Texas A&M Recruiting: Top 5 Recruiting Targets Going Forward

The Texas A&M football team beat West Virginia, 45-37, in the Liberty Bowl to finish the 2014 season at 8-5. The Aggie coaches need to shift their focus now to finishing out the 2015 recruiting class with a number of elite recruits. 

The Aggies' biggest issue during the 2014 season was their inability to get timely stops on defense. All too often they gave up a big run or pass play on third down to extend drives and keep their offense on the sideline. 

Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin and his staff have done a solid job of recruiting and developing depth on the defensive line since they arrived in Aggieland in 2012. Now they need to work on creating depth at linebacker and in the secondary. 

The Aggies have the defensive linemen in place to stand toe-to-toe with the top offensive lines in the SEC. They need linebackers capable of shedding blocks and making plays and defensive backs who can play man coverage and make plays on the ball.

This is a look at five recruits that the Aggie coaches need to focus on landing between now and signing day.  

DT Daylon Mack

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Daylon Mack is a 6'0", 320-pound defensive tackle from Gladewater, Texas. He is a 5-star recruit who is ranked as the No. 4 defensive tackle in the nation, according to 247sports.com. 

Mack was committed to Texas A&M for almost two years but recently decommitted. With the Aggies' needs on defense, it can be argued that Mack is the most important recruit left on the Aggies' board. 

Mack had 37 tackles for loss and five sacks as a senior at Gladewater High School. He is a good enough athlete that he spent some time at running back and scored 12 touchdowns in the 2014 season. 

Mack would step in and see immediate playing time at nose guard for the Aggies. If he is able to remain healthy, he should be playing on Sundays after his career in college is over. He is the kind of player that the Aggies must land. 

CB Kendall Sheffield

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Kendall Sheffield is a 6'0", 181-pound cornerback from Missouri City, Texas. He is a 5-star recruit who is ranked as the No. 3 cornerback in the country by 247sports.com. 

The Aggies allowed four receptions of over 40 yards in their Liberty Bowl win over West Virginia. It is obvious that they need a talent upgrade at the cornerback position. 

The Texas A&M staff needs to find some corners who can play man coverage against the elite receivers in the SEC. Sheffield is that type of cornerback. 

He is considering Texas A&M, Alabama and USC. The Aggies are bringing in a number of safeties in the 2015 class. They need to add some elite corners like Sheffield in order to give the defense a chance to shut down SEC offenses in 2015. 

CB Kris Boyd

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Kris Boyd is a 4-star cornerback from Gilmer, Texas, who is ranked as the No. 7 cornerback in the country by 247sports.com. The 6'0", 185-pound athlete is considering the Aggies, Texas, Florida State and Baylor. 

Boyd had 1,052 yards rushing with 22 touchdowns and 36 receptions for 808 yards and nine touchdowns in 2014. He is the kind of athlete that the Aggies need in their defensive backfield in order to shut down the top receivers in the SEC. 

On defense, he had 40 tackles with a tackle for loss and an interception as a senior. He helped lead Gilmer to the 4A state title in Texas. 

If the Aggies could sign Sheffield and Boyd, they would have the kind of depth at corner needed to become an elite defense in the SEC. 

CB Holton Hill

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Holton Hill is the No. 11-ranked cornerback in the country and a 4-star recruit, according to 247Sports.com. The 6'2", 184-pound athlete from Houston, Texas, could project at corner or safety in college. 

Hill is leaning toward Texas right now. He is also considering Baylor, LSU, Florida State and Alabama. The Aggies would have a long way to go to get Hill to sign on the dotted line on signing day. 

Hill snagged 11 interceptions in 2014 and had a punt and kickoff return for a touchdown. He is the kind of long, rangy corner that defensive coordinators covet in order to match up with the taller wide receivers in college football today. 

LB Richard Moore

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Richard Moore is a 3-star linebacker from Cedar Hill, Texas, who is ranked as the No. 74 overall player in Texas by 247sports.com. He is the type of instinctual linebacker that the Aggies must land. 

Moore registered 184 tackles with 32 tackles for loss and 15 sacks in 2014. He helped the Cedar Hill Longhorns win the 6A state title in 2014. 

Moore is a natural leader and a terrific defensive player. He was previously committed to the Aggies but decommitted in early December. 

The Aggies have plenty of linebackers on their roster who have the prerequisite size and speed to play in the SEC but not the instincts. Moore is a natural linebacker who could step onto the field in 2015 and make plays. He is simply a great football player and a recruit the Aggies need to sign.