Reed getting his offseason work in

One question we’ve had asked a lot over the past few months is, “Who does Marcel Reed work with in the offseason?” The answer is Jeff Christensen, the quarterback trainer and owner of Throw It Deep. Christensen worked with Reed in both Nashville and in Grapevine over the past few weeks and has planned to spend about 60 hours with Reed this summer. He’s been throwing to Isaiah Horton, who also lives in Nashville, during his workouts with Christensen.

Reed has also been working out with Clif Marshall of D1Training in Nashville and, yes, he does look like he has put on a little bit of weight this offseason.

Aggies closing in on a tight end commitment?

The Aggies have 14 commits, but no tight ends committed at this point. That could be changing pretty soon.

There is a lot of buzz tying A&M to Dexter (Mich.) 3-star Holden Niemi, who could be making his move soon. Niemi has only visited A&M once, early in spring practice, but the visit apparently blew him away. It seems to have pushed the Aggies past nearby Michigan, which he has visited seven times. Niemi is 6-foot-4 and around 210 pounds and is viewed more as a receiving threat than a blocker. Next year, the Aggies should have Kiotti Armstrong, Caleb Tafua, Evan Jacobson and KK Johnson at tight end next year and could have Richie Anderson back as well (he’s a redshirt junior). 

Rapid riser sets A&M official

One of the fastest risers of the offseason has been safety Loia Valade out of West Boca Raton (Fla.). Since the beginning of March, he’s picked up offers from Louisville, Miami, Purdue and A&M on May 1. He picked up an offer from Auburn May 7, to boot. He is taking officials to Florida (an earlier offer), Miami, Auburn and A&M. The Aggies already have the nation’s best safety class with Kamarui Dorsey and Jayquan Snell, but they are certainly interested in Valade. I think the Gators have the edge here, but we’ll see. He will visit A&M June 12, which is becoming the critical official weekend for the Aggies.

Offensive line Hot board

Committed	Hot	Medium	Cold
Mark Matthews (5* OT)	Albert Simien (5* IOL)	Nate Carson (4* IOL)	Jackson Roper (4* OT, committed to UCLA)
Kennedy Brown (5* OT)	Ismael Camara (4* IOL/OT)		Jordan Agbanoma (4* IOL, committed to Nebraska)
Kaeden Scott (4* OT)			Maxwell Hiller (5* OT, committed to Florida)
Demarion Johnson (4* OT)			Oluwasemilore Olubobola (4* OT, committed to Notre Dame)
			Kaeden Penny (4* OT, committed to OU)
			Cooper Hackett (4* OT, committed to OU)
			Joshua Sam-Epelle (4* OT)
			Caden Moss (4* OT)
			Jake Hildebrand (4* OT, committed to Arizona State)
			Brian Swanson (4* OT)
			Kelsey Adams (4* OT, committed to Georgia)
			Jacob Burns (3* OT)
			Li’Marcus Jones (4* OT)
			Jasper Ngokwere (4* OT)
			Peyton Miller (4* IOL, committed to Florida)
			Carter Jones (4* IOL)
			Keyon Hemphill-Woods (3* IOL, committed to Texas)
			Genova Doyal (3* IOL)
			Shavezz Dixon (3* IOL)
			Jayden Mack (3* IOL)
			Jackson Cook (3* IOL, committed to Texas)
			Jayden Deen (3* IOL)
			Reis Russell (3* IOL, committed to Washington)

The O-line class is not shaping up to be as big as I first expect, but it’s still going to be outstanding. It would be elite even if they don’t get anyone else, but I suspect they’re not done.

Of the remaining players on the board, Simien is the prize. The Aggies look like they’re significant favorites to land him, which would be the third 5-star offensive lineman in this class. They’re after Camara as well, but they aren’t desperate for him. Still, they’re definitely in it for him.

If they get Simien and not Camara, it may not be a big deal because Brown could be moved inside. 

It looks like the hot board is really down to Simien and Camara, but Nate Carson has an official visit set up and will announce his decision July 3.

Linebacker hot board

Committed	Hot	Medium	Cold
	Kaden Henderson (5*)		Cooper Witten (4*, committed to OU)
	Noah Glover (4*)		Toa Satele (4*)
	Mikahi Allen (4*)		Taven Epps (4*, committed to OU)
	Ja’Bios Smith (4*)		Quinton Cypher (4*, committed to Ohio State)
			Jhadyn Nelson (4*, committed to Texas Tech)
			Aston Whiteside (3*)
			Antwoine Higgins. (3*, committed to Kentucky)
			Jalaythan Mayfield (4*)
			Kareem Painter (3*, committed to Auburn)
			Ellis McGaskin (4*)
			Drew Williams (3*)
			Braylon Williams (3*)
			Ethan Hauser (3*)

This is one group is all or nothing. There’s no middle ground. The big name is Henderson, the nation’s top linebacker, and a 5-star. The Aggies look to have a big advantage for him right now and he’ll official June 12.

Glover has been a guy A&M has worked on for quite a while and the efforts with him have intensified of late. He will make his official visit, conveniently enough, on June 12.

Allen is an interesting case. He’s from New Jersey and we haven’t heard a lot about him, but you know Elijah Robinson is helping Travis Williams on that recruitment. He will be one of the first visitors, coming in May 29.

Smith is a speedy linebacker in the mold of Tamarion Watkins: 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds. The Aggies offered him 13 months ago and they have him coming in on — wait for it — June 12. The competition here are Florida, South Carolina and Georgia.

If the Aggies can get Henderson and someone else — Glover? — then they’ll be in pretty solid shape moving forward.