Latest news with #MaroonandWhite
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Where does Texas A&M rank among all college football programs in 2026 recruiting class?
While Texas A&M's 2025 campaign kicks off in just 35 days, head coach Mike Elko is preparing the program's future by staying hot on the recruiting trail. This summer has been exceptional for the second-year head coach, as the Aggies reeled in a plethora of top-rated recruits. With one five-star and 21 four-star prospects committed to play in the Maroon and White uniform in 2026, Elko has made waves for his recruiting success. Texas A&M holds the No. 5 recruiting class, according to On3 Sports' 2026 Industry Football Team Recruiting Rankings, and No. 3 overall class by 247Sports. The massive jump in the rankings was due in large part to Elko landing five-star defensive lineman Bryce Perry-Wright on July 5. According to Rivals, which has now merged with On3 Sports, the Aggies surpassed some of the nation's top programs, including the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Elko has also landed the likes of EDGE Tristian Givens and wideout/defensive back Brandon Arrington, both of whom rank in the top 30 recruits in the country, according to 247Sports. Running back KJ Edwards also announced his commitment to the Aggies in June, which helped provide Texas A&M with momentum entering the summer months. The Carthage, Texas, native's decision to begin his collegiate career in College Station stems from Elko and company's consistent ability to be personable with recruits and their families. With just a few more days left of July, here are the updated recruiting rankings, per On3 Sports and 247Sports: On3 Sports 247 Sports Although both recruiting sites have differing opinions on some programs, the consensus is that Texas A&M's 2026 class ranks in the top five. The summer has proved to be a good one for Elko, as he leads the Aggies into his second fall camp at the helm. Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Dylan on X: @dylanmflippo.
USA Today
04-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
From College Station to Canton: Texas A&M pipeline produces NFL DPOY winners
When it comes to defensive talent wreaking havoc against offenses in the National Football League, Texas A&M is well-represented. Players such as Myles Garrett, Lester Hayes and Von Miller are just a few of the elite former Aggies who made their mark in the pros after representing the Maroon and White in College Station. Not only have they succeeded in the league, but several have racked up a string of accomplishments that have placed them among the NFL's all-time greats. Texas A&M is one of just 12 FBS schools to produce an NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award, which is presented to the league's best and most productive defensive player each year. The Aggies are tied with the Tennessee Volunteers as the only Southeastern Conference schools to bring home two awards. Lester Hayes - DB - Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders (1977-1986) Hayes was the first Aggie to secure the award, leading the league with 13 interceptions during the 1980 regular season. That total tied him for the second-most INTs in a single season in NFL history, as he anchored the Raiders' defensive unit and helped lead them to a dominant 27-10 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XV. He also finished the season with one pick-six, two forced fumbles, five interceptions in the postseason and one INT in the Super Bowl to complete a legendary year with the Raiders. Though he wore silver and black, Hayes' Maroon and White roots ran deep. After a short stint as a defensive end during his freshman season in College Station, Hayes transitioned to linebacker and then safety. In 1975, he emerged as one of the nation's premier defensive backs. Known for his tenacious play and elite vision on the gridiron, he recorded 14 career interceptions, which was a school record that stood untouched for 14 years. Myles Garrett - DE - Cleveland Browns (2017-Current) Hayes paved the way for future defensive superstars like Garrett, who currently plays defensive end for the Cleveland Browns. Through eight seasons in the NFL, he has already established himself as a talent who wreaks havoc and causes opposing teams nightmares. In 34 games played for the Aggies, Garrett recorded 141 tackles, including 47 tackles-for-loss, 31 sacks (Texas A&M record), seven forced fumbles and five pass deflections. He was voted a First-Team All-SEC member and a unanimous All-American in 2016, which led to Garrett being picked No. 1 overall by the Browns in the 2017 NFL Draft. Since entering the league, he has been a force to be reckoned with. With 116 career tackles-for-loss, 88.5 career sacks and 15 forced fumbles, Garrett's freakish athleticism has well-earned his stripes as a future NFL Hall of Famer. He won his DPOY award in 2023 as he led the Browns with 42 total tackles and recorded 17 TFL. Garrett also posted 14 sacks during the campaign, which was tied for seventh-most in the league. He became the only player in NFL history to record more than 14 sacks or more in four consecutive seasons. The five-time Pro Bowler returns for his ninth season with the Browns in 2025 as the highest-paid defensive player in the league. Garrett signed a contract extension with the Browns in June, which averages $40 million per year and guarantees him $123.5 million. Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Dylan on X: @dylanmflippo.
USA Today
22-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Promising Texas A&M infielder confirms return to College Station for sophomore season
Texas A&M baseball head coach Michael Earley retained another promising infielder for next year's club, as the No. 3 shortstop in Texas from the 2024 class is reportedly returning for his sophomore season in College Station. According to TexAgs analyst Ryan Brauninger, Fort Worth native Sawyer Farr confirmed he will gear up for the Aggies in 2026. He made 31 starts in 39 appearances with 15 hits, including a triple, 17 walks and four RBI. The announcement from Farr will provide Earley with another up-and-comer who has the potential to become a superstar for the Aggies baseball program. Perfect Game USA ranked the 6-foot-4-inch shortstop as the No. 17 prospect at his position and the No. 67 overall player in the country from his class. Although the opportunity was there for Farr to go pro and potentially sign with a Major League Baseball franchise, he signed with the Aggies. Heading into the 2025 campaign, the freshman joined fellow teammate and outfielder Terrence Kiel II as the two Aggies to make Perfect Game USA's Top 75 Freshman list. According to the outlet's evaluation of Farr during Texas A&M's fall ball in 2024, he showed promise from both sides of the plate entering his first season in Aggieland. "Armed with real switch hit juice, true freshman Sawyer Farr, hit some balls extremely hard in looks and got some good starts at second base, though the frame and athlete may move him to the left side of the dirt long term." Both Farr and Kiel are now officially returning for their sophomore seasons in the Maroon and White uniform, which provides Earley's club with speed on the basepath and consistent hitting at the plate if they reach their full potential. Farr's announcement on Saturday night continues to grow the flame that the Aggies are trying to build back as preparations begin for offseason work in College Station. Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Dylan on X: @dylanmflippo.
USA Today
25-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Texas A&M slugger, MLB prospect closes book on dominant collegiate career
Texas A&M slugger, MLB prospect closes book on dominant collegiate career It is difficult to express the importance of Texas A&M outfielder Jace LaViolette's contributions at the plate and in the field while wearing the Maroon and White uniform. During three years in Bryan-College Station, Texas, LaViolette shattered a plethora of program records. He currently holds the record for most career home runs (68) and walks (163), while also ranking fourth in RBI (196) and total bases (438). Above the astonishing career records at Texas A&M is a gritty and determined athlete who would do anything to help his club succeed. That sentiment glistened like a diamond under the bright lights at the SEC Tournament at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Hoover, Alabama, as the junior Major League Baseball prospect gritted his teeth through the pain of a broken hand and left it all on the field for the Aggies in the quarterfinals against LSU. No matter what franchise pulls the trigger on LaViolette, a mentality like that mixed with an undeniable ability to formulate excellent at-bats will provide success wherever he ends up following an incredible collegiate career. Before his arrival on the Texas A&M University campus as a freshman in 2023, LaViolette was ranked as the 27th outfielder in the nation at Tompkins High School in Katy, Texas. During his stint at Tompkins, he hit for a .591 batting average, 55 runs, 53 RBI, 13 stolen bases, 11 home runs, 12 triples, and nine doubles on his way to being named the All East Texas MVP in his senior year. From there, LaViolette had the decision to take the route of skipping college ball to enter the MLB Draft. As he spent time around the program during the summer of 2022, he knew he was destined to become an Aggie. "These last two weeks just really sealed the deal for me," LaViolette said in an interview with TexAgs following his summer interactions with members of the prgoram. "Before that, I was alread bought in, but I didn't fully understand by what people meant when they said this is the best university to come to. Now that I'm here and I understand, this is the best place to be." Since he made it official, he has always and forever bled Maroon and White. His willingness to lay it all on the line for his teammates and coaches proved to be a tremendous selling point, as LaViolette set the Texas A&M freshman record for homers in a season with 21 blasts in 64 starts for the Aggies. LaViolette followed the outstanding freshman year by racking up his first First Team All-SEC honors as a sophomore in 2024, as he recorded a .305 batting average, 29 homers and 78 RBI. What more can be said about LaViolette's junior year as an Aggie? To many, it can be defined by his string of impressive performances in Hoover. In the opening contest against Mississippi State, LaViolette welcomed the Bulldogs to the SEC Tournament by mashing a grand slam that aided the Aggies to a dominant 9-0 victory. After setting up a showdown against Auburn with the win over the Bulldogs, LaViolette was primed and ready to give everything he had in the tank to help Texas A&M stay alive. That was before adversity struck in the form of a left-hand injury, as he was struck by a fastball against the Tigers. This changed everything. A player like LaViolette is a game-changing athlete who can push a program to unprecedented heights. The entirety of the sporting world, college baseball fans across the country and even LaViolette himself seemingly believed his season was over. That is when he did the unthinkable, as he jogged out for batting practice and told his coaches he was good to go. As a designated hitter for the Aggies, he recorded two RBI and kick-started a fiery momentum for his fellow teammates. Through the hardships and adversity he faced in Hoover and throughout his career sporting the Texas A&M uniform, LaViolette said he would fight for this program forever. "It's hard man. You work so hard and prepare for a season like we did, and sometimes baseball's a funny game. It's hard, it's got its ups and downs, but at the end of the day, I'll be able to call these guys brothers for the rest of my life, and I'm just glad for [head coach] Michael Earley, and I couldn't have asked to play for anyone else." Aggie fans will have to wait until Sunday, July 13, to hear LaViolette's name called in the 2025 MLB Draft. According to the MLB Top Baseball Draft Prospect Rankings, he ranks as the seventh-best player entering the draft this year. The draft will take place in Atlanta, Georgia, starting on July 13 and ending on July 15. Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Dylan on X: @dylanmflippo.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
‘Glad to be back': Josh Hubbard announces return to Mississippi State
STARKVILLE, Miss. (WJTV) – Star Mississippi State guard Josh Hubbard is heading back to Starkville. Hubbard announced on May 21 that he's removing his name from the NBA draft process and has his sights fully set on a big junior year with the Bulldogs. USM Pitcher, Benton Grad JB Middleton Wins Ferriss Trophy 'This is nothing but exciting,' Hubbard said. 'I was born and raised in Mississippi, so just to come back and wear the Maroon and White again means the world. I can't explain enough how much Mississippi State means to me. I'm so excited and ready to get back to it already.' Hubbard was an All-Southeastern Conference selection in each of the last two seasons as he led the Bulldogs to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances. 'I just want the fans to know that we're creating something special,' Hubbard said. 'I'm glad to be back, so let's all have another great, successful year.' Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
