With Texas A&M likely to begin interviewing possible replacements for Mike Sherman this week, Louisville coach Charlie Strong has emerged as one of the top candidates.

Strong, who has gone 14-11 in his two seasons at Louisville, is widely considered one of the top recruiters in the country, especially in the Southeast. He was the defensive coordinator at Florida from 2002-2009, helping bring two national championships to Gainesville.

One of the key selling points for Strong is his defensive expertise, as SEC West powers like LSU and Alabama are known more for their dominating defenses than flashy offenses like Kevin Sumlin's in Houston.

Strong would likely jump at the chance to become a head coach in the SEC, while Texas A&M has a much recruiting base than Louisville, a Big East school located in the basketball-crazy state of Kentucky.

Besides Strong, the two other big names that have been linked with the Aggies are Sumlin and Kirby Smart, Nick Saban's defensive coordinator at Alabama. 

For the latest news and analysis on Texas A&M's coaching search, head over to I Am The 12th Man.