prospects towards a decision.

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There are some key notes to pass along before tomorrow’s big BBQ event.

Let’s start with the surprise visitor that I alluded to earlier this week that I was able to go public with yesterday and that’s Stellar Prep (CA) four-star defensive end Addison Gumbs. Simply put, this will likely be a make or break weekend for Terry Price and John Chavis for the All-American pass-rusher. With that said, I can tell you all with 100-percent certainty that the staff is fully prepared with a gameplan to win over Gumbs and his father this Friday through Sunday.

Coming into this weekend, the real road block A&M has to overcome is one they’re very familiar with as they’re fighting the “scheme fit” battle once again. Gumbs sees himself ideally fitting into a 3-4 OLB/hybrid role, the same type of role K’Lavon Chaisson was looking for, at the next level.

That’s something Terry Price and John Chavis are ready for as they have a plan to hit on all major points of emphasis this weekend. From education (Gumbs wants to be a coach if football doesn’t work out), to their plan to get him to the NFL, to showing him film of how they could use him in a 2-pt stance, it’s all ready to go.

The big decision maker in Gumbs’ recruitment is his father so the fact he’s making the trip as well is certainly a great sign for the Aggies, who thought they were close to getting a commitment back in the spring. With him being a California native, there’s some natural pessimism here from fans, but this is a battle A&M could very well win if they knock this trip out of the park.

Speaking of “make or break,” this one will be HUGE for A&M’s chances with Plano East LB Anthony Hines. To echo what I wrote about the strategy with Gumbs, you can guarantee Chavis has everything prepared for his top linebacker priority when he arrives on Sunday.

Next, at the running back position, I expect Christian Life Academy’s Jacob Kibodi to pick up an offer from Clarence McKinney tomorrow. Currently, Jennings (LA) ball carrier Travis Etienne is camping with the LSU Tigers, and the four-star Aggie pledge continues to show he’s not solid with his commitment, so that’s what is likely to trigger moving on the Baton Rouge native. He’ll also be on “YESSIR!” alert when/if that happens.

As far as the race for CeeDee Lamb’s pledge on Monday goes, Clarence McKinney was on the phone with the four-star wide receiver this morning so there is still some positive signs regarding A&M’s chances to pull a last minute coup over their former Big 12 rivals. The staff is still collectively working on getting the Top247 playmaker back to College Station over the weekend. Right now, all signs still point to a re-commitment to the Sooners but if he makes it back up to Aggieland tomorrow or Sunday, watch out.

If Lamb does go to Oklahoma as expected, there isn’t a clear cut “next-in-line” guy at the moment. Basically, by August A&M has three WRs already committed, so they have all season and post bowl to get someone, whether that’s flipping a guy or land one they have an outstanding offer out to currently. Obviously, Moorehead will also be looking at some guys who are on the radar during their senior seasons to see if any new offer targets emerge as well. Essentially, what I’m saying, is there’s no need to have “back up plan” if this doesn’t go their way on Monday.

Tyree Johnson is already in Houston and about to take off for his connecting flight to College Station. This is a recruitment the staff knows is teed up for them this weekend and I fully expect them to seal the deal. Whether or not that goes public right away is a different story and I’ll address that later when the time is right. Also, for the Moorehead critics, he’s the lead recruiter here, so that should go to show he’s a big asset on the recruiting trail.

Everyone always wants to know who will commit and who will be offered. I’ve been over the guys who I feel will be offered but to recap, I think you’ll see 2018 Silsbee WR Kalon Barnes, (a target we first mentioned a few weeks ago), 2019 Stafford WR Jalen Curry, 2019 Cuero ATH Jordan Whittington and a few other out-of-state prospects leave with new offers from Texas A&M.

So that takes us to the big question...who’s next? Well, I think you’ll see A&M pick up multiple commitments over the weekend. However, I think a few of them will be “silent” until these few players get their ceremonies in order or feel comfortable announcing on their own. I do know A&M will push for at least one of those prospect to go public with their decision. I also expect David Turner to push a few guys this weekend so he can get on the board in 2017. Look out for Watts, Bethley or even one of the JUCO products we first wrote about to potentially lock down a spot. Of course, if Ben Hutch’s mother signs off on a commitment this weekend, he’s also a prime candidate.




2017 Prospects

Stafford WR Hezekiah Jones*

St. John’s College (D.C.) DE Tyree Johnson*

Hillsboro (TN) DT Ben Hutch*

Christian Life Academy (LA) RB Jacob Kibodi (will likely be offered)

Co-Lin C.C. DL Joe Anderson*

Co-Lin C.C. DL Tyree Owens*

Co-Lin C.C. DL Montez Sweat

Cedar Hill WR Camron Buckley* (A&M Commit)

Pearland QB Connor Blumrick* (A&M Commit)

Pearland DB Debione Renfro* (A&M Commit)

Shawnee (OK) OL Creed Humphrey* (A&M Commit)

Meeker (OK) OL Adrian Wolford* (A&M Commit)

Katy DT Corey Bethley*

Katy Taylor TE Camron Horry* (A&M Commit)

Caldwell DB Devin Morris* (A&M Commit)

Manvel DB Derrick Tucker* (A&M Commit)

Cypress Creek OL Grayson Reed* (A&M Commit)

Bremond ATH Roshauud Paul* (A&M Commit)

Magnolia West DB Myles Jones* (A&M Commit)

Plano East DT Deiontae Watts*

Houston Christian DT Joshua Rogers*

Riverdale (LA) LB Josh Clarke (Ole Miss commit) *maybe*




2018 Prospects

Parkway (LA) WR Terrace Marshall*

Parkway (LA) QB Justin Rogers

Hebron CB Verone McKinley III*

Katy Taylor DE Max Wright*

Yoakum DB Jordan Moore*

Yoakum WR Joshua Moore*

Rockwall LB Alston Orji

Cy-Ranch OL Colten Blanton*

Sachse WR Drue Jackson

Sachse DB Isaiah Humphries

Lovejoy LB Bumper Pool*

Houston Heights CB Jalen Green*

Justin Northwest OL Darrell Simpson* (maybe)

FB Marshall OL Barton Clement*

Silsbee WR Kalon Barnes (will likely be offered)

Aldine Davis DT Dominic Livingston* (maybe)




June 24th Camp

2017 Plano East LB Anthony Hines*

2017Hutto DE Ondario Robinson*

2017 Lancaster WR Omar Manning* (maybe)

2019 Cuero WR/DB Jordan Whittington (will likely be offered)

2019 Stafford WR Jalen Curry

2019 Rockwall ATH Anfernee Orji

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