Texas A&M Football: Early Grades for 2016 Recruiting Class

After landing the nation's No. 11 recruiting class in February, Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin and his staff are off to a modest start in building the Aggies' Class of 2016.

The highlight of the class so far is one of the nation's top players, who has been committed to Texas A&M for almost an entire year. He's joined by six other in-state pledges—one 4-star, four 3-stars and one 2-star kicker, the latter of whom is one of the nation's top five at his position.

According to 247Sports' composite Rankings, the Aggies' current Class of 2016 is No. 27 nationally and No. 9 in the SEC.

Sumlin and Co. have plenty of time left to shoot up this list of top classes and have more than 20 blue-chip players listed as their "top targets."

With seven months left in this cycle, it's time to hand out some early grades for Texas A&M's Class of 2016:

247Sports

Offense

Name	Position	Hometown (School)	Rating
Greg Little	OT	Allen, Texas (Allen)	5-star
Zarrian Holcombe	TE	Humble, Texas (Summer Creek)	3-star
Austin Anderson	OT	Mineola, Texas (Mineola)	3-star
Riley Anderson	OT	Mineola, Texas (Mineola)	3-star
Braden Mann	K	Cypress, Texas (Cy-Fair)	2-star

Greg Little is now the No. 2 recruit in the country. A massive offensive tackle who looks like he could step into a starting role from day one in College Station, he was named a second-team All-USA player by USA Today as a dominant junior offensive lineman.

The Aggies could definitely use an impact player at tackle next season, and Little fits the bill perfectly. He remains a firm pledge to the Aggies but said he isn't shutting out anyone.

"I’m still a fully committed to Texas A&M, but I am still listening to other schools," Little told Horns247. "In no particular order, obviously Texas A&M and then Alabama, LSU, Ohio State and Ole Miss make up my top five."

In addition to Little, the Aggies have picked up commitments from two other offensive linemen: twins Austin and Riley Anderson.

The Andersons have good size and share an impressive offer list that includes Auburn, Michigan, Oklahoma and Texas. Right now, they've decided to go to the same school, and Texas A&M could benefit from additional depth across its offensive line with these 3-star talents.

One of the Aggies' biggest positions of need is tight end, so getting a commitment in March from top target Zarrian Holcombe was a great recruiting victory.

The 6'5" Holcombe moves well for a player his size and "was beginning to heat up on the recruiting trail" when the Aggies offered him a scholarship, according to 247Sports' Taylor Hamm. Holcombe is set to graduate this December and enroll early at Texas A&M, which makes him an even bigger pickup.

Texas A&M also has a commitment from Braden Mann, the No. 5 kicker in 247Sports' composite Rankings. Mann certainly has the kicking power top schools want to see, as shown by this video in which he kicks a 67-yard field goal at practice: 

The Aggies would love to improve this class with several running back and wide receiver prospects, but a group led by one of the nation's best players looks like the start to a great 2016 haul on offense.

Grade: B

247Sports

Defense

Name	Position	Hometown (School)	Rating
Travon Fuller	CB	Athens, Texas (Athens)	4-star
Charles Oliver	CB	Fairfield, Texas (Fairfield)	3-star

Texas A&M hired John Chavis away from LSU this offseason to fix the defense, and the emphasis on turning things around on that side of the ball is apparent in the program's list of top targets for 2016.

While the Aggies are still hard at work recruiting top-50 players such as Keion Joyner, Brandon Jones, Eric Monroe, Deontay Anderson and McTelvin Agim, they have only picked up two defensive commitments so far this cycle.

Travon Fuller, the No. 12 cornerback in the country, has been committed to Texas A&M since last August.

According to 247Sports' Brian Perroni, Fuller was named a first-team All-State selection at cornerback last season even though he mostly played running back for his high school.

In just four games at cornerback in 2014, Fuller recorded 54 tackles, seven interceptions, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. He has the big-play ability the Aggies would love to see in a unit that has struggled mightily in recent years.

Charles Oliver committed to Texas A&M in April and has been steadily climbing the recruiting rankings these last few months.

Oliver can also play running back and returner—Baylor has offered him a scholarship as an athlete—but the Aggies see this under-the-radar player making an impact on defense down the road.

The Aggies are in on plenty of elite defensive prospects, especially ones at safety and defensive end, across the state of Texas and all over the country. This class will definitely grow, but Texas A&M can feel confident in the potential of the two defensive commitments they already have.

Grade: C

Recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.

Justin Ferguson is an On-Call College Football Writer at Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @JFergusonBR.