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Texas A&M Football: 3 National Signing Day pickups who will break out

By Andrew Miller

TALLAHASSEE, FL - OCTOBER 01: Florida State Seminoles head coach Jimbo Fisher before the game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Doak Campbell Stadium on October 1, 2016 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Jeff Gammons/Getty Images)
TALLAHASSEE, FL - OCTOBER 01: Florida State Seminoles head coach Jimbo Fisher before the game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Doak Campbell Stadium on October 1, 2016 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Jeff Gammons/Getty Images) /
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We already mentioned O’Neal Jr. and the great timing of signing a safety of his caliber. However, there is a legitimate opportunity for him to become a top defensive freshman in the SEC in 2018. Rising junior safety Larry Pryor is the most proven option returning in the Texas A&M secondary.

O’Neal Jr. would have to get past rising sophomores like Keldrick Carper and Derrick Tucker, but his chances in the spotlight are real. Moreover, O’Neal is among the best safety prospects in the nation. He’s the eighth best safety in the country, and eighth best prospect out of Texas.

While Watts is an enormous loss to the Aggies’ defensive backs, Texas A&M does have an experienced safety returning for his final season. Senior Donovan Wilson was knocked out for the entire 2017 campaign due to injury, but if he’s healthy and ready to go he could be the answer to the Watts departure.

Next: Is Jimbo Fisher Nick Saban's biggest threat in the SEC?

Not only does O’Neal Jr. have the opportunity to get a good sum of playing time in 2018, he also has two proven defensive backs to learn from and develop under with Wilson and Pryor. O’Neal Jr. is ready to stardom in a potent era with Fisher at the helm in College Station.