Aggies' Jimbo Fisher Wins Recruiting National Championship; Ranked No. 1 by Rivals.com and 247 Sports

Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher has not come close to doing it on the field yet with the Aggies, but he has won a recruiting national championship.

Texas A&M landed the No. 1 class in the nation on the early national signing day Wednesday, according to Rivals.com and 247 Sports.

"Hitting a lot of needs, a lot of areas -- offense, defense, skill guys, big guys, everything across the board," Fisher said Wednesday as signing day drew to a close. "And hopefully, we'll develop these guys the right way that we can climb to the top of college football the way we want to get to."

The Aggies finished 2021 at 8-4 and will play Wake Forest (10-3) in the Gator Bowl on Dec. 31. Fisher went 9-4, 8-5 and 9-1 in his three previous seasons at Texas A&M from 2018-20 after leading Florida State to a 14-0 national championship season in 2013 and the College Football Playoff in 2014.

Texas A&M finished with 27 players signed, finishing strong Wednesday with five additions, including the No. 1 player in Pennsylvania and in Arizona, according to Rivals.com. Enai White is the No. 4 weak side defensive end in the nation and No. 1 player in the state from Imhotep High in Philadelphia. Anthony Lucas is the No. 5 weak side defensive end in the nation from Chaparral High in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Fisher and his staff flipped Georgia commitment Marquis Groves-Killebrew at the 11th hour. Groves-Killebrew, who is the No. 12 cornerback in the nation from North Cobb High in Kenesaw, Georgia had been committed to Georgia since May 27, 2020. He is the No. 13 player in Georgia and No. 118 nationally.

The Aggies on Wednesday also flipped LSU commitment Jake Johnson, who is the No. 1 tight end in the nation from Oconee County High in Watkinsville, Georgia. Johnson is the younger brother of former LSU quarterback Max Johnson, who entered the transfer portal last week and announced on Friday that he would be joining his brother at A&M. The younger Johnson decommitted from LSU at the same time his brother entered the portal.

Texas A&M's fifth Wednesday addition was No. 8 offensive tackle Kam Dewberry of Atascocita High in Humble, Texas. He is the No. 10 player in the state and No. 62 nationally.

Texas A&M also kept its commitment from the No. 1 player in Tennessee after a late push by the Volunteers. Walter Nolen (6-foot-5, 300) is the No. 1 defensive tackle in the nation and the No. 2 overall prospect nationally.

Another top signee is No. 3 wide receiver Evan Stewart of Liberty High in Frisco, Texas. Stewart is the No. 5 player in Texas and No. 19 nationally.

Fisher signed the No. 1 dual threat quarterback in the nation, Conner Weigman (6-2, 200) of Bridgeland High in Cypress, Texas. Committed since Feb. 4, Weigman is the No. 7 player in Texas and No. 32 player in the nation.

Fisher also has freshman quarterback Haynes King returning after he was injured and lost for the season in Game Two this year. He is participating in bowl practices for the Aggies, though is not likely to play. He beat out quarterback Zach Calzada, who replaced him as the starter after the injury, but just entered the transfer portal.

Johnson may have trouble earning the starting job or keeping it as the future at quarterback with the Aggies sounds like Weigman.

"The quarterback we just signed today, Conner Weigman, in my opinion, he's the guy I picked from anybody in the country," Fisher said Wednesday on the SEC Network's Paul Finebaum Show. "I think he's as good as anybody. Can throw it. Can run it. But more importantly, has an unbelievable competitive edge. Intelligent. Affects the guys on his team in a great way and a tremendous athlete, tremendous arm. I think he's special."

On the quarterback position, Fisher said, "I think that position will be very well solidified."

Fisher spanned the country and overseas for his top class. In addition to 14 players from Texas, there were three from Georgia, two from Washington and one from Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and even Sweden -- No. 8 tight end Theodor Ohrstrom.

"Hit a lot of states, a lot of areas," Fisher said. "Also did a great job in Texas. Texas A&M has got a tremendous place to sell. Got most of the guys that we need."

Alabama finished No. 2 in Rivals.com and in 247 Sports.

The rest of the SEC in the Rivals.com rankings had Georgia at No. 3, Kentucky at No. 10, Tennessee at No. 11, Arkansas at No. 13, Mississippi State at No. 14, Auburn at No. 16, Missouri at No. 18, South Carolina at No. 21, LSU at No. 27, Ole Miss at No. 31, Vanderbilt at No. 33 and Florida at No. 47.

LSU, in the midst of a coaching change with former Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly replacing Ed Orgeron, fell dramatically as it had the No. 4 class in the nation in 2020 and '21 and the No. 3 class in 2019. The Tigers finished No. 6 in the SEC West alone and No. 11 in the SEC overall. LSU has 13 signees.