Longview QB Haynes King has committed to Texas A&M.
HOOVER, Ala. — Texas A&M and Tennessee visited media days on Tuesday, but the programs were in the news cycle again on Wednesday, thanks to the verbal commitment of a touted Texan.
Longview quarterback Haynes King announced he has chosen A&M over Tennessee. The Aggies were a little later to the recruiting party than some of the programs recruiting King, but they made up ground in a hurry and impressed the state champion slinger.
“Jimbo Fisher, he’s proven to develop quarterbacks and put them into the (NFL),” King told the Longview News-Journal about why he chose A&M. “He’s been very successful at that. He coaches you hard, and I’m used to that. He coaches you like you’re his son.
“He’s going to be there for you and care for you, but when it comes down to practice time, he’s going to get on you because it’s for the better.”
King is the son of Longview coach John King, and the King duo led the Lobos to a 35-34 triumph over Beaumont West Brook in the Class 6A Division II state title game last December to cap a 16-0 season, and give Longview its first state title since 1937.
The four-star prospect, perhaps the nation’s top dual-threat quarterback in the class of 2020, went from a virtual unknown outside of Longview and District 11-6A last fall to A&M fans’ most coveted recruit in years.
“(A&M is) close to home, so my mom, my dad, my family can come watch me, some of my coaches can come watch me,” King told the News-Journal. “It’s not too far and they don’t have to buy a plane ticket to get here or there.”
The Aggies have 16 pledges in the class of 2020 and rank ninth nationally according to 247Sports.com. Fisher has said he intends to sign about 25 players starting in December.
Starkel impresses Arkansas coaches
One quarterback whose time at A&M didn’t go as planned was brought up plenty on Wednesday, as well. Nick Starkel transferred to Arkansas from A&M this summer and is eligible to play immediately after graduating.
He’s competing with Ben Hicks, a transfer from SMU, for the Razorbacks’ starting job.
“I’ve known Nick since he was in high school, I recruited him,” said second-year Arkansas coach Chad Morris, a former SMU coach. “To watch the way the ball jumps out of his hand, and how electric and how hot that ball comes out and his decision-making … we’re excited about having him and to know that he has two years with us.”
A year ago, Kellen Mond beat out Starkel at A&M for the starting job in Fisher’s first season.
“We had two guys I felt could start,” Fisher said on Tuesday during the Aggies’ appearance at media days. “Nick is an outstanding player and has tremendous ability … and he’s a better person than he is a player. And I think he’s one heck of a player.”
A&M and Arkansas play on Sept. 28 at Arlington’s AT&T Stadium — and chances are the Aggies will face their old teammate.
Aggies defender enters transfer portal
A&M junior defensive lineman Mohamed Diallo has entered the NCAA transfer portal, according to an A&M official. Diallo played in one game last season and was expected to provide depth on the interior this year behind starting tackles Justin Madubuike and Bobby Brown.
Diallo, who’s from Canada, arrived at A&M a year ago from Arizona Western Community College, where he had developed into a four-star prospect. T.D. Moton and Jayden Peevy are now the primary backups on the defensive interior for the Aggies.