I try not to overstate the importance of any single recruit, both in what they might do on the and what their commitment means as a “win” over other programs. That said, given the circumstances, it’s hard to imagine a commitment having more significance than that of Beaumont West Brook Safety Bryce Anderson, who choose Texas A&M over the rival Texas Longhorns on Friday.

Anderson is the top safety in Texas, the No. 12 overall recruit in the state (#branding) and among the top 50 recruits in the nation. Obviously the most important aspect of his commitment is another cornerstone of what could be a monster 2022 recruiting class for the Aggies, and a potential replacement for the two starting safeties A&M may lose after this season in Leon O’Neal and Demani Richardson. But the fact that A&M won a two-team battle between the Longhorns also feels like a massive momentum builder. Texas is looking to ride the recruiting wave that always happens with a new head coach, and recent news of the Horns soon joining the SEC seems like it would only make that wave crest even higher. Much has been made about how the two schools becoming conference mates once again could negate the recruiting advantage that the Aggies have built in recent seasons. But if the recruiting developments of recent weeks are any indication, A&M’s recruiting prowess under Jimbo Fisher don’t seem to be going anywhere.

Anderson’s commitment gives the Ags 13 commits in the 2022 class, now ranked No. 11 in the country. That’s one spot behind the Longhorns, but only because they have four additional commits. That Texas class has only one recruit ranked in the national top 100 (No. 99), while A&M’s has four (Nos. 25, 48, 55 and 69).

Bryce Anderson Highlights