Texas A&M’s No. 1-ranked 2027 recruiting class took a hit on Wednesday after priority five-star cornerback Joshua Dobson committed to South Carolina, which wasn’t a shock given the recent intel, while the Gamecocks, under coach Shane Beamer, have developed several big-name cornerbacks who are current NFL starters.
In today’s NIL-driven recruiting landscape, Texas A&M is the leader from a financial standpoint, taking full advantage of being one of the wealthiest programs in the country, while third-year coach Mike Elko’s impact has received national praise after leading the Aggies to the College Football Playoff during his second season at the helm.
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It’s fair to criticize college football in 2026, but the business side is simply part of the game in today’s age, and Texas A&M’s advantage has not surprised anyone, especially opposing SEC general managers and head coaches who have observed the Aggies continue to land blue-chip prospect after blue-chip prospect, especially last month.
On Wednesday, On3 released its recent interviews with seven Power Four head coaches who opined on the Aggies’ NIL spending, stating that Elko and GM Derek Miller have spent “north of $10 million.”
“Texas A&M is spending a sh*t ton — easily $10 million,” an SEC general manager stated. “We’re probably anywhere from $5 to $7 million.”
Still, money isn’t the only reason the Aggies have built an elite recruiting class, as Mike Elko’s development background, which was further proven after a record ten players were selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, has played a key part in landing all six five-star commits, including No. 1-ranked OT Mark Matthews, and star linebacker Kaden Henderson.
“They got some really good players,” another SEC general manager stated to On3. “Rankings aside, we liked a lot of the guys they’re taking. They took some freaking great players. Elko’s a damn good coach. This isn’t going to be Jimbo Fisher all over again. Not that Jimbo isn’t a good coach. Elko’s at a different point in his career.”
The Jimbo Fisher narrative is slowly dying out, and heading into the 2026 season, Mike Elko will look to lead his veteran roster back to the CFP for the second straight year, and, for what would be the first time in his career, defeat the Texas Longhorns at the end of the regular season.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: SEC GM claims Texas A&M spent ‘easily $10 million’ on 2027 class
