Texas A&M Aggies: Jarrett Johnson
Every Wednesday, Sam Khan Jr. will take a quick-hit look at some of the top recruits and storylines facing Texas A&M recruiting for the week.
This week’s targets: The Aggies are making sure to comb the state for linebackers now that one of their top targets at the position, 2014 inside linebacker Zach Whitley Jr., is committed elsewhere (Alabama). Spring (Texas) Klein Oak inside linebacker Josh Mabin and outside linebacker Ja'Von Shelley will get looks this week when linebackers coach Mark Hagen and defensive coordinator Mark Snyder are expected at the Panthers' spring game on Thursday. Hagen went by Klein Oak last week to see the pair. Texas A&M has also checked out 2014 Dallas South Oak Cliff defensive end Silvester Hayes, who could project as an outside linebacker and is someone the Aggies are evaluating.
Area of interest: The Aggies' efforts in Louisiana paid some dividends in the last recruiting class, as Texas A&M hauled in three prospects from the neighboring state in the 2013 class, including ESPN 300 cornerback Noel Ellis. So it shouldn't come as a surprise to see them targeting high-level prospects from the state in 2014. They're in the running for several notable kids from "The Boot," including five-star athlete Speedy Noil, ESPN 150 defensive tackle Gerald Willis III and four-star quarterback Brandon Harris. All 10 Aggies commits are Texas products, but expect them to stay in the hunt for those three Louisianans.
This week’s targets: The Aggies are making sure to comb the state for linebackers now that one of their top targets at the position, 2014 inside linebacker Zach Whitley Jr., is committed elsewhere (Alabama). Spring (Texas) Klein Oak inside linebacker Josh Mabin and outside linebacker Ja'Von Shelley will get looks this week when linebackers coach Mark Hagen and defensive coordinator Mark Snyder are expected at the Panthers' spring game on Thursday. Hagen went by Klein Oak last week to see the pair. Texas A&M has also checked out 2014 Dallas South Oak Cliff defensive end Silvester Hayes, who could project as an outside linebacker and is someone the Aggies are evaluating.
Area of interest: The Aggies' efforts in Louisiana paid some dividends in the last recruiting class, as Texas A&M hauled in three prospects from the neighboring state in the 2013 class, including ESPN 300 cornerback Noel Ellis. So it shouldn't come as a surprise to see them targeting high-level prospects from the state in 2014. They're in the running for several notable kids from "The Boot," including five-star athlete Speedy Noil, ESPN 150 defensive tackle Gerald Willis III and four-star quarterback Brandon Harris. All 10 Aggies commits are Texas products, but expect them to stay in the hunt for those three Louisianans.
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COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Former Texas A&M left tackle Luke Joeckel's name could be the first called when the NFL draft begins on Thursday.
If it does play out that way, it would be the latest in a long line of landmark events that have occurred since the start of last football season that have raised Texas A&M's profile and, as a result, helped the Aggies in recruiting.
If it does play out that way, it would be the latest in a long line of landmark events that have occurred since the start of last football season that have raised Texas A&M's profile and, as a result, helped the Aggies in recruiting.
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DE Johnson still has one school in front 
April, 15, 2013
Apr 15
3:35
PM CT
By
Sam Khan Jr. | ESPN.com
KATY, Texas -- The decision is not an easy one for Katy Seven Lakes defensive end Jarrett Johnson.
Though the rising senior has several offers, two schools stand above the rest for him: Texas and Texas A&M. He has taken multiple trips to both campuses, and he is sure he wants to stay in the state, so those two schools will be the ones from which he chooses.
After a second visit to Texas A&M in as many weeks, Johnson knows at least one thing: The Aggies remain the team to beat for him.
Though the rising senior has several offers, two schools stand above the rest for him: Texas and Texas A&M. He has taken multiple trips to both campuses, and he is sure he wants to stay in the state, so those two schools will be the ones from which he chooses.
After a second visit to Texas A&M in as many weeks, Johnson knows at least one thing: The Aggies remain the team to beat for him.
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Aggies capitalizing on buzz in recruiting
April, 12, 2013
Apr 12
10:30
AM CT
By
Sam Khan Jr. | ESPN.com
COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Throughout their successful 2012 season, the buzz around Texas A&M football built each week. It crescendoed after the Aggies defeated Alabama and peaked when the Aggies' quarterback, Johnny Manziel, won the Heisman Trophy. They kept that buzz going with a resounding win over Oklahoma in the AT&T Cotton Bowl.
That buzz has had a clear affect on Texas A&M recruiting and Kevin Sumlin and the Aggies' staff is doing what they can to ensure the buzz continues. In some instances, it's tricks or tactics that the Aggies use themselves, like when they trotted out a live disc jockey for the "Friday Night Lights" scrimmage last week.
In other instances, like Saturday for the Maroon-and-White spring football game, the buzz comes as a result of the 2012 success. The Aggies will experience a first in program history when the spring game is broadcast live nationally on ESPN. While there are plenty of positives that come along with that for the university -- not just the football program -- it can do nothing but help recruiting.
That buzz has had a clear affect on Texas A&M recruiting and Kevin Sumlin and the Aggies' staff is doing what they can to ensure the buzz continues. In some instances, it's tricks or tactics that the Aggies use themselves, like when they trotted out a live disc jockey for the "Friday Night Lights" scrimmage last week.
In other instances, like Saturday for the Maroon-and-White spring football game, the buzz comes as a result of the 2012 success. The Aggies will experience a first in program history when the spring game is broadcast live nationally on ESPN. While there are plenty of positives that come along with that for the university -- not just the football program -- it can do nothing but help recruiting.
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COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Texas A&M has been busy working the last five weeks, participating in spring football with 13 practices under their belt. The 14th is today and the 15th is on Saturday: the Maroon-and-White spring game, which is at 2 p.m. CT at Kyle Field. There's much to know and watch for this weekend. Here are five storylines to keep an eye on:
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For the second time in five weeks, Katy (Texas) Seven Lakes defensive end Jarrett Johnson made the trek to College Station, Texas.
After visiting for the Aggies junior day and first spring practice on March 2, the 2014 prospect returned on Friday for the Aggies' "Friday Night Lights" scrimmage, hoping to get another good look at one of the two schools he's considering the most -- the other being Texas, which Johnson has also visited twice this year.
After visiting for the Aggies junior day and first spring practice on March 2, the 2014 prospect returned on Friday for the Aggies' "Friday Night Lights" scrimmage, hoping to get another good look at one of the two schools he's considering the most -- the other being Texas, which Johnson has also visited twice this year.
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COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- In his first spring as Texas A&M's head coach, Kevin Sumlin hosted a night-time scrimmage open to Aggies fans, invited some of the top recruits in the state to come watch it, put it inside Kyle Field and dubbed it "Friday Night Lights."
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Recruiting notes: TAMU impresses DE Johnson
March, 8, 2013
Mar 8
11:30
AM CT
By
Sam Khan Jr. | ESPN.com
Going into last weekend, Texas A&M had a little ground to make up when it came to the race for Katy (Texas) Seven Lakes defensive end Jarrett Johnson.
The 6-foot-3, 225-pound prospect already had visited Texas, but his visit to Aggieland closed the gap in the race. The Aggies made quite the impression on Johnson, enough for him to call the race "even."
The 6-foot-3, 225-pound prospect already had visited Texas, but his visit to Aggieland closed the gap in the race. The Aggies made quite the impression on Johnson, enough for him to call the race "even."
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KATY, Texas -- After a visit to Texas for its junior day and a flurry of offers that followed, Katy (Texas) Seven Lakes defensive end Jarrett Johnson had a good feel for where he stood in the recruiting process.
In mid-February, Johnson tabbed Texas as his favorite school and Texas A&M as his No. 2 choice. At the time, he hadn't yet visited the A&M campus.
In mid-February, Johnson tabbed Texas as his favorite school and Texas A&M as his No. 2 choice. At the time, he hadn't yet visited the A&M campus.
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GigEmNation writer Sam Khan Jr. chatted with readers on Friday about Texas A&M football and recruiting. Here's the full transcript of the chat. Here's an excerpt from the chat:
Paul (Texas): What do you think of the scrutiny of Johnny's every move? Is some of it unfair?
Sam Khan Jr.: Maybe a little bit, yeah. I mean, he's still a 20-year-old college football player and college student. Of course, playing major college football, some of this attention comes with the territory. But Manziel's in uncharted waters. There' are more media and mediums to get information out than ever before, and nobody in college football history has won the Heisman as a freshman. I don't think there's anything wrong with him living his life and doing the things he does as long as it's within the rules. And us as media members (me included) are a little guilty of writing about every little thing he does. But I'll say this -- if nobody cared, we wouldn't write about it. And people care, so we do. But yeah, I think he's in a bit of a tough spot, and I think many can understand that. It's not like he's making millions (yet) like a pro player where criticism and scrutiny is pretty fair game and comes with the salary.
Mike (The H): Who's most likely to be our next 2014 commit?
Sam Khan Jr.: I'm going to guess Katy (TX) Seven Lakes defensive end Jarrett Johnson. The trip to A&M junior day made a big impression on him, and now he has said that both Texas and the Aggies are "even." He's going to make probably one more trip before he makes a decision, but my prediction is that he pledges to the Aggies.
David (Houston): Is the Maroon and White game being televised by ESPN a sign that A&M has really gotten the attention on a national level?
Sam Khan Jr.: Absolutely. Their SEC membership, their success in the first SEC season and the accomplishments of Manziel have all contributed to their national reputation. And people are interested in them around the country, so that's why ESPN is televising it.
Paul (Texas): What do you think of the scrutiny of Johnny's every move? Is some of it unfair?
Sam Khan Jr.: Maybe a little bit, yeah. I mean, he's still a 20-year-old college football player and college student. Of course, playing major college football, some of this attention comes with the territory. But Manziel's in uncharted waters. There' are more media and mediums to get information out than ever before, and nobody in college football history has won the Heisman as a freshman. I don't think there's anything wrong with him living his life and doing the things he does as long as it's within the rules. And us as media members (me included) are a little guilty of writing about every little thing he does. But I'll say this -- if nobody cared, we wouldn't write about it. And people care, so we do. But yeah, I think he's in a bit of a tough spot, and I think many can understand that. It's not like he's making millions (yet) like a pro player where criticism and scrutiny is pretty fair game and comes with the salary.
Mike (The H): Who's most likely to be our next 2014 commit?
Sam Khan Jr.: I'm going to guess Katy (TX) Seven Lakes defensive end Jarrett Johnson. The trip to A&M junior day made a big impression on him, and now he has said that both Texas and the Aggies are "even." He's going to make probably one more trip before he makes a decision, but my prediction is that he pledges to the Aggies.
David (Houston): Is the Maroon and White game being televised by ESPN a sign that A&M has really gotten the attention on a national level?
Sam Khan Jr.: Absolutely. Their SEC membership, their success in the first SEC season and the accomplishments of Manziel have all contributed to their national reputation. And people are interested in them around the country, so that's why ESPN is televising it.
ESPN Watch List receiver Armanti Foreman spoke with Texas A&M coaches before, but coming into this week, he had no idea an offer was on its way from the Aggies.
The 5-foot-11, 175-pound receiver from Texas City (Texas) High School has been committed to Oklahoma since October, but recently, he has seen his offer list grow as coaches have gotten a hold of Foreman's junior highlights. On Saturday, Foreman got an offer from Texas. The Aggies entered the picture on Monday and Florida jumped in the ring on Wednesday.
The 5-foot-11, 175-pound receiver from Texas City (Texas) High School has been committed to Oklahoma since October, but recently, he has seen his offer list grow as coaches have gotten a hold of Foreman's junior highlights. On Saturday, Foreman got an offer from Texas. The Aggies entered the picture on Monday and Florida jumped in the ring on Wednesday.
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Recruiting notes: Johnson talks UT, TAMU
February, 22, 2013
Feb 22
1:00
PM CT
By
Sam Khan Jr. | ESPN.com
The increased attention and piling up of offers has been a new experience for Katy (Texas) Seven Lakes defensive end Jarrett Johnson.
Johnson has seen his stock rise recently, picking up a slew of offers after his initial two, Missouri and Northwestern.
Johnson has seen his stock rise recently, picking up a slew of offers after his initial two, Missouri and Northwestern.
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DE Johnson has two Texas schools on top
February, 17, 2013
Feb 17
6:26
PM CT
By
Max Olson | ESPN.com
After piling up big-time offers last week, Katy (Texas) Seven Lakes defensive end Jarrett Johnson has two schools on top and is closing in on a decision.
The 6-foot-3, 225-pound end was offered by Texas during his junior day visit last weekend. Then Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Baylor followed up with offers of their own in the past three days.
The 6-foot-3, 225-pound end was offered by Texas during his junior day visit last weekend. Then Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Baylor followed up with offers of their own in the past three days.
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Recruiting notes: LB Whitley in no hurry
February, 15, 2013
Feb 15
9:00
AM CT
By
Sam Khan Jr. | ESPN.com
In the last three weeks, ESPN Watch List linebacker Zach Whitley Jr. (Houston/North Shore) has attended a pair of junior days and picked up a notable SEC offer.
The 6-foot-1, 220-pound inside linebacker attended Texas A&M's first junior day of the year on Jan. 27 then went to Austin for Texas' first junior day on Sunday.
The 6-foot-1, 220-pound inside linebacker attended Texas A&M's first junior day of the year on Jan. 27 then went to Austin for Texas' first junior day on Sunday.
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ABOUT GIGEMNATION
Sam Khan Jr.
Sam Khan Jr. joined ESPN.com in 2012 after nearly seven years with the Houston Chronicle, covering the University of Houston, college sports and high school sports. Khan lives in Houston with his wife. He can be reached at skespn@gmail.com.