Mike Elko, the newly appointed football coach at Texas A&M, will be in a continuous battle with LSU and Texas, both on the field and in terms of recruiting within the Southeastern Conference. The duration of this rivalry will depend on Elko’s performance in both areas. Recently, Elko achieved his first significant recruiting victory by securing the commitment of the only 5-star prospect for the Class of 2024, Terry Bussey, who holds the top rank in the athlete category. Bussey hails from Timpson High School in Timpson, Texas.
Bussey, a versatile player who excels as a running back, receiver, and defensive back, officially signed with Texas A&M on Wednesday. This signing makes him the sole 5-star member of the Aggies’ Class of 2024. The proximity of Timpson to Shreveport, Louisiana, a major LSU town, prompted LSU coach Brian Kelly to make a strong bid for Bussey’s commitment after Jimbo Fisher was fired as A&M’s coach in November. Bussey initially committed to Fisher and the Aggies on September 28 but decided to explore other options after Fisher’s departure. During this period, he also visited LSU and Georgia.
Despite the competition, Elko managed to retain Bussey’s commitment to Texas A&M. Elko’s promise of playing time on offense, defense, and kick returns likely played a role in Bussey’s decision. Bussey’s exceptional performance at Timpson High further solidified his value as a recruit.
However, Texas A&M and Elko still have a lot of work ahead of them to keep up with the recruiting efforts of Texas and LSU. As of Wednesday, the Aggies were ranked only 22nd in the 247 Sports recruiting rankings. The top 10 positions were occupied by Georgia, Alabama, Oregon, Miami, Ohio State, Texas, LSU, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, and Auburn.
Bussey was among the few highly sought-after prospects expected to sign on Wednesday, which marked the second national signing day of the 2023-24 period, following the major signing day in December.
Another notable signing on Wednesday was Gatlin Blair, a 5-star prospect from Burley High in Burley, Idaho. Blair, standing at 6-foot-1 and weighing 194 pounds, is ranked as the sixth-best wide receiver in the country by 247 Sports.
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