Texas A&M Recruiting: 2015 Recruits Aggies Must Land to Help Change Program

The Texas A&M football team needs an influx of talent from its 2015 recruiting class to help turn its program around. The Aggies have some personnel issues that need to be addressed in order to compete for a championship in 2015. 

The biggest issue with the Aggie football program right now is the perception that they do not care about the defensive side of the ball. Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin wants to be elite in all phases of the game, but he does not have the players on the roster to accomplish that on the defensive side of the ball. 

The only way to rectify that problem is to address it through recruiting. The Aggies need to continue to land elite defensive players, particularly at linebacker, in order to turn the program around. 

The Aggies won 20 games during Sumlin's first two seasons in the SEC. They are currently 5-3 on the season. They will have to win three of their last four games and their bowl game in order to match last season's record of 9-4. 

The Aggies have the reputation of a good, but not great program that struggles on defense. They need to bring in impact players on the defensive side of the ball in the 2015 recruiting class in order to change this perception. 

OLB Malik Jefferson

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Malik Jefferson is a 6'2", 215-pound outside linebacker from Poteet High School in Mesquite, Texas. Jefferson is ranked as a 5-star prospect and the No. 1 outside linebacker in the nation by 247Sports. 

He is a tremendous athlete who is a natural pass-rusher. Jefferson registered 12 sacks as a junior in 2013. He will be an impact player as a pass-rusher for whatever team he signs with in 2015. 

Jefferson has the cache as the top recruit in the state of Texas. He is also one of the top defensive recruits in the country and in signing him Kevin Sumlin would be sending a message loud and clear that he does care about defense. It would also give the Aggies the top defensive recruit in Texas two years in a row, after they signed Myles Garrett in 2014. 

Jefferson is considering A&M, Texas and Baylor. 

CB Kendall Sheffield

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Kendall Sheffield is a 6'0", 181-pound cornerback from Marshall High School in Missouri City, Texas. He is rated as a 5-star recruit and the No. 3 cornerback in the nation by 247Sports. 

Sheffield has the kind of size and speed needed to play right away in the defensive backfield in the SEC. The Aggies have had major issues at linebacker and in the secondary for the past two years.

Sheffield is the type of athlete who could step in and lock down a cornerback spot for three years. Championship defenses create negative plays and turnovers.

In order to do that you need a good pass rush and a good secondary on the back end. The Aggies have improved their pass rush in 2014. They need to add some cornerbacks like Sheffield so they can create more coverage sacks.

Sheffield is considering Texas A&M, Alabama and Florida State.

CB Kris Boyd

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Kris Boyd is a 6'0", 181-pound athlete from Gilmer, Texas. He is rated as a 4-star prospect and the No. 7 cornerback recruit in he country by 247Sports. Boyd played running back and cornerback as a junior in 2013. 

He rushed for 1,191 yards with 19 touchdowns as a running back. Boyd also caught 23 passes for 332 yards and four touchdowns. At corner, he registered 26 tackles with two forced fumbles.

Boyd is the kind of long, lean athlete the Aggies crave in their secondary. You need bigger athletes in the secondary to combat the tall receivers in the league and to be able to make plays against the bigger running backs. 

Boyd has made multiple trips to A&M since the summer. He is still considering A&M, Texas, Florida State and Baylor. Boyd may be taking his time with the process, but it would qualify as a mild surprise if he picked A&M at this point. If he were going to pick the Aggies, he would have done so by now. Do not be surprised to see him end up out of state.

OLB Arthur McGinnis

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Arthus McGinnis is a 6'2", 226-pound linebacker from Warren Easton High School in New Orleans. He is ranked as a 3-star prospect and the No. 41 player in Louisiana by 247Sports. 

It is no secret that the Aggies have major issues at linebacker. They need an influx of size, speed and attitude at the position. 

McGinnis will help in all those areas. He will have the size and speed to play outside linebacker in the SEC right away. As a junior, McGinnis registered 110 tackles with 14 sacks. 

The Aggies need some playmakers at the linebacker position who make an immediate impact and McGinnis is one of those kind of players. He is considering Texas A&M, UCLA and Oklahoma.