Texas A&M Aggies: Texas Longhorns
The team I wanted to see face Alabama last season in the BCS National Championship was Oregon. It's the matchup the entire country wanted to see.
No offense, Notre Dame fans, but seeing that high-octane Oregon offense go up against Alabama's defense would have made for much better theater than what we ended up getting in South Florida in January.
Wouldn't it be great if you could play college football matchmaker and turn some of these dream match-ups into realities during the season?
We've come up with five such matchups and want you to select which one would be the most attractive by voting in our SportsNation poll.
Alabama versus Oregon is one of the choices. Who knows? Maybe we'll finally get to see the Ducks and Tide square off in the final BCS National Championship before we go to a playoff in 2014.
Think Florida versus Ohio State would stir a few emotions with Urban Meyer taking on his old team? It would be the battle of Meyer's two dream jobs. Come to think of it, is it possible to have two dream jobs? In Meyer's world, you can.
I realize that Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds, in all of his arrogance, said recently that Texas gets to decide when Texas and Texas A&M play again. Ask anybody in that state, and it can't be soon enough. Surely we'll see those two old rivals playing again sooner rather than later.
Here's one for you: South Carolina and Steve Spurrier going up against Lane Kiffin and the West Coast version of USC. Spurrier's not the biggest Kiffin fan. Then again, who in the SEC is? Something says the buildup to that game could be as entertaining as the game itself.
Finally, LSU and Notre Dame played 10 times between 1970 and 2006 and are all knotted up, 5-5. It's time to break the tie. Talk about two of the best fight songs in all of college sports and two programs steeped in tradition.
Well, you have the rundown. Tell us which matchup you'd most like to see, and we'll go over results next week.
No offense, Notre Dame fans, but seeing that high-octane Oregon offense go up against Alabama's defense would have made for much better theater than what we ended up getting in South Florida in January.
We've come up with five such matchups and want you to select which one would be the most attractive by voting in our SportsNation poll.
Alabama versus Oregon is one of the choices. Who knows? Maybe we'll finally get to see the Ducks and Tide square off in the final BCS National Championship before we go to a playoff in 2014.
Think Florida versus Ohio State would stir a few emotions with Urban Meyer taking on his old team? It would be the battle of Meyer's two dream jobs. Come to think of it, is it possible to have two dream jobs? In Meyer's world, you can.
I realize that Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds, in all of his arrogance, said recently that Texas gets to decide when Texas and Texas A&M play again. Ask anybody in that state, and it can't be soon enough. Surely we'll see those two old rivals playing again sooner rather than later.
Here's one for you: South Carolina and Steve Spurrier going up against Lane Kiffin and the West Coast version of USC. Spurrier's not the biggest Kiffin fan. Then again, who in the SEC is? Something says the buildup to that game could be as entertaining as the game itself.
Finally, LSU and Notre Dame played 10 times between 1970 and 2006 and are all knotted up, 5-5. It's time to break the tie. Talk about two of the best fight songs in all of college sports and two programs steeped in tradition.
Well, you have the rundown. Tell us which matchup you'd most like to see, and we'll go over results next week.
ESPN 150 receiver Sebastian LaRue has been to College Station, Texas, before.
The 5-foot-11, 185-pound four-star prospect, a former USC commit, visited Texas A&M unofficially well before the 2012 season began. He made his official visit to Aggieland this weekend to get a second look and a closer look at the campus.
According to LaRue, things went well.
The 5-foot-11, 185-pound four-star prospect, a former USC commit, visited Texas A&M unofficially well before the 2012 season began. He made his official visit to Aggieland this weekend to get a second look and a closer look at the campus.
According to LaRue, things went well.
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A&M success boosting in-state recruiting 
January, 15, 2013
Jan 15
8:00
AM CT
By
Sam Khan Jr. | ESPN.com
Texas A&M, the Southeastern Conference and Kevin Sumlin have made for a dangerous combination when it comes to recruiting.
Sprinkle in an 11-2 season and the Heisman Trophy winner (not to mention an unparalleled game-day atmosphere and quality facilities, both of which were already in place) and you have a package seemingly as attractive as any in the country.
This is where the Aggies are after an unforgettable and in some ways unbelievable 2012.
Sprinkle in an 11-2 season and the Heisman Trophy winner (not to mention an unparalleled game-day atmosphere and quality facilities, both of which were already in place) and you have a package seemingly as attractive as any in the country.
This is where the Aggies are after an unforgettable and in some ways unbelievable 2012.
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2014 S Bonney talks offers, junior days
January, 14, 2013
Jan 14
3:15
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By
Sam Khan Jr. | ESPN.com
The fall was quite busy for 2014 safety John Bonney (Houston/Lamar), who was part of a long, prosperous playoff run with his Redskins teammates all the way to the Texas Class 5A Division I state championship game.
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ESPN 300 G Billings talks officials, top 3
December, 26, 2012
12/26/12
6:12
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By
Sam Khan Jr. | ESPN.com
HOUSTON -- ESPN 300 offensive guard Andrew Billings is happy to be playing football again.
The 6-foot-2, 308-pound four-star prospect, who played both offensive and defensive line for Waco (Texas) High School, helped the Lions make it to the Class 4A state quarterfinals before they were knocked out by Wolfforth (Texas) Frenship on Dec. 1.
Now Billings is getting ready for a week of practice and competition at the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl, which will be held Sunday at Reliant Stadium. He's also thinking about his college future, which is still to be determined as he chooses from a top three that includes Baylor, Texas and TCU.
The 6-foot-2, 308-pound four-star prospect, who played both offensive and defensive line for Waco (Texas) High School, helped the Lions make it to the Class 4A state quarterfinals before they were knocked out by Wolfforth (Texas) Frenship on Dec. 1.
Now Billings is getting ready for a week of practice and competition at the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl, which will be held Sunday at Reliant Stadium. He's also thinking about his college future, which is still to be determined as he chooses from a top three that includes Baylor, Texas and TCU.
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This is a special time for the Houston Lamar Redskins. They're making history as the first Houston ISD team to make a Texas Class 5A state championship game in 20 years. The last team to do it was Houston Yates in 1992.
And the Redskins ar doing it with defense.
Leading the way are two SMU commits, defensive end Zelt Minor and cornerback Cedric Lancaster, and rising 2014 prospect John Bonney, a safety. They'll lead the Redskins into a battle with Allen (Texas) High School for the Class 5A Division I championship Saturday at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.
And the Redskins ar doing it with defense.
Leading the way are two SMU commits, defensive end Zelt Minor and cornerback Cedric Lancaster, and rising 2014 prospect John Bonney, a safety. They'll lead the Redskins into a battle with Allen (Texas) High School for the Class 5A Division I championship Saturday at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.
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Aggies' wave of momentum continues
December, 12, 2012
12/12/12
2:45
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By
Sam Khan Jr. | ESPN.com
LA PORTE, Texas -- What a busy week it has been for the Texas A&M coaching staff.
In the span of seven days, the Aggies have accepted three commitments, all from highly-touted players. On Dec. 6 it was ESPN 150 defensive tackle Justin Manning who pledged. On Monday, the nation's No. 1 athlete and the top player in Texas, Ricky Seals-Jones, jumped on board. On Wednesday, ESPN Watch List outside linebacker Hoza Scott joined the fray, adding strength to the Aggies' 2014 class.
Since the Aggies' season ended on Nov. 24, the hits have just kept on coming. Nick Harvey on Nov. 26. Cameron Clear on Nov. 27. Shaun Nixon on Nov. 29. Ja'Quay Williams on Dec. 2. It seems like every week, or sometimes every couple of days, the Aggies are landing a new prospect.
In the span of seven days, the Aggies have accepted three commitments, all from highly-touted players. On Dec. 6 it was ESPN 150 defensive tackle Justin Manning who pledged. On Monday, the nation's No. 1 athlete and the top player in Texas, Ricky Seals-Jones, jumped on board. On Wednesday, ESPN Watch List outside linebacker Hoza Scott joined the fray, adding strength to the Aggies' 2014 class.
Since the Aggies' season ended on Nov. 24, the hits have just kept on coming. Nick Harvey on Nov. 26. Cameron Clear on Nov. 27. Shaun Nixon on Nov. 29. Ja'Quay Williams on Dec. 2. It seems like every week, or sometimes every couple of days, the Aggies are landing a new prospect.
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Aggies land Watch List LB Hoza Scott
December, 12, 2012
12/12/12
2:37
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By
Sam Khan Jr. | ESPN.com
LA PORTE, Texas -- La Porte (Texas) High School linebacker Hoza Scott hasn't been secretive about the school he likes the most and where his future lies. From the moment he stepped onto the Texas A&M campus in July for the Texas state 7-on-7 championships wearing an A&M snapback, the Aggies were the team to beat. He has been all but committed to Texas A&M for some time now.
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Sam Khan Jr./ESPN.comClass of 2014 linebacker Hoza Scott feels comfortable at Texas A&M.
Sam Khan Jr./ESPN.comClass of 2014 linebacker Hoza Scott feels comfortable at Texas A&M.The 6-foot-3, 225-pound prospect is one of the most coveted 2014 prospects in Texas. In addition to Texas A&M, he held offers from Alabama, LSU and Texas. The Longhorns were his No. 2 with LSU as his No. 3 since this summer and that hasn't changed.
The letters come to La Porte's field house in droves and Scott now leaves every couple of days with shoeboxes full of letters from schools across the country, but his heart has been set on Texas A&M for awhile.
Recruited by Texas A&M recruiting coordinator and running backs coach Clarence McKinney, Scott said he loves the atmosphere in College Station, Texas.
"They have the best community ever out there," he said after La Porte's season finale, a playoff loss to Katy (Texas) High School on Dec. 1. "And when I walk around there, everybody around there knows me. They say, 'Hey Hoza,' this and that. It makes me feel good. And it's close to home."
Scott, whose first name is pronounced like "Jose," said his relationship with McKinney was also a big reason for his comfort level. McKinney made an impression this season when showed up in a maroon helicopter, just the way McKinney and head coach Kevin Sumlin did for Ricky Seals-Jones, to watch Scott play against Houston North Shore on Nov. 2.
"[My relationship with him] has meant a lot," Scott said. "He's a real cool guy, he's chill, he knows how to make you laugh. He's just cool to be around."
Scott is the fifth commitment in the 2014 class for the Aggies, joining Cedric Collins, Nick Harvey, Shaun Nixon and Josh Walker. Scott is the fourth ESPN Watch List member to commit to the Aggies.
He projects as an outside linebacker but said that the Aggies are open to the possibility of playing him inside linebacker.
2014 LB commit Josh Walker a playmaker
December, 12, 2012
12/12/12
1:00
PM CT
By
Sam Khan Jr. | ESPN.com
LONGVIEW, Texas -- It was crunch time and Gilmer (Texas) High School needed a stop. Holding on to a seven-point lead, one which the Buckeyes earned by coming back from a 17-point deficit, they needed to hold Henderson (Texas) High School and its talented quarterback, Patrick "Monsta" Brown, out of the end zone with the Lions in Gilmer territory.
During a timeout before second down, Gilmer outside linebacker Josh Walker, a 2014 Texas A&M commit, let his coaches know he was ready to answer the bell.
"I went to the sideline when they called timeout and I told my position coach 'Just count on me. Put me in a position to make a play and I'll make it,'" Walker said. "And we kind of knew the situation we were in and what they were doing. I told him I'll make a play."
During a timeout before second down, Gilmer outside linebacker Josh Walker, a 2014 Texas A&M commit, let his coaches know he was ready to answer the bell.
"I went to the sideline when they called timeout and I told my position coach 'Just count on me. Put me in a position to make a play and I'll make it,'" Walker said. "And we kind of knew the situation we were in and what they were doing. I told him I'll make a play."
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Seals-Jones, family feel recruiting relief
December, 11, 2012
12/11/12
5:30
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By
Sam Khan Jr. | ESPN.com
SEALY, Texas -- There were times when it all became a little overwhelming for ESPN 150 athlete Ricky Seals-Jones.
The nation's No. 1-rated athlete in the ESPN 150 and the top prospect in Texas, the Sealy High School star dealt with the things that come to many heavily recruited, highly touted prospects: countless phone calls, messages on Facebook and Twitter, visits to schools or visits from coaches to his high school campus or home.
He actually liked those high school visits.
The nation's No. 1-rated athlete in the ESPN 150 and the top prospect in Texas, the Sealy High School star dealt with the things that come to many heavily recruited, highly touted prospects: countless phone calls, messages on Facebook and Twitter, visits to schools or visits from coaches to his high school campus or home.
He actually liked those high school visits.
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Ricky Seals-Jones recruiting timeline
December, 11, 2012
12/11/12
4:30
PM CT
By
Sam Khan Jr. | ESPN.com
It has been a long, winding recruiting road for ESPN 150 athlete and new Texas A&M commitment Ricky Seals-Jones. Here's a glance at how his recruitment developed from the day he originally committed to Texas through Monday's commitment to Texas A&M and what follows:
Feb. 22: Ricky Seals-Jones verbally commits to Texas. He attended the Longhorns' junior day on Feb. 12.
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Strickland: Aggies catching up to Texas
December, 6, 2012
12/06/12
11:50
AM CT
By GigEmNation staff | ESPN.com
With Texas A&M experiencing huge on-field success in its first season in the Southeastern Conference, the recruiting war the Aggies have with Texas is as hot as it has ever been. HornsNation's Carter Strickland looks at how the Aggies have become a real threat to the Longhorns. Here's an excerpt from Strickland's story:
The first -- and most important -- step, as it always is when preparing for battle, was to meet and understand the opponent.
Led by new coach Kevin Sumlin, Texas A&M finished the regular season 10-2 including a win over No. 1 Alabama in Tuscaloosa.
And the one Texas A&M faced welcomed the Aggies with unsuspected grace rippled with dismissive undertones. They were the Texas Longhorns, after all -- long set apart as the standard bearer for all the opulence that can be heaved upon college football programs. To show their wares to the Aggies merited no worry, for a pauper can rarely fathom how to gain what an aristocrat has behind the gates.
But the gates were held wide that day in 2002 as then-Texas A&M coach R.C. Slocum, former Shell Oil CEO and major Aggies donor Jack Little, athletic director Wally Groff as well as three others were met at the Texas football facilities. A tour from the weight room to the office of coach Mack Brown ensued.
"[Brown's] office looked out over the field there, and he had a nice office area and then had a real nice living area where he could kind of entertain parents and recruits," Slocum said.
Slocum's office, he said, was in a parking garage, a desk with two stiff-backed chairs facing it. If a mother and father wanted to join their son to hear what Slocum had to offer, a folding chair would have to be wedged in.
"It was eye-opening to see what they had and we didn't," Little said.
Texas did have it all; oil drums full of money, national wins, a boardroom-to-barn-door coach, five-star recruits, everything but the sense to know it had just allowed a Trojan horse mission that would change the path of a program and a rivalry 10 years later.
Read the full story on HornsNation
The first -- and most important -- step, as it always is when preparing for battle, was to meet and understand the opponent.
Led by new coach Kevin Sumlin, Texas A&M finished the regular season 10-2 including a win over No. 1 Alabama in Tuscaloosa.
And the one Texas A&M faced welcomed the Aggies with unsuspected grace rippled with dismissive undertones. They were the Texas Longhorns, after all -- long set apart as the standard bearer for all the opulence that can be heaved upon college football programs. To show their wares to the Aggies merited no worry, for a pauper can rarely fathom how to gain what an aristocrat has behind the gates.
But the gates were held wide that day in 2002 as then-Texas A&M coach R.C. Slocum, former Shell Oil CEO and major Aggies donor Jack Little, athletic director Wally Groff as well as three others were met at the Texas football facilities. A tour from the weight room to the office of coach Mack Brown ensued.
"[Brown's] office looked out over the field there, and he had a nice office area and then had a real nice living area where he could kind of entertain parents and recruits," Slocum said.
Slocum's office, he said, was in a parking garage, a desk with two stiff-backed chairs facing it. If a mother and father wanted to join their son to hear what Slocum had to offer, a folding chair would have to be wedged in.
"It was eye-opening to see what they had and we didn't," Little said.
Texas did have it all; oil drums full of money, national wins, a boardroom-to-barn-door coach, five-star recruits, everything but the sense to know it had just allowed a Trojan horse mission that would change the path of a program and a rivalry 10 years later.
Read the full story on HornsNation
For the foreseeable future, Texas and Texas A&M won't play each other on the football field. But that doesn't mean the teams won't battle.
The war on the recruiting trail between the schools figures to be as intense as it has ever been and even more so as the Aggies' new coaching staff, new membership in the Southeastern Conference and success in that conference (not to mention a Heisman Trophy finalist in Johnny Manziel) makes them more of a factor in the eyes of recruits.
Throughout the Mack Brown era at Texas, the Longhorns have traditionally been the signature program when it comes to recruiting the state. But after a 10-2 season and what appears to be a bright future in the SEC with Manziel and coach Kevin Sumlin leading the way, could there be a shift in the eyes of Texas high school football stars?
The war on the recruiting trail between the schools figures to be as intense as it has ever been and even more so as the Aggies' new coaching staff, new membership in the Southeastern Conference and success in that conference (not to mention a Heisman Trophy finalist in Johnny Manziel) makes them more of a factor in the eyes of recruits.
Throughout the Mack Brown era at Texas, the Longhorns have traditionally been the signature program when it comes to recruiting the state. But after a 10-2 season and what appears to be a bright future in the SEC with Manziel and coach Kevin Sumlin leading the way, could there be a shift in the eyes of Texas high school football stars?
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HOUSTON -- Pearland (Texas) Dawson receiver Tony Upchurch enjoyed a productive 2012 season. And he has some top programs, such as LSU, Texas A&M and Texas keeping a close eye on him.
Playing myriad roles for Dawson, the No. 1 Class 4A team in the state that saw its season cut short early with a 22-19 loss to Nederland (Texas) High School in the third round of the Texas state playoffs, Upchurch was a true weapon as a junior for the Eagles.
In addition to the receiver spot, where he recorded 1,006 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns on 46 receptions, Upchurch lined up in the backfield as a running back and returned kickoffs for Dawson.
Playing myriad roles for Dawson, the No. 1 Class 4A team in the state that saw its season cut short early with a 22-19 loss to Nederland (Texas) High School in the third round of the Texas state playoffs, Upchurch was a true weapon as a junior for the Eagles.
In addition to the receiver spot, where he recorded 1,006 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns on 46 receptions, Upchurch lined up in the backfield as a running back and returned kickoffs for Dawson.
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Each week, GigEmNation reporter Sam Khan Jr. will bring you five things he learned from watching high school football action in the Midlands region that week, including observations of Texas A&M commitments and targets and other players that catch his attention. Here's this week's installment:
1. Whoever lands 2014 inside linebacker Zac Whitley will be getting a hard-hitting, driven player who consistently plays hard. The ESPN Watch List prospect, who has offers from Texas, Texas A&M and Houston, showed each of those traits during Houston North Shore's 17-10 playoff win over Houston Elsik on Saturday at Reliant Stadium. Some of the hits he delivered to opposing players were impactful, he was almost always around the ball and showed he can get from sideline to sideline quickly and he showed leadership. When his team's offense turned it over, he could be seen firing up his teammates and they got a stop on the ensuing possession.
2. The race for La Porte (Texas) High School linebacker Hoza Scott is all but over with Scott openly saying that he wants to go to Texas A&M and that he will commit there soon. It was the third time I've had the opportunity to watch the 2014 ESPN Watch List outside linebacker, and Saturday, when he and his teammates took a 55-10 defeat to Texas Class 5A No. 1 Katy, it was by far the toughest challenge for the 6-foot-3, 225-pound prospect. Early on, Scott was in on several tackles and was near the ball often but as the game went on, Katy imposed its will on the entire Bulldogs' defense, running it at will. Still, he's a big, fast, strong linebacker who will be a nice addition to the 2014 Texas A&M class when he makes his commitment official.
1. Whoever lands 2014 inside linebacker Zac Whitley will be getting a hard-hitting, driven player who consistently plays hard. The ESPN Watch List prospect, who has offers from Texas, Texas A&M and Houston, showed each of those traits during Houston North Shore's 17-10 playoff win over Houston Elsik on Saturday at Reliant Stadium. Some of the hits he delivered to opposing players were impactful, he was almost always around the ball and showed he can get from sideline to sideline quickly and he showed leadership. When his team's offense turned it over, he could be seen firing up his teammates and they got a stop on the ensuing possession.
2. The race for La Porte (Texas) High School linebacker Hoza Scott is all but over with Scott openly saying that he wants to go to Texas A&M and that he will commit there soon. It was the third time I've had the opportunity to watch the 2014 ESPN Watch List outside linebacker, and Saturday, when he and his teammates took a 55-10 defeat to Texas Class 5A No. 1 Katy, it was by far the toughest challenge for the 6-foot-3, 225-pound prospect. Early on, Scott was in on several tackles and was near the ball often but as the game went on, Katy imposed its will on the entire Bulldogs' defense, running it at will. Still, he's a big, fast, strong linebacker who will be a nice addition to the 2014 Texas A&M class when he makes his commitment official.
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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.