No. 4 class has bit of everything.
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COLLEGE STATION — The new early signing period saved the Aggies from any national signing day drama.
The Cincinnati Bengals this week plucked offensive line coach Jim Turner from Texas A&M, and in years past that might have been a big deal just before trying to sign a bunch of players in early February.
But the bulk of A&M’s class inked just before Christmas, and the Aggies were not in the market for any additional offensive linemen after signing three in December.
A&M finished Wednesday with 25 players in the class of 2019, after adding two more in receiver Ainias Smith of Dulles High and linebacker Chris Russell from Dyersburg, Tenn., on the traditional signing day.
Smith (5-10, 193) chose A&M over Duke. As a senior at Dulles, he rushed for 10 touchdowns, caught 10 more and even threw two touchdown passes. He also had a kick return for a touchdown, three interceptions and a touchdown on defense.
“He’s an ankle-breaker,” second-year coach Jimbo Fisher said. “He can play in the slot, play outside and also be a return guy. He’s a guy you can get the ball in his hands very quickly, in a lot of different ways.”
Russell (6-2, 220) chose A&M over Arkansas, and gave the Aggies five linebackers — tying for most of any position in A&M’s class of 2019 — at their biggest position of need. Otaro Alaka was a senior last season and fellow starter Tyrel Dodson chose to bypass his senior season for the NFL Draft.
“There was an area of need, and we also got the guys we wanted,” Fisher said. “That was a great combination.”
Recruiting analysts had Russell pegged for the Razorbacks until the Aggies hopped in late on his recruitment. Russell cited Fisher signing a 10-year contract a year ago as a big reason why he ultimately chose A&M.
“Football-wise, they have a head coach who’s guaranteed to be there for 10 years,” Russell told 247Sports.com. “He’s only on his second (year) when I go to school.”
As for Turner, new Bengals coach Zac Taylor is the son-in-law of former A&M and Green Bay Packers coach Mike Sherman, and Turner and Sherman are cousins. Turner coached for three different staffs at A&M, starting with Sherman and with Kevin Sumlin in between his cousin and Fisher.
Turner left A&M when Sherman was fired after the 2011 season, but returned under Sumlin in 2016. He then stayed on when Sumlin was fired after the 2017 regular season and Fisher was lured from Florida State.
“Jim did a tremendous job for us,” Fisher said. “I wish him nothing but the best.”
Fisher added that he anticipates replacing Turner “very quickly.”
The Aggies signed 12 players on defense, 12 on offense and a kicker. The class is ranked fourth nationally by 247Sports.com, behind Alabama, Georgia and Texas.
“We touched on a little bit of everything,” Fisher said. “Classes don’t always fall out that way, but this one did, and that’s how it was targeted. And we don’t just have players at every position, but guys who can make a difference at every position. That’s what I’m excited about.”
In all A&M signed five linebackers, five receivers, four defensive backs, three offensive linemen, three defensive linemen, two tight ends, a quarterback, a running back and a kicker.
The lone running back is Isaiah Spiller, son of former A&M tight end Fred Spiller and who rushed for 1,493 yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior last season at Klein Collins High.
The Aggies, who in Fisher’s first season won nine games (9-4) for the first time since 2013, begin spring practice on March 20, and their spring game is April 13 at 1 p.m.
A&M signed 23 players in the early signing period just before Christmas, and eight of those already are enrolled, including five-star defensive end DeMarvin Leal of Converse Judson and five-star tight end Baylor Cupp of Brock.
A&M had intended to sign defensive linemen Josh Ellison of A&M Consolidated High and Braedon Mowry of Katy Taylor, and still might at some point if the two are able to take care of grade issues this spring, according to Rivals.com.