ESPN names Texas A&M's 2026 recruiting class a 'June winner' after recent success

USA Today

01-07-2025

Texas A&M's recruiting success this summer has been awe-inspiring, as coach Mike Elko and his staff landed seven of the program's 21 commits over the past two weeks, including four-star running back KJ Edwards, while back-to-back commitments from five-star cornerback Brandon Arrington and five-star edge Tristian Givens led to national recognition.
On Monday, ESPN writer Eli Lederman named the "June recruiting winners," including Texas A&M leading the way, while Florida, Notre Dame, and the Texas Longhorns followed along with a host of other ascending Power Four classes. The Aggies are focused on building through recruiting and replenishing through the transfer portal, as Elko has continued to discuss his focus on developing NFL talent.
All seven of the recent commits are some of the best players at their position, including four-star tackles Avery Morcho and Zaden Krempin, who are two of the better pass protectors in the cycle. Here is what Lederman had to say about the Aggies' recruiting success last month:
"The Aggies' recruiting heater peaked with the June 19 commitment of five-star athlete Brandon Arrington, who chose Texas A&M over Oregon and sealed the highest-ranked pledge of the Mike Elko era in College Station. Beating Texas to No. 5 overall running back K.J. Edwards two days earlier marked a signature in-state victory, too. Between Edwards and fellow in-state rusher Jonathan Hatton Jr., the Aggies will close the month with the 2026 cycle's top-ranked running back tandem. Commitments from three more top-300 recruits in June -- cornerback Camren Hamiel, offensive tackle Samuel Roseborough and defensive end Tristian Givens -- leave Texas A&M level with Georgia for the third-most ESPN 300 pledges nationally entering July.
Through the additions of Edwards and Hatton, along with the late-cycle pledge of five-star offensive tackle Lamont Rogers in the 2025 class, Elko has shown himself capable of winning high-level recruiting battles in the state of Texas. But the Aggies' message is carrying nationally as well. Of the 10 pledges Texas A&M landed in June, five came from out of state, including four of the five ESPN 300 commits now anchoring the nation's second-ranked class, and the Aggies aren't done yet. No. 1 overall prospect Lamar Brown, who is set to commit July 10, is among the program's priority targets for the new month."
Currently positioned as ESPN's No. 2-ranked 2026 recruiting class, Lederman is right in stating that Elko has more than proved his recruiting chops, and while landing Arrington and Givens was impressive, beating out the Texas Longhorns for Samuel Roseborough and securing rising Arizona-based cornerback Camren Hamiel, two underrated players who could become future stars.
This week, Mike Elko's focus is on one 2026 five-star Ethan "Boobie" Feaster and four-star linebacker Tank King, who will announce their commitments on Friday, July 4.
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