Texas A&M Football: Top 2013 in-State Recruits the Aggies Can't Let Slip Away

As the Aggies continue their move into the SEC, strengthening recruiting ties in their own fertile state is one of the most important objectives A&M's new coaching staff needs to achieve.

Texas is widely known as one of the top high school football recruiting grounds in the nation, putting out some of the best overall targets this sport has ever seen.

Under former Houston head coach Kevin Sumlin, the Aggies snared a top-15 2012 recruiting class, picking up Texas' top wideout in Thomas Johnson and state-champion premier five-star running back Trey Williams.

Sumlin has proven his ability to lure top in-state recruits to Aggieland, hoping to continue this trend further down the road.

The 2013 class will be his staff's first chance to compile recruits that are fully their own instead of absorbing many of former head coach Mike Sherman's commitments.

As of today, Sumlin and company have one of the largest 2013 classes in the nation, already securing 12 strong recruits, including five-star TE Derrick Griffin and four-star defensive tackles Kerrick Huggins and Isaiah Golden.

With a long recruiting year ahead of him and his staff, Sumlin must continue to target many of Texas' top available high school seniors as well as secure the ones he and his staff already have committed.

We take a look at the 17 football phenomena who the Aggies can't allow to slip away over the course of their inaugural SEC season.   

LB Mike Mitchell

A standout junior linebacker out of Prestonwood Christian Academy, Mike Mitchell is a strong candidate to make an impact early for the Aggies. Coming in at 6'4" and 220 pounds, he has all the physical attributes of a solid defensive presence.

Last season, Mitchell finished with 151 tackles, eight sacks, and seven forced fumbles.

Ranked as the 20th overall in-state recruit by 247 Sports as well as the nation's 10th best outside linebacker, snaring this target would provide huge help to the Aggies' inconsistent defense.

With multiple universities recruiting him, narrowing down his choices will be difficult.

According to Rivals.com, Mitchell has eight scholarship offers including A&M, Baylor and Florida, making the Aggies' first-ever SEC conference matchup against the Gators ever more important.

Check out his highlight video.   

QB Kenny Hill

One of the state's top quarterbacks this past season, Hill has truly impressed college scouts. Taking home the state title and the offensive MVP to boot after owning the Dallas-Fort Worth area, this 6'1", 200-pound signal-caller is the standard for his position.

Bringing in Southlake Carroll's eighth state title wasn't enough, however, as the junior racked up just over 3,000 yards passing, 25 touchdowns through the air and only nine interceptions for a 63% completion percentage.

His dual-threat ability also allowed him to snag just under 1,400 yards rushing and 24 touchdowns. That was just one season.

247 Sports ranks Hill as the state's 94th overall recruit and the 20th-best dual QB in the country, which I personally think is underrating the star athlete.

So far, Rivals has him ranked as the 165th player for the 2013 class, reporting that he has received some attention and holds onto seven offers including A&M, Tech, TCU, and Baylor.

247 Sports shows, however, that the Aggies are his top pick as of now.

Check out his video for a short look at his throwing ability (Hill starts at 1:08).    

LB Deon Hollins Jr.

The big-time outside linebacker from Missouri City has been on college scouts' radars for a year or so now, making an huge impact on the field for his high school, Fort Bend Marshall.

Built to be a power rusher off the edge, Hollins Jr. comes in at 6'1", 220 pounds.

Snaring 70 tackles—22 tackles for loss—and 16 sacks his junior year alone, the linebacker is a threat all over the field.

Ranked as Texas' 34th top recruit by 247 Sports as well as the 11th-best at his position, Hollins Jr. also can also take time at the defensive end position. His versatile size and speed is such a huge factor in how he plays, giving the Aggies more than enough reason to strongly recruit this young man.

Unfortunately, this also means that a ton of other programs also want him.

So far, Rivals reports that Hollins Jr. has 21 offers including such universities as Arkansas, Nebraska, Oregon, Notre Dame and Oklahoma. A&M also ranks up there and, according to 247 Sports, is actually the favorite.

This is certainly a young man the Aggies can't allow to go elsewhere.

Take a gander at his highlight reel.   

OT Maurice Porter

Also hailing from Fort Bend Marshall out of Missouri City, this giant offensive tackle has matched up well all season against Deon Hollins, Jr. in practice.

Coming in at a solid 6'5" and 285 pounds, the junior o-line anchor is a power that you want to have on your side.

Porter has grown into one of those kind of guys that nobody wants to have facing them across the line of scrimmage. His bulky frame and quickness off the ball immediately makes him ideal for any college offensive line.

Ranked the 18th-best tackle in the country and the 28th overall target in the state by 247 Sports, many a school, including the Aggies, have their eyes set on Porter.

According to Rivals, he only has three offers, so far including Baylor, Colorado and West Virginia. Texas A&M and its coaching staff are still evaluating him, looking to make an offer soon. The Aggies' o-line is beginning to age and some new big-time blood is a necessity.

Check out Porter's recruitment video. 

DE Torrodney Prevot

Coming out of Taylor High School in Houston, the junior defensive end is easily considered one of the top pass rushers in the state. His limber frame has Prevot at a agile 6'4" and 220 pounds, giving him all the physical characteristics of a high-octane defensive threat.

His main ability was getting into the backfield to disrupt offensive production, finishing last season with 53 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, and a solid 12 sacks.

247 Sports places Prevot as their 152nd-best overall recruit nationwide, allowing for a better-than-decent 22nd in the state and a strong 7th for his position. 

A highly recruited prospect, Rivals reports that Prevot has attracted offers from 16 programs including big-time players such as Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Texas, and LSU. The Aggies also are thrown into the mix, sitting as a possible contender to snag the strong defensive end. 

Take a look at his highlight reel. 

ATH Laquvionte Gonzalez

Making his way out of Cedar Hill High School, Gonzalez has been making all kinds of noise in the college football recruiting world.

With high-caliber speed combined with an agile build of 5'10" and 170 pounds, this young athlete is not one to overlook in the state of Texas.

Taking plays as a running back during high school, Gonzalez racked up just under 1,000 yards his junior year on the ground along with 11 touchdowns.

In addition to that, he caught 5 touchdowns and made an impact in the passing game with around 350 yards receiving. He is a high-impact player with a ton of talent, making it simple for recruiters everywhere to target him.

Ranked nationally with 247 Sports and Rivals at 213th and 151st, respectively, Gonzalez also comes in at 30th overall in the state and 15th at his position, both by 247 Sports.

Rivals also has him as a big-time target, already receiving 14 offers from top programs such as Oklahoma, Arkansas and Michigan State. Fortunately for A&M, however, the Aggies have just wrapped up Gonzalez's commitment.

Check out his recruitment video.      

DB Antwuan Davis

Just a little over an hour away from College Station, this junior cornerback showed off his talents down in the city of Bastrop. While Davis is somewhat lacking in a great size for a DB at 6'0" and 180 pounds, he easily makes up for that with his immense speed. 

Considered a great man coverage player while also fitting well into zone schemes, the Aggies' new defensive coordinator, Mark Snyder, has to be salivating over possibly picking up Davis.

247 Sports ranks the junior as the 55th overall recruit in the state, also placing him as the 31st-best corner in the nation. Rivals even ranks this kid in their top 200, sitting up at 171st in the country.

Due to the fact that Davis is so close to both Aggieland and Longhorn Nation, this talented athlete allows each program to be in an ideal position to snare the defensive back.

This hasn't slowed other universities down though as the young man has, according to Rivals, received 13 offers from such places as Michigan, Notre Dame and Oklahoma. A&M has put their name into the hat as well while Texas still remains on the outside.

Take a gander at Davis' highlight reel.  

DE Christian Lacouture

Hailing from College Station itself, this big-time defensive lineman is an Aggie decommit at the moment. Coming in at a solid 6'5" and 260 pounds, Lacouture has a ton of potential and a solid amount of speed, particularly for a junior. 

Back when Lacouture committed to the Aggies, their head coach was Mike Sherman.

Now, after the change-up in leadership, he decided to reevaluate his options while also working to establish a relationship with new head coach Kevin Sumlin. 247 Sports ranks the defensive end up as the 49th overall top Texas prospect as well as the 13th-best at his position.

As for who is trying to snare Lacouture after his decommit from A&M, the Aggies' old rival LSU is the main concern, according to Rivals.

While Missouri and Michigan both present strong options as well, the understanding is that his top two universities are LSU and Texas A&M, allowing Sumlin and his staff a shot at picking up the d-lineman.  

Check out his junior season recruitment video. 

WR Ra'Shaad Samples

Making his way out of Dallas Skyline High School, Samples has made a nice splash in the Texas recruiting pool. Only sitting at a decent 5'11" and 160 pounds, this junior wideout makes up for it with great hands and better than average speed.

As a junior, he picked up 65 receptions for almost 1,400 yards and 19 touchdowns, making him easily one of the most dangerous downfield threats in the state.

247 Sports ranks Samples as the 37th overall in-state recruit as well as the 35th top wide receiver in the country, a feat extremely difficult to achieve.

Not only that, Rivals ranks the junior as their 191st best player in the nation.

This kind of talent has, of course, led to a ton of attention.

According to Rivals, Samples has received 24 offers from programs around the nation ranging from Texas to Notre Dame and Oklahoma to Nebraska.

The Aggies are still among his choices as their scholarship also is out on the table. As an offensive-minded coach, Sumlin has to love how much potential this kid has and must be more than excited at the possibility of picking him up.  

Have a look at his highlight video.

LB Paul Whitmill

Another defensive star out of Bastrop, Whitmill has made a name for himself in Texas recruiting.

Standing at a decent 6'0" and 200 pounds, he is built to play linebacker and cause havoc everywhere for the offense.

As a sophomore two years ago, this young man put up 95 tackles, seven tackles for loss, and three sacks. 247 Sports has placed him as the 35th best player in the stat, as well as ranking him up as the 18th top outside linebacker in the nation.

Whitmill even made the prestigious Rivals national rankings, coming in at a better-than-decent 205th.

Texas defenders are known for their toughness and ability to make plays, forcing many a program to go after Whitmill. According to Rivals, he has racked up 10 offers so far including schools such as Houston, A&M, and Tennessee.

From what I hear from my sources, Whitmill is favoring the Aggies and has not committed. 

Take a gander at Whitmill's recruitment video. 

WR Robbie Rhodes

Emerging from Southwest High School in Fort Worth, Rhodes is easily one of the top skill players in the state. Coming in with a 6'1" and 180-pound build, he is considered a top prospect in many head coach's eyes.

This past season, Rhodes came up big as he racked up 47 receptions for 1,300 yards and 21 touchdowns.

247 Sports ranks him as the 12th-best at his position nationwide and as 24th overall in the state, drawing a lot of attention from the large southwestern universities.

As of now, Rivals shows that Rhodes only holds onto two offers from Baylor and Tech.

The Aggies, Longhorns, and Cowboys remain in evaluation mode, yet I would expect an offer soon from all three.     

Have yourself a viewing of his highlight video. 

DE Vincent Taylor

Coming out of Madison High School in San Antonio, Taylor has made himself known at a high school that has produced top-notch talent for years.

A giant defensive end, he is 6'3" and 270 pounds, making him one of the largest recruits on this list.

Playing in one of the tougher districts in the state, Taylor emerged with 153 tackles and 14 sacks.

The big d-lineman is a danger in the trenches, allowing 247 Sports to rank him as the 25th-best defensive tackle in the country and the 61st top recruit in Texas. Even Rivals ranked him as the 233rd top player nationwide.

Still waiting for some more offers, Rivals reports that Taylor has six offers on the table, two of which are from LSU and Tennessee. The Aggies, Longhorns, and Cowboys have all held back so far, but I, once again, would not be surprised to see one of those three offer soon.

Even though A&M already has two strong defensive tackle recruits, adding more to this new defense would be wise, especially considering Taylor's talent. 

Take a look at his recruitment video.

OT Ishmael Wilson

Making his way out of Dunne High School in Dallas, Wilson is one of the top offensive linemen in the nation. His huge build at 6'5" and 280 pounds makes him an ideal candidate for any university looking for raw power. 

Fortunately for A&M, the buffet buster has already committed to coming down to College Station.

Personally, I think this pickup was one of Sumlin's best to date, being that the Aggie offensive line is beginning to get old and young talent is exactly what they need. 

Ranked nationally for both Rivals and 247 Sports at 143rd and 80th, respectively, the latter also has him shown as the 11th best tackle as well as 12th best overall prospect in Texas. According to Rivals, he received seven offers and committed to A&M in mid-Februrary. 

Have a gander at his highlight reel. 

LB Brett Wade

Emerging from Kennedale, Wade's presence on the field has been felt by every major university in the region. Sitting at a strong 6'2" and 215 pounds, his frame is perfect for an all-around big-time linebacker.

Recording 130 tackles and five sacks last season, Wade has caught the attention of many college recruiters.

With a great ranking at 247 Sports of 215th nationally, 11th at his position, and 31st overall in the state, he is certainly a kid you want to have on your team. Wade even has the pleasure of sitting up at 239th on the Rivals list for 2013 prospects.

Already having received offers from 10 programs including Clemson and Kansas State as shown on Rivals, Wade is obviously biding his time. Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and A&M all have held back so far, but expect the Aggies to make an offer by the beginning of the season.  

Have a look for yourself with this recruitment video. 

WR Jamar Gibson

Coming out of Goose Creek Memorial High School in Baytown, Gibson is by far one of the most talented players in the country. He stands at 6'2" and 190 pounds, boasting immense speed and great hands.

Putting up strong numbers his sophomore year back in 2010, Gibson had 48 receptions for 771 yards and 11 touchdowns. 247 Sports ranks the young man as the 109th-best player in the nation, the 12th-best receiver, and the 16th overall prospect from Texas.

While his performance has caught many a program's attention, only A&M can claim his commitment. 

According to Rivals, Gibson only received two offers, the other coming from Tennessee. He committed to the Aggies in early February, sealing his decision to play for the top-notch offensive mind of Kevin Sumlin.

Take a gander at his highlight reel. 

DT Isaiah Golden

Coming out of Elysian Fields High School, Golden is arguably the top defensive lineman in the state. Built with a 6'2", 300-pound frame, he can smash through offensive lines and disrupt play in the backfield.

As a sophomore in 2010, he recorded 79 tackles, 14 for loss, and eight sacks.

247 Sports ranks him as the 85th-best top prospect in the nation, the 8th best DT in the country, and 13th overall top recruit in the state. Rivals also ranked him nationally as the 63rd-best player in the country.

The Aggies have secured the big man's commitment as of late January, turning down four other offers, according to Rivals. He is certainly one of the Aggies' top recruits to have already committed and will easily make an impact in the trenches come the 2014 season. 

Have a gander at his highlight video. 

TE Derrick Griffin

Emerging from Rosenberg HS down near Houston, Griffin is A&M's top recruit for their 2013 class. Coming in at 6'6" and 215 pounds, this giant tight end is a force of nature on the gridiron, drawing the attention of some of the most storied universities in the nation.

In his junior year alone, Griffin racked up 36 receptions for 500 yards and 12 TDs. He is ranked nationally by both Rivals and 247 Sports at 19th and 22nd, respectively, receiving placement from the latter as the second best at his position and the third overall prospect in the state. 

According to Rivals, the five-star recruit received four offers from Baylor, Notre Dame, OU, and A&M but made his decision early on, choosing the Aggies just after the new year. His commitment sealed Sumlin's largest recruit ever, giving this young class a huge centerpiece before spring training even began.  

Take a look at his recruitment video.