Does Texas or Texas A&M Have Early Upper Hand in 2017 Recruiting Rivalry?
Nov. 24, 2011: Justin Tucker ended one of college football's storied rivalries with a 40-yard field goal as time expired to give Texas a 27-25 win over Texas A&M.
That was the last time the Longhorns and Aggies played each other. The following season, Texas A&M left the Big 12 to become a member of the SEC, and the teams have yet to rekindle the flame that seemed to once divide the state.
They aren't football rivals anymore, but you can bet Texas and Texas A&M will forever be competitors. Recruiting is no different. The 2016 class saw Texas finish 11th nationally—after a monster finish in time for national signing day—and Texas A&M finish 18th nationally.
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The 2017 recruiting cycle will be another competitive one for the longtime rivals, and while there is still plenty of time to land players—and, potentially, flip players—Texas is currently the team with the edge in comparing the two, recruiting-wise.
| Texas | 4 | 0 | 3 | 13 |
| Texas A&M | 3 | 1 | 1 | 24 |
Texas is ranked No. 13 nationally and No. 3 in the Big 12 in the latest 247Sports composite team rankings and already has built its foundation with a quarterback commit in 4-star Sam Ehlinger, targets for him in 4-star receiver Damion Miller and tight end Major Tennison and a stud on defense in 4-star Lagaryonn Carson, the nation's No. 2 strong-side defensive end.
As most who follow recruiting already know, the cycle is a marathon—never a sprint. Texas A&M currently is ranked No. 24 nationally and No. 6 in the SEC. The Aggies, however, have the best overall commit, according to the 2017 player rankings, in 5-star Tate Martell, the nation's top-ranked dual-threat quarterback.
And what's best about Martell, aside from his game, is his ability to sell the program to fellow targets. Martell, 4-star receiver Mannie Netherly and 3-star cornerback Devin Morris are all solid player-recruiters.
For Texas and Texas A&M, as it is with any year, recruiting and signing the best in-state players is a priority. Texas' 2016 class included 24 signees, and 19 of the 24 are from Texas. Of the 19 Texans, 11 will enter college after being rated a 4-star athlete in high school.
Texas A&M's 2016 class had 21 players sign, and 15 of the 21 hail from the Lone Star State. Of the 15 Texans, six are coming to College Station as a 4-star athlete in high school.
Winning the home state is key for both schools for the new recruiting cycle. Athletes like 5-star defensive tackle Marvin Wilson, 5-star safety Jeffrey Okudah, 5-star linebacker Baron Browning and 4-star all-purpose back J.K. Dobbins are among the many in-state prospects receiving interest from both programs.
Texas is hoping to score big out of state, as well. Landing Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 5-star linebacker Dylan Moses, who recently expressed interest in the Longhorns, would be huge. The nation's top-ranked outside linebacker and No. 2 overall player, who transferred to IMG Academy this semester, decommitted from LSU in August and is weighing all options. Texas is a major contender.
Texas A&M, on the other hand, is hoping to score big on the West Coast. California 5-star wide receiver Tyjon Lindsey is a former teammate of Martell's at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas. The Aggies also are hoping to continue their recruiting success in Arizona by getting 5-star offensive tackle Austin Jackson.
There's still plenty of time for the recruiting pendulum to shift in either direction, but for now, Texas has the inside lead on Texas A&M. Keep in mind, we still have 11-plus months until signing day. Expect a ton of movement in that span.
Damon Sayles is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite ratings. Follow Damon via Twitter: @DamonSayles.
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