Texas A&M Football: Aggies have more 5-stars than Alabama

COLLEGE STATION, TX - OCTOBER 08: Myles Garrett #15 of the Texas A&M Aggies waits near the bench in the second half of their game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Kyle Field on October 8, 2016 in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
COLLEGE STATION, TX - OCTOBER 08: Myles Garrett #15 of the Texas A&M Aggies waits near the bench in the second half of their game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Kyle Field on October 8, 2016 in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

Texas A&M football fancies itself as a newfound recruiting juggernaut. At the moment, the Aggies have more 5-star recruits than the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Recruiting always has its twists and turns. The heavyweight recruiters always get their guys and finish with top-tier classes, but the journey to National Signing Day isn’t without its oddities.

Under Nick Saban the Alabama Crimson Tide have finished with the No. 1 ranked class in seven of the last eight seasons. That reign ended last season when Kirby Smart‘s Georgia squad pulled in one of the greatest classes of all-time, but more often than not, Saban hauls in a myriad of blue-chip (5-star and 4-star) recruits.

As things stand right now the Crimson Tide have the No. 1 class and 15 blue-chip players. They don’t, however, have the most 5-star players. Alabama has one, offensive tackle Piece Quick. Three SEC teams have more 5-stars than the Tide, Georgia (three), LSU (two) and Texas A&M (two).

Georgia and LSU aren’t much of a surprise. They’ve each spent five of the last six seasons inside the top 10 in the recruiting ranks. Texas A&M is a bit of a different story. The Aggies are making significant headwinds under Jimbo Fisher, starting with their two 5-star commits: offensive tackle Kenyon Green and safety Brian Williams.

Williams jumped on board early and Green committed in June. Texas A&M has the No. 2 class behind Alabama right now. If the Aggies can get one (or even two) more 5-star players they’ll be a legitimate contender for not only the best class in the SEC, but the No.1 class in the nation.

Next: Assessing the Aggies 2018 QB battle

As a general rule, teams that finish with top-flight recruiting classes are the ones that compete for national titles. Texas A&M has a step up on the defending champs. That’s not something that many are able to do.