Fisher reels in third straight top-10 class
Landing ‘elite guys’ not becoming easier on heels of success
COLLEGE STATION — Coach Jimbo Fisher finds recruiting to Texas A&M smoother than he did three years ago following his arrival from Florida State — but not necessarily easier based on his perpetual quest for top prospects.
“People didn’t know me and didn’t know what to expect,” Fisher said of December 2017 compared to now, on the heels of his signing another top-10 class. “How we were going to play, how we were going to perform, schemes and things … (but) we’ve branded ourselves that we’re going to be a team that’s going to be up there and contend for championships each year.”
Fisher on Wednesday announced a class of 23 players and said he intends to sign the full allotment of 25 this year. The class was buoyed on national signing day by the addition of four-star CyFair running back L.J. Johnson, who chose the Aggies over Texas. A&M’s haul is ranked No. 7 nationally by 247Sports, and Fisher reeled in a third consecutive top-10 class, a first for A&M since online rankings have been kept over the past two decades.
“(You’re) starting to see the results on the field, but I’m not going to say it’s been any easier,” Fisher said of recruiting to A&M. “Because it’s never easy to go recruit great players. You can recruit players and sign really good players, but you want to sign the elite guys — the guys who put you in a championship.
“There are a limited amount of (elite) guys, and everybody wants them. So that’s always hard.”
The 9-1 Aggies finished fourth in the Associated Press poll, their highest final ranking since winning the national title in 1939.
“We keep recruiting (well), and hopefully that translates into performance on the field, which is starting to get really good here, and we’re enhancing that with the culture we’re creating,” Fisher said. “That can (lead) to SEC championships and national championships — those are our goals, and that’s what we’re trying to get to. To create competition from within that (means) hopefully the toughest games we play are the days we have in practice, when you’re going (against) another great player across the ball from you.”
Ten of the 23 players, including four-star receiver Shadrach Banks from North Shore, enrolled at A&M in January.
Five-star defensive lineman Shemar Turner, who is finishing up his senior year at DeSoto High this spring, highlights Fisher’s third full class at A&M. Turner chose A&M over Alabama and Texas. Quarterback Eli Stowers of Denton Guyer and offensive lineman Bryce Foster of Katy Taylor also punctuate Fisher’s latest haul.
Stowers should compete with Haynes King and Zach Calzada for playing time next season in the trio’s bid to replace four-year starter Kellen Mond, who upped his stock in this year’s NFL draft after earning most valuable player honors at the Senior Bowl last Saturday.
Fisher won an early recruiting battle for Johnson over new Texas coach Steve Sarkisian, who replaced the fired Tom Herman.
“I’ve respected what he’s done. He’s been a good coach wherever he’s been,” Fisher said of Sarkisian. “I’ve studied film of him and the things he’s done on offense when he was at USC and Washington. … I’ve always had great respect for Steve. I know him and speak to him and say hello but have never spent a lot of personal time with him.
“Steve is a great coach, and Texas has got a lot of resources and is a good place. It doesn’t matter. Whoever is there, it’s going to be tough (to recruit against), and we’ve got to do a good job of recruiting and winning our battles.”
In other A&M news, Fisher said he intends to start spring drills in late March and play a spring game April 17 at Kyle Field, with fans and recruits in attendance. Fisher added he will adjust the schedule if necessary, depending on the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Also, backup defensive lineman Jeremiah Martin has entered the NCAA transfer portal. Martin, a junior from California, played in nine of the Aggies’ 10 games in 2020, registering two tackles. Defensive line is a team strength entering 2021.
“Texas A&M will forever be a piece of my life that I’ll never forget,” Martin posted in part to social media. “Thank you to everyone who’s been supportive through my journey, just know it isn’t over yet!”