Texas A&M's top five recruiting battles: Once departed Quartney Davis back in fold for Aggies
By Brandon Wheeland , Special Contributor Contact Brandon Wheelandon Twitter
BrandonWheeland
Before your future favorite athlete arrives on campus to begin helping his team, he must first put the fan base through a bit of torture by leaving them on pins and needles until national signing day. Some commit months ago and take the guesswork out of the equation, while others keep a fan base in suspense until their official announcement on Feb. 3.
Here are five recruits that A&M is still battling for to have on campus in 2016.
Quartney Davis
Ht.Wt.: 6-foot-2, 185 pounds
During the Aggies December to forget, featuring two quarterback transfers and a bowl game defeat, four-star wide receiver Quartney Davis sandwiched in his decommitment announcement from the university.
Since, Davis has entertained other schools as a playing option, including Ole Miss and Oklahoma State. The WR caught 53 passes for just shy of 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, and will provide a weapon for whatever staff lands his talents on both offense as well as on special teams.
After testing the waters, Davis decides to stick with his gut feeling and rejoin Texas A&M
Prediction: Texas A&M
Jeffrey McCulloch
Ht./Wt.: 6-foot-2, 230 pounds
McCulloch holds over 40 offers from schools hoping to take the outside linebacker from Aldine Davis high school in Houston and turn him to the next big star on campus. The four star recruit has been linked to A&M, which is no surprise given it's heavy need at the linebacker position.
McCulloch took an official visit to College Station one day after meeting with Texas Longhorns coach Charlie Strong, and this one appears to be headed down a burnt orange path. Even with the Longhorns a heavy favorite, McCulloch is still taking official visits, so it's worth keeping an eye on this one until Wednesday's national signing day
Prediction: Texas
D'Vaughn Pennamon
Ht./Wt.: 5-foot-11, 220 pounds
An all-purpose running back out of Manvel, Pennamon has a chance to share the backfield with fellow 2016 recruit and recent early enrollee to Texas A&M Trayveon Williams.
Considered a hard commit to the Ole Miss Rebels since July of last year, Pennamon is a candidate to potentially flip his allegiance to SEC West schools before Feb. 3. If the Aggies manage to steal him away, he will provide depth at the running back position that is now absent after the departure of former starter Tra Carson.
Pennamon has an official visit scheduled in Oxford for this weekend, where the Rebels will likely seal the deal.
Prediction: Ole Miss
Mark Jackson
Ht./Wt.: 6-foot-2, 221 pounds
Jackson has been a long time commit of the Maroon and White, but that doesn't stop other schools from pursuing the four-star defensive end, nor prevent Jackson from testing the waters. Jackson is still considered to be leaning A&M, fresh off an official visit to College Station this past weekend.
Up next on the schedule for the weak side defensive end out of Cibolo is an official visit with the Oklahoma Sooners, while some crystal ball predictions indicate that the Texas Longhorns will play a role in this as well.
Jackson has developed a relationship with fellow defensive end and Aggie commit Justin Madubuike, and though there's plenty signs to indicate a change is in the air, expect Jackson to be joining Myles Garrett and company in 2016 as a member of the A&M defensive line.
Prediction: Texas A&M
Brandon Jones
Ht.Wt.: 5-foot-11, 193 pounds
Ranked the top safety in the state of Texas by 247, the four-star safety from Nacogdoches stands at under six feet tall and has the defensive abilities to help keep points off the scoreboard. Any help to a depleted A&M secondary is welcomed with open arms, and coaching staffs would love to have an Under Armour All-America game participant on board.
Jones is set to have an official with the Baylor this weekend, throwing the Bears into a race that includes the Aggies, Longhorns, and Arkansas Razorbacks.
When the dust settles, expect Jones to select College Station as his next playing destination, but Art Briles' and the Baylor staff will be in this one up until the last second.
Prediction: Texas A&M