Texas A&M Recruiting: Grading Every 2012 Commitment

The Aggies have completed their 2012 signing day haul. The 2012 recruiting class will help lead the Texas A&M into a new era in the Southeastern Conference.

Because of the superior brand of football in the SEC as compared to their previous conference, the Aggies are going to need much more depth on their team. The SEC is a much more physical league and the "Ags" may need to be three-deep at every position.

The Aggies will need some of the members of this class to step on the field and contribute immediately in 2012.

This recruiting class will help determine the fate of the Texas A&M Football Team next season.

This is a look at each recruit in the Class of 2012. Each recruit will be given a numerical grade between one and 10. A grade of "10" will mean the recruit should see extensive playing time in 2012. A grade of "1" means that the recruit should not have been offered a scholarship.

QB Matt Davis

Matt Davis is a 6'2", 202-pound quarterback from Klein Forest (Texas) High School.

He is the top quarterback in the state. In signing Davis, the Ags have landed the top quarterback in the state for two consecutive years.

Davis is a dynamic runner and passer. He is a natural born leader who helped hold this recruiting class together during the coaching change.

Davis passed for 1.483 yards and 13 touchdowns while rushing for 831 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Expect Davis to redshirt in 2012. He is a future team captain.

Grade: 9

RB Trey Williams

Trey Williams is the most dynamic running back the Ags have signed since Leeland McElroy.

The 5'8", 175-pound back led his Dekaney High School team to the Texas Class 5A State Title.

He rushed for 3,890 yards and 48 touchdowns, becoming the first 3,000 yard rusher to enter the A&M program since Rodney Thomas in the early 90's.

Williams might be the best high school running back in the nation. He will see immediate playing time in 2012. His combination of size and speed is rarely seen at the high school level and he was simply a dominant player. He will need to learn to be more of a one-cut back in the SEC but he should still score 8-10 touchdowns for the Aggies in 2012.

Expect him to help the Ags as a kick returner in 2012 also.

Grade: 10

WR Sabian Holmes

Sabian Holmes is a 5'11", 175-pound wide receiver from Southlake Carroll (Texas) High School.

Holmes helped lead the Carroll Dragons to a Texas 5A Division I State Championship.

Homes had 85 catches for 1,336 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2011. He is expected to challenge for playing time at slot receiver in 2012.

Kevin Sumlin was looking to add speed to the wide receiver position and Holmes has reportedly run a 10.5 in the 100 meters.

I think Thomas Johnson and Derel Walker are further along in their development than Holmes is. I expect Holmes to redshirt.

Grade: 8

WR Thomas Johnson

Thomas Johnson is a 5'11",180-pound receiver from Dallas Skyline High School.

He possesses great speed and is a dangerous player after the catch. Johnson is the best wide receiver recruit in the state out of the state in 2012.

Johnson finished his senior year with 59 receptions for 1,077 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Johnson will compete for a starting spot in 2012. He and Williams are likely to see the most playing time of any members of the 2012 class on offense.

Grade: 9

WR Derel Walker

Derel Walker is a 6'2", 175-pound wide receiver from Trinity Valley Community College. He spent the past two years playing in junior college and was an January enrollee so he is already on campus.

Walker was recuited specifically for his explosive speed. He will play in 2012 and may even earn a starting spot. He has just as much experience in Sumlin's offense as any other receiver on campus so he is starting out at the exact same place that they are.

Walker caught 44 passes for 864 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2011. He was a nice get for new wide receiver coach David Beaty.

Grade: 8

OG Kimo Tipoti

Kimo Tipoti is one of the most dominant offensive guards to come out of the state of Texas in a decade. He is the high school version of Larry Allen.

Tipoti gained some bad weight as a senior, and at 6'3" and 330 pounds, he will likely have to lose 20-30 pounds once he gets on campus.

He will redshirt in 2012 and likely become a starter in 2013. He is the kind of kid who ends up starting over 50-plus games for you during his career.

Grade: 9

OL Germain Ifedi

Germain Ifedi weighs in at a slim 6'5", 304 pounds. He originally committed to Oklahoma State but switched when the Ags offered him a scholarship.

Ifedi could end up at either guard or tackle. There are some who think that Ifedi is the best pro prospect in this signing class.

He will redshirt in 2012 along with the rest of the offensive linemen in this class and will compete for a starters spot in 2013.

Grade: 8

C Mike Matthews

Mike Matthews may be the best center prospect in the country.

He definitely has the best bloodlines.

Matthews's father is NFL Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews. He has one brother in the NFL and another starting at right tackle for the Aggies.

Matthews will redshirt in 2012 and should be expected to be the starting center in 2013. This kid is about as sure of a bet as you could ever make to play on Sundays.

Grade: 9

DT Edmond Ray

Edmond Ray may be the most important recruit in the 2012 class.

The Aggies need desperate help on the interior defensive line and the 6'5", 290-pound Ray can offer that.

Ray was a signing day defection from the Missouri class. He was All-State in Missouri and led his team with 109 tackles.

Ray has incredible speed for a player of his size, so he should be in the mix at nose tackle immediately.

Grade: 9

DE Michael Richardson

Michael Richardson is a 6'2", 230-pound defensive end from Desoto (Texas) High School.

He played DE in the Eagles' 3-4 defense and is expected to play weak side DE when the Aggies are in the 4-2 and outside linebacker when the Aggies are in the 3-4.

Richardson is a specimen who helped lead a great Desoto defense. He will redshirt in 2012 so he can add 10-15 pounds to his frame.

He was the defensive MVP of his district after posting 13 sacks and three interceptions as a senior.

Grade: 8

DE Tyrone Taylor

Tyrone Taylor may be one of the most underrated recruits in the state of Texas.

The 6'3, 210-pound senior from Galena Park High School jumps of the screen at you in his highlights.

Taylor is explosive off the snap. He will redshirt in 2012 so he can add some weight but he looks like he really should be able to help the pass rush in the future.

Grade: 7

DL Julien Obioha

Julien Obioha is a 6'3", 255-pound All-State defensive end from Brother Martin (La.) High School.

He played DE in high school but could grow into a DT for the Aggies. He could see the field in 2012 it just depends on what kind of shape he is when he reports in August.

If Obioha puts on some good weight he could see action at both DE and DT. If he does not come in prepared then he will likely redshirt.

Grade: 7

DL Alonzo Williams

Alonzo WIlliams moved from Louisiana to California to play his senior year of high school and everyone forgot about him.

He dominated on the field at legendary Long Beach Poly High School, yet the "recruiting gurus" did not think much of him.

Williams had 100 tackles and 12 sacks during his senior season.

Expect Williams to see playing time in 2012. He is too good to keep off the field. He is 6'4", 248 pounds right now but may eventually grow into a DT.

Grade: 9

DL Polo Manukainiu

Polo Manukainiu is a 6'5", 255-pound defensive lineman from Euless (Texas) Trinity High School.

The Aggies flipped him from Oklahoma. He is close to 260 pounds right now and, along with Edmond Ray, stands a strong chance of seeing some playing time on the interior defensive line in 2012.

Manukainiu is the nephew of Semisi Heimuli who started for four years at offensive guard for A&M before moving onto the NFL.

Grade: 8

LB Jordan Richmond

Jordan Richmond is the only linebacker recruit in the class at a time when the Aggies are desperate for help at inside linebacker.

The 6'1", 220-pound Richmond will likely see playing time in 2012 just because the Aggies have such a tremendous need at the position.

He played both offense and defense for Denton (Texas) Ryan High School in 2011. He had 75 tackle and nine sacks from his linebacker position.

He would probably be best served to redshirt and spend a year in the weight room but the Ags might not have that luxury this season.

Grade: 8

CB Tremaine "Otis" Jacobs

Otis Jacobs is a 6'1",180-pound corner back from Gulf Coast (Miss.) Community College.

He is an early enrollee and is currently on campus working out with the team. Expect Jacobs to lock down one of the starting corner spots in the spring.

Jacobs has great speed and was one of the best punt returners in junior college. Do not be surprised to see him returning punts in 2012 for the Aggies. 

Terrell Wiliams was able to flip Jacobs at the last minute from Tennessee.

Grade: 9

DB Kenneth Marshall

Kenneth Marshall is a 6', 191-pound defensive back prospect from South Houston (Texas) High School.

He played linebacker during his senior season and had multiple games where he tallied over 20 tackles. He is an excellent tackles and should be very solid against the run.

Marshall is an early enrollee and will get a chance to compete for the starting spot at safety in the spring.

He should be an asset in a running league like the SEC.

Grade: 8

CB De'Vante Harris

De;Vante Harris is the best cover corner in the state of Texas.

The Aggies were able to flip Harris late from Oklahoma.

He is 5'10" and 160 pounds. Harris possessed such great cover skills that he will likely not redshirt in 2012 even thought he needs to add some weight.

Expect Harris to compete for a starting spot at CB when he arrives on campus in the fall.

Grade: 9

S Edward Poper

Edward Pope is a 6'3", 175-pound athlete from Carthage (Texas) High School.

Some project Pope as a wide receiver but I think he will end up at free safety for the Aggies. Pope has great speed and great hands.

He had a very nice showing in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

He is a plus athlete whose speed may get him on the field in 2012.

The Aggies were able to flip Pope late from his commitment to TCU.

Grade: 9