The Texas A&M Aggies flexed their muscle on the recruiting trail for the 2015 class on Sunday during a big-time Junior Day that included a handful of top prospects, landing a pledge from Rockwall (Texas) Rockwall-Heath offensive tackle Trevor Elbert.
2015 four-star OT Trevor Elbert commits to the Texas A&M Aggies
The Aggies added another piece to what is shaping up as another elite class.
Brendan Maloney-US PRESSWIRE
On the way back to the Metroplex following the recruiting event, Elbert decided to end his recruitment, placing a call to Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin that elicited the coach’s trademark “YESSIR” tweet, one that has been coming more and more frequently for the rising SEC program as the Aggies continue to dominate the recruiting landscape in the state of Texas.
Elbert told 247Sports that he plans on recruiting for the Aggies, specifically citing Mesquite (Texas) Poteet linebacker Malik Jefferson and Sulphur Springs (Texas) safety Larry Pryor as fellow prospects he would like to help bring to College Station.
A consensus four-star prospect, the 6’5, 290-pounder is rated as the No. 11 offensive tackle nationally and the No. 16 player in the state of Texas for the 2015 class, along with No. 113 in the 247Sports Composite national rankings. He holds offers from Alabama, Auburn, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Texas, and Texas Tech.
Elbert is a verstaile lineman who has played up and down the line of scrimmage during the last two years for Rockwall-Heath. A big, lean tackle with an ideal built to play outside in college, Elbert understands how to use his hand positioning, feet, and upper body strength to excel as a run blocker while reach blocking sideways and while coming downhill and getting to the second level against smaller defenders.
Rockwall-Heath used Elbert with his hand on the ground in a run-heavy scheme as a junior, so there are some questions about whether the big offensive tackle has the feet and technical ability in pass protection to remain on the left in college, but even if he does end up as a right tackle, there is still tremendous value in any offensive lineman who can play on the outside.
The ease and explosiveness of movement that Elbert displays for his size in getting to the second level suggests that the athletic upside is there from a tackle standpoint. However, moving forward in run blocking is much different than moving backwards in pass protection.
In the early going of 2015 recruiting, the six-member class for the Aggies now ranks tops in the SEC and nationally, according to the 247Sports Composite team rankings. Elbert is the first offensive lineman in the group and has the opportunity to join Jake Matthews, Luke Joeckel, and Cedric Ogbuehi as recent standout offensive tackles for the Aggies in what is quickly becoming a growing tradition of excellence at the position.
