2012 Texas A&M Recruiting: Aggies Class Ranks Among SEC's Elite

The Texas A&M Aggies might have this whole Southeastern Conference thing down already: one of the conference's newest members ended National Signing Day 2012 at No. 14 in the country, ahead of all but five of their new neighbors in SB Nation's Top 25 ranking of this year's recruiting classes.

The SB Nation recruiting class ranking is an average of the four major recruiting services' rankings (Rivals, Scout, 24/7 and ESPN). Based on those numbers, the Aggie class of 21 commitments finished No. 14 with very little debate among the four services (A&M graded out as 13th, 15th, 14th, and 17th in the four rankings).

While A&M made a strong showing nationally, it's interesting to note the disparity between their new home in the SEC and their former, possibly less intimidating conference in the Big 12. The Big 12 produced only three teams in the Top 25, good for one third of the SEC's offering (nine total schools, the most of any conference). Had the Aggies stayed, their class would've trailed only blood-rival Texas (No. 2) and Oklahoma (No. 9). Texas Tech (No. 24) was the only other Big 12 team to even place.

Instead, A&M's commendable efforts are good for only fourth place... in their division. Alabama (No. 1), LSU (No. 11) and Auburn (No. 13) all assembled better classes, plus SEC Eastern Division Champion Georgia (No. 10) and Florida (No. 3).

For a complete look at the National Signing Day Top 25, click here.

For more news and info on the Texas A&M Aggies, check out I Am The 12th Man and SB Nation Houston. For a look at everything in college football, visit SB Nation's college football news hub.

When you can make the claim that within your (new) conference the only two schools that have a better 2012 recruiting class than you are the two teams that won the last two national championships, its possible that you've done well in recruiting.

Kevin Sumlin and the Texas A&M Aggies have their signees list at 19, as Thomas Johnson finalized their recruiting class with a bang. Johnson was rated as the No. 4 overall wide receiver this year and chose the Aggies over Texas and TCU.

Here are the 19 commitments who have signed a letter of intent to the Aggies in 2012:

Name	Pos	Ht/Wt	Stars	Rank
Matt Davis	QB	6-2/202		3
DeVante Harris	DB	5-11/160		3
Sabian Holmes	WR	5-11/175		NR
Germain Ifedi	OL	6-5/304		28
Otis Jacobs	DB	6-1/180		NR
Thomas Johnson	WR	6-0/180		4
Polo Manukainiu	DE	6-6/256		30
Kenneth Marshall	DB	6-0/191		40
Mike Matthews	OL	6-3/260		1
Julien Obioha	DE	6-4/255		NR
Edward Pope	ATH	6-3/170		17
Edmund Ray	DT	6-5/290		NR
Michael Richardson	DE	6-2/228		28
Jordan Richmond	LB	6-1/220		26
Tyrone Taylor	DE	6-3/210		NR
Kimo Tipoti	OL	6-3/330		22
Derel Walker	WR	6-2/175		NR
Alonzo Williams	DE	6-4/248		NR
Trey Williams	RB	5-8/175		3

For more on Thomas Johnson and Texas A&M football recruiting, visit I Am The 12th Man, and SB Nation Houston. Click the link for more on National Signing Day 2012.

Thomas Johnson, the No. 4 rated overall wide receiver recruit according to Rivals, has committed to Texas A&M, announcing the news live on ESPNU on National Signing Day 2012. Johnson, who played for Skyline High School in Dallas, Texas, chose the Aggies over in-state rivals Texas and TCU, and west coast teams Oregon and Cal.

Bralon Addison, the No. 18 rated wide receiver recruit in the nation according to Rivals, has committed to Oregon on National Signing Day 2012. Addison, who played for Hightower High School in Missouri City, Texas, chose Oregon over Texas A&M, considered the favorite for Addison, as well as Oklahoma State, where he'd been previously committed.

National Signing Day is like a national holiday for some people. College football has grown to be a big business and major universities go all out to bring in the best high school football players from around the country in an attempt to convince them to wear their jersey and help them win in the next few years. For some of the top recruits around the country, National Signing Day is such a big deal that players make their announcements on national TV in front of millions. One of those players is Spring, Texas running back Trey Williams.

Williams, who stands at 5-foot-8 and weighs in at 175 pounds, had the third best season for a running back in Texas high school history rushing for 3,890 yards and 48 touchdowns in 2011. He's listed as the No. 15 ranked recruit on Rivals.com's Top-100 list.

He has committed to Texas A&M but is unsigned at the moment. He's expected to make his official announcement that he will be an Aggies running back live on ESPNU at 4 p.m.

For more on Trey Williams and Texas A&M Football recruiting, visit I Am The 12th Man and SB Nation Houston. Click the link for more on National Signing Day 2012.

It's national signing day which means that today is the day that we find out where the nation's top high school football players will be showcasing their skills in college. Some of the country's best high school football players are announcing where they'll be playing college football in 2012 on national TV. On of those players is wide receiver Thomas Johnson.

According to ESPN, Johnson, who hails from Dallas' Skyline High School, will be announcing where he'll play football for the next few years on ESPNU at 12:20 p.m. (ET). One of the schools in the running is Texas A&M. The 6-foot-0, 180-pound receiver is listed as Rivals.com's No. 34 player on their Top 100 recruits list and the Aggies could boost their offensive production with Johnson, who had 1,077 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior, on board. They're one of four schools that are rumored to be in the running to land Johnson. The other three are California, Oregon and their the TCU Horned Frogs.

For more on Thomas Johnson and Texas A&M Aggies Football recruiting, visit I Am The 12th Man and SB Nation Houston. Click the link for more on National Signing Day 2012.

It appears that the Texas A&M Aggies have added another recruit to their 2012 class. Beergut from I am the 12th Man relays the information that Carthage, TX ATH Edward Pope (6'3, 170, 4.48) switched his commitment from the TCU Horned Frogs to A&M.

Pope is a consensus Four-Star recruit and holds the 17th-highest ranking for athletes in the 2012 Rivals rankings, trailing Zac Brooks of Jonesboro, AR and Daje Johnson of Pflugerville, TX. He is set to join an Aggies squad that can benefit from his versatility. Pope has the ability to play both wide receiver and defensive end and he projects well at either position. His speed and physicality are well-suited to both positions and tag him as a great get for the Aggies.

For the most up-to-the-date coverage on Baylor recruiting, check out I Am The 12th Man while the SB Nation College Football Recruiting Hub will have wall-to-wall coverage of National Signing Day.