Texas A&M does it again, adding another top-5 Florida 2027 recruit

Miami beat Texas A&M on the field in the College Football Playoff, but the Aggies have been winning on the recruiting trail.

Actually, winning is an understatement. Texas A&M is running up the score — and it's doing it in the Hurricanes' backyard.

Jesuit star linebacker Kaden Henderson, the No. 4 ranked player on the USA TODAY Florida Network top 100, committed to the Aggies on June 18.

He joins a 2027 commit list that already includes a some of the premier players in Florida (and the nation for that matter).

Five-star offensive tackle Mark Matthews from St. Thomas Aquinas, ranked No. 1 on the top 100? Texas A&M commit.

Five-star edge rusher Zyron Forstall from IMG Academy, ranked No. 2 on the top 100? Texas A&M commit.

That's three of the top four players in Florida committed to the Aggies. That is unprecedented in the NIL era.

Nick Saban and Alabama came close to what Texas A&M is doing in 2021. Alabama signed the No. 2 (IMG offensive tackle JC Latham) and No. 3 (St. Thomas Aquinas edge rusher Dallas Turner) players in the state, and six of the top 12 overall.

LSU signed the top two players on the USA TODAY Florida Network top 100 in 2025. Texas A&M signed the top two players in the state in 2022.

But three of the top four players in the state? That just hasn't happened in the NIL era. None of Florida's big three programs have done it.

Texas A&M recruiting Florida like they live here

Florida State signed the state's top three players on the 247Sports composite in 2001 — Ed White offensive tackle Ron Lunford, Columbia cornerback Jerome Carter and Lincoln wide receiver Craphonso Thorpe. A year later, the Seminoles signed the No. 2, 4, 5, 6, and 8 players in the state. In 2003, Florida signed the No. 2-4 players in the state.

When Miami had the nation's No. 1 recruiting class in 2008 it landed nine of the top 20 players in Florida, and three of the top nine.

Those were elite classes, but they were a generation ago. That was when the state's best players stayed in Florida, and long before NIL became the factor in recruiting that it is today.

And if all Texas A&M did was get three of the top four players in Florida, that would be impressive enough.

But that's not all the Aggies have done.

Four-star edge rusher Fred Ards from Jones, ranked No. 28, and three-star safety Loia Valade from West Boca, ranked No. 62, also are committed to Texas A&M.

Texas A&M is considered by many the favorite to land IMG standout wide receiver Eric McFarland, the No. 5 player in the state. He told us way back in February that his relationship with Elko and offensive coordinator Holmon Wiggins is strong, and he likes their transparency.

So how is Texas A&M doing this?

The Aggies have been at or near the finish line with all top 5 players in the state. They even got Nick Lennear to take an unofficial visit and name them among his Top 5. While Miami was always the favorite for Lennear, there is a world that exists where Texas A&M landed all five of the top ranked recruits in Florida. Four out of the top five is still in play.

Perhaps the most impressive thing is there's no one reason you can point to for Texas A&M's success. Though it's nearly impossible to get verified numbers, the Aggies haven't always been the highest bidder for recruits. So, it's likely not just money.

It's not like it's just one position coach on the staff who's having success in Florida, considering the Aggies have commits at four different positions.

They're just dominating.

Period.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Texas A&M recruiting dominating in Florida like no other school before