With Texas A&M on a recruiting heater this summer, it may be time to remember that sometimes analysts miss and the best players may not always be at the top of the commitment list. Here are 10 players from the SEC era that recruiting sites horribly overlooked.

10. Josh Reynolds, 3-star wide receiver (2014)

Another overlooked JUCO, Reynolds became A&M’s top receiver almost immediately. He racked up 842 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2014, 906 yards in 2015 and then became A&M’s last 1,000-yard receiver when he caught 61 passes for 1,039 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2016. He was second team All-SEC twice, in 2014 and 2016. He’s still in the NFL.

9. Buddy Johnson, 3-star linebacker (2017)

Johnson was actually ranked as an athlete by some sites, and came down to A&M and Baylor before picking the Aggies. His last two seasons in Aggieland were outstanding, with 163 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, five sacks and one interception — a pick-six against LSU in 2020. He’s currently with the Indianapolis Colts.

8. Tyrel Dodson, 3-star linebacker (2016)

Dodson was considered undersized, which knocked him in the eyes of analysts. A&M wasn’t worried, and Dodson paid dividends in 2017. He racked up 105 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and three interceptions — including the game-ending pick at Florida. In 2018, he delivered 70 tackles and a pick-six in the Gator Bowl. He left college early and was undrafted, but he stuck with the Buffalo Bills, became a starter and signed a big contract with the Miami Dolphins, where he remains.

7. Donovan Wilson, 3-star safety (2014)

Another overlooked talent in 2014, Wilson was committed to Utah before the Aggies swooped in at the last minute and flipped him. He became the starting nickel in 2015 and wrecked shop, with 63 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and five interceptions, including a pick-six against South Carolina. He ended his A&M career with 207 tackles, 21.5 TFL, five sacks, eight interceptions and four forced fumbles. He was drafted by the Cowboys and was there until the end of last season. He’s currently a free agent.

6. Mark Nabou, 3-star interior offensive lineman (2022)

One of the few bright spots from a 2022 class that was a train wreck that fell into a dumpster fire on the deck of the Titanic, Nabou has become a steady starter in 2023, was the starter at center at the beginning of 2024 before a knee injury in the opener against Notre Dame and started all 13 games at center this past season. He’ll be the veteran presence on a new look line this season.

5. Ainias Smith, 3-star wide receiver (2019)

A late addition to the 2019 class deemed an “athlete” by recruiting sites, Smith became popular in his freshman season when he made plays when given the chance. In 2020, he was a huge weapon for the offense, playing receiver and running back to supplement Isaiah Spiller while Devon Achane developed. A full-time wideout and punt returner the next three years, he would accumulate 2,812 yards of total offense and 23 touchdowns while returning two punts for touchdowns. A first team All-SEC selection in 2023, Smith remains the only player in SEC history to surpass 2,000 career receiving yards while also gaining at least 250 yards rushing, 250 yards in punt returns, and 250 yards in kickoff returns.

4. Taurean York, 3-star linebacker (2023)

Another linebacker nicked for his lack of size, York nearly went to Duke before Mike Elko came after him once he took the A&M job. It paid dividends immediately, as York was the starting middle linebacker for the first game of his freshman season and every game after that for three seasons. A two time team captain, he led the team in tackles each season between 2023 and 2025, ending with 229 tackles, 25.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, an interception, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. He was a freshman All-American in 2023 and an All-SEC pick in 2025.

3. Erik McCoy, 2-star center (2015)

A relatively unknown player when he committed, McCoy was considered a project when he signed with the Aggies. He redshirted in 2015 but took a stranglehold on the center spot the next year and started the next 38 games. He was a freshman All-SEC pick and was drafted in the second round by the New Orleans Saints in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He has been a starter at center for the Saints ever since.

2. Mike Evans, 3-star wide receiver (2011)

Ok, this is a technicality, considering he redshirted in the Big 12 and became a starter in the SEC. When he committed to A&M, he was already in the Rivals database — as a small forward. His was the first profile I ever created, and caught hell for doing it.

The SEC caught hell for not finding him, because he torched opponents and the A&M record book for two seasons. He went over 1,100 receiving yards in both 2012 and 2013, ending with 2,499 yards and 17 touchdowns while being a first team All-American in 2013. He still holds the program record for receiving yards in a season and has the top two single game totals to boot.

And number one is, of course…

Johnny Manziel, 3-star quarterback (2011)

Same deal as with Evans, but really — could it be anyone else? Manziel, like York and Dodson, was considered too short. Even though he was a Parade All-American as a senior, he was considered too unconventional to succeed in a big way at the college level.

Oops.

Possibly the most electric college football player of all time, Manziel won the 2012 Heisman, was an All-American in 2012 and 2013, won the Manning and Davey O’Brien Awards and became a national phenomenon. His totals for just two seasons are staggering: 7,820 yards and 63 touchdowns passing, 2,169 yards and 30 touchdowns rushing, including a nation-high 21 in 2012.

Our sponsor

10 Things for Tuesday is sponsored by Brent Campbell, Fighting Texas Aggie Class of 1998. Brent is a Commercial Real Estate Broker, serving all of Central Texas and specializing in sales, leasing & development. He leads a retail acquisition and sales team and was recognized by the Austin Business Journal as a Commercial Real Estate Heavy Hitter in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020 & 2023.

In the last 22 years, he has closed deals with a total transactional value of over $375 million and has leased more than 4.5 million square feet. Brent currently serves as the president of the board of directors for Habitat Homes, Inc. and Pathways Youth and Family Services. He is a former president of the Heart of Round Rock Neighborhood Association and a former member of the Round Rock Zoning Advisory Committee, the Round Rock Business and Retention Committee, and the City of Round Rock Ethics Commission, which has led him to begin developing in Williamson and Travis County.

An Austin native, Brent lives in Round Rock where he and his wife have raised four boys. Brent works for Don Quick and Associates, Inc. in Round Rock and can be reached at brent@donquick.com.