Texas A&M Football: 5 Out-of-State Defensive Recruits the Aggies Must Pick Up

As Texas A&M officially enters the SEC as of July 1, the program will begin to truly be criticized for how weak the Aggies defense is compared to the powerhouses such as LSU, Alabama and Florida. Both sides of the ball are important in the conference, but one towers much higher above the other in overall significance.

Honestly, most of the critics will be correct. While the linebacker corps is as strong as ever with Sean Porter, Jonathan Stewart and Steven Jenkins, both the secondary and defensive line are unproven and prone to breaking without warning. The Aggies defense may be in for a long season with new defensive coordinator Mark Snyder.

However, Kevin Sumlin and his brilliant staff of recruiters are already on the trail searching for talent to fill their defensive coffers. This time we take a look outside the state at how the new head coach is faring in other parts of the country.

With 20 of A&M's 21 commits coming from Texas, Sumlin is in dire need of stepping up his game in hotbeds such as Florida, Louisiana and California.

We take a look at five out-of-state 2013 defensive recruits the Aggies need to snare before national signing day. 

ILB Melvin Jones

Hometown: Lake Charles, LA

As Texas A&M enters the SEC next season, Sumlin will bring in possibly the most talented linebacker unit in the entire conference. With Sean Porter, Jonathan Stewart and Steven Jenkins poised to rack up some heavy numbers over the course of the season, this defense will own a strong backbone against the toughest rushing attacks in the nation.

Replenishing those ranks, however, is ever more difficult as the Aggies have only acquired two at the position: Reggie Chevis and Brett Wade. The 6'3", 250-pound Melvin Jones out of Washington-Marion HS, though, would provide ample substitution in this 2013 recruiting class.

As of right now, he is ranked as the fourth- and 16th-best nationally at his position by 247Sports and Rivals, respectively. Stealing a big shot from directly under LSU's nose would go to show the college football world, not to mention the SEC, that the Aggies mean business.

The young, incoming senior has 14 offers from programs around the country including Alabama, LSU and Nebraska, but the Aggies have more than a good shot at picking up the big-time prospect. 

OLB Skai Moore

Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, FL

The 6'2", 210-pound beast from University High School is one of the better players at his position this season. With most programs seeking out top-notch linebacker talent early due to how central their role is in most defense, finding a solid prospect later on during the recruiting trail can be difficult.

A&M was lucky enough to find a jewel with Skai Moore. 

His commitment would help A&M secure the perception that the Aggies are gearing up to build an SEC-style defense. The positional requirements for linebacker at most universities are mostly based around size, but Aggie recruiters are taking many factors into account, including speed and tackling ability. Moore has high marks on both qualities.

Additionally, the Aggies have no current 2013 commits at the outside linebacker specialty. Making his way from across the Gulf of Mexico would also create some ripples that A&M's recruiting pipelines are beginning to shear out of the state of Texas. 

Right now, Moore is ranked by Rivals and 247Sports as the 35th- and 56th-best at his position, respectively. He owns offers from 26 programs including strongholds such as Cincinnati, Nebraska and West Virginia, but is leaning toward Texas A&M and Vanderbilt for the time being.   

S Paris Bostick

Hometown: Tampa Bay, FL

Under new defensive coordinator Mark Snyder, Texas A&M is in transition to a modern version of the original 4-3 defense, making the safety position extremely important. As of right now, the Aggies have four defensive backs committed including big shots in Noel Ellis and Tavares Garner, but with the weakness this unit has displayed as of late, one can never have too much talent lurking about.

In steps the 6'1", 210-pound Plant High School product, Paris Bostick.

With superb hands and sharp speed, there isn't much anyone can find wrong with the incoming senior prospect. According to Rivals, the young man is ranked as the 39th-best safety in the country, but many consider that underrating his impact on the field as a whole. 

Bostick committing to Texas A&M would just further the Aggies' stellar talent at the position as well as demonstrate the program's ability to steal from a "secure" Florida stronghold at Plant HS. For now, Bostick has 16 offers from dominant SEC programs such as South Carolina, Georgia and Arkansas. 

OLB Freddie Stevenson

Hometown: Bartow, FL

The key to any great defense has always been strong leadership and containment of skill players. No matter how talented, athletic and gifted the receivers and running backs are, none of them can escape the girth of the interior of a powerful defense.

For A&M's first season in the SEC, it owns arguably the best linebacker unit in the country, as previously discussed. Following last season's standout performance, OLB stud Damontre Moore, however, has been moved down into the defensive line. His quickness off the edge and ability to force skill players toward the teeth of the defense is a quality all "outside linebackers" must possess.  

Continuing to build winning containment groupings requires great recruits first and foremost, leaving A&M quite bare with no commits at the OLB specialty. Picking up a strong presence such as Freddie Stevenson will soon be a necessity for Snyder's new defense.   

The 6'1", 220-pound linebacker from Bartow HS has solid footwork and flashy quickness off the edge, beating offensive linemen into the backfield. It's not a surprise Rivals ranks him as the 20th-best outside linebacker nationally, placing him up with some of the top prospects at the position.

For now, the sunshine state resident owns 24 offers with some attractive programs such as Florida State, Penn State and Florida, but the Aggies are currently one of the leaders in the running for this powerful 'backer. 

ILB Darian Claiborne

Hometown: Port Allen, LA

As noted before, the SEC is built around what happens on the defensive side of the ball, particularly dead center of the entire formation. The interior linebackers have to have great vision, mainly owning the role as the playmaker on or behind the line of scrimmage.

Finding the perfect mix of size, speed, intelligence and overall athleticism is a difficult task for any defensive coach, but A&M's recruiters have marked one of the best there is in the class. The 6'1", 225-pound incoming senior out of Port Allen High School, Darian Claiborne, fits all the qualities listed, making his commitment to A&M almost a necessity for new defensive coordinator Mark Snyder.

Even though the Aggies have snared ILB prospects such as Reggie Chevis and Brett Wade, Claiborne would cap the position like no other recruit could. Known as one of the best defensive players in the region, Rivals and 247Sports have ranked him the 17th- and 21st-best linebacker in the country.

Similar to what Jones' commitment would represent (and what Parker's already does), Claiborne leaving his home state for A&M would provide a huge blow to the Bayou Bengals, especially since he's a defensive nightmare. 

For the time being, Claiborne is one of the most wanted men in the nation. Holding 15 offers from programs such as Nebraska, Arkansas and Arizona State, the Aggies will have to tough it out against the Cornhuskers for his commitment. However, if any coaching staff could pull it off, count on Sumlin and this collection of brilliant recruiters to do it.