RB Owens could make an instant impact
COLLEGE STATION — There were times at Texas A&M when a top-15 recruiting class would have prompted dancing on Wellborn Road.
Aggies coach Jimbo Fisher wiped out those times with a school-record four consecutive classes in the top 10 prior to the class of 2023, which Fisher tied the bow on this month at No. 15 in the rankings.
Thirteen years ago, then-coach Mike Sherman's 2011 class, for instance, checked in at No. 34 in the 247Sports rankings, with three times as many three-star recruits (12) as four-star prospects (four).
One reason the Aggies dropped 14 spots from 2022 to now — A&M earned its first No. 1 recruiting ranking of the online era a year ago — is the simple number of spots available.
The Aggies signed 19 players this year compared to 30 last year. Fisher's 2022 class had nearly half as many five-star prospects (eight) as he signed in total for 2023, partly based on the number of vacancies this year compared to last.
Twenty-five players in the heralded class of 2022 wound up seeing at least some action last fall, when A&M finished 5-7 and did not make a bowl game. The Aggies are still young in their projected twodeep lineup for 2023, which for the last couple of years has been the season many predicted Fisher would finally compete for a Southeastern Conference title (and therefore national championship) based on A&M'S experience combined with a favorable schedule.
Who among the new class is expected to contribute to a title run? That short list likely starts with one of two five-star prospects, running back Rueben Owens of El Campo. Owens (5-foot-11, 190 pounds) rushed for more than 7,000 yards and 100 touchdowns during his standout career with the Ricebirds, and he'll earn every chance to help fill the considerable void left by A&M'S top offensive player of the past couple of years, Devon Achane, who declared in December for the upcoming NFL draft.
“Rueben is phenomenal,” Fisher said. “He can catch it and he can run it, and he can go play wideout just as well as he can play (running back) for the (defensive) matchups. He has great speed, and he's a tremendous athlete.”
Owens, who enrolled at A&M last month and will take part in spring drills, will compete with returnees Le'veon Moss and Amari Daniels for carries. Achane rushed for 1,149 yards in 10 of A&M'S dozen games, ranking 14th on the Aggies' single-season rushing yards list. Daniels matched Achane's 5.6 yards per carry in much more limited action (36 carries for 206 yards).
As for the other fivestar in A&M'S most recent class? Defensive lineman David Hicks, of Katy Paetow, should have a good opportunity to ease into action, considering defensive line is by far the Aggies' strength headed into the fall.
A&M is loaded on the defensive line with five five-stars — Walter Nolen, Shemar Stewart, LT Overton, Gabriel Brownlowdindy and Shemar Turner — who preceded Hicks in the classes of 2022 (four) and 2021 (one).
Receiver is a position that jumped from a big question mark in early December to a group that should be decent in September. The Aggies were buoyed this month by the return of Ainias Smith, who intends to play another senior season after injuries limited the allaround playmaker to four games in 2022.
In any case, expect a “Smith” to snag plenty of quarterback Conner Weigman's passes this season, considering the Aggies have added Tyrin Smith from UTEP to the roster. Tyrin Smith collected 71 catches for 1,309 yards and seven touchdowns for the Miners and brings similar skills to new coordinator Bobby Petrino's offense as Ainias Smith.
Between the Smith duo, former five-star Evan Stewart — the Aggies' top receiver last season — and veteran Moose Muhammad, the Aggies should be serviceable at receiver. Cornerback is another question.
Despite the additions of transfers Tony Grimes from North Carolina and Sam Mccall from Florida State, the Aggies could still use help on the corners following the early exit of Jaylon Jones to the NFL draft and touted youngsters Denver Harris and Smoke Bouie to the transfer portal.
Look for true freshmen Jayvon Thomas, of South Oak Cliff, and Bravion Rogers, of La Grange, to earn solid minutes this fall in spelling Tyreek Chappell and Grimes or Mccall.
As for Sherman's lowranked 2011 class? Two three-star prospects developed into two of the programs' top all-time players in receiver Mike Evans and quarterback Johnny Manziel, showing recruiting is indeed an inexact science with annual reminders of as much.
The current Aggies crank up spring drills on March 20, and the annual spring game is April 15 at Kyle Field, when fans should get their first glimpse of Owens in action.