Aggies keep recruiting roll going
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Texas A&M has kept its recruiting hot streak, both in California and overall, going with Tuesday's commitment from 4-star DE Marco Jones.
The Danville (Calif.) San Ramon Valley product picked the Aggies over finalists Michigan, USC and Texas. He has more than two dozen offers overall, including ones from the likes of Alabama, Oklahoma, Oregon, Penn State and Notre Dame.
Though he is currently listed as an outside linebacker, Jones has added at least 15 pounds to his frame and now projects as an edge rusher. He was one of A&M's top recruits at that position, and the Aggies were able to pull ahead of the pack when Jones made his official visit the weekend of June 7. Later trips to Texas and USC were unable to sway him away from defensive line coaches Tony Jerod-Eddie and Sean Spencer and defensive coordinator Jay Bateman.
Jones has been extremely productive during his high school career. In 2023, he had a ridiculous 166 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and 3 interceptions -- two of which he returned for touchdowns.
Jones is a dual-sport athlete who has been recruited for baseball as well. He may attempt to play for the national runner-up Aggie baseball team and new coach Michael Earley.
Jones is A&M's 18th commit for the 2025 class, and their fourth out of California. He's also the second player out of three from the state to commit to A&M, joining 4-star LB Noah Mikhail, who committed Sunday.
With the addition of Jones, A&M now has the seventh, 12th, 15th and 22nd-ranked players in California committed. No team has more players committed in the state's top 25.
Analysis of A&M's newest commit
Jones is highly athletic with an EXPLOSIVE first step. His ability to come off the ball faster than anyone else and at nearly full speed makes him extremely dangerous.
He has excellent field vision and can track down ballcarriers quickly. But his pursuit is even more impressive. You can tell he has tremendous desire and wants to be the guy making plays. That's just sheer willpower on his part.
Jones' ability to drop into coverage makes him the kind of player Bateman and coach Mike Elko can use in different ways. He could drop off the line in an exotic blitz package or just stand him up on the edge, forcing offensive linemen to account for him even if he's not rushing. This does not, however, mean you put him out on a slot receiver. Those days are dead.
Jones has an excellent frame and I could easily see him playing at 240 pounds his senior year and being at 250 to 255 during his freshman season at A&M. If he keeps that remarkable first step at that weight, he's going to be dangerous.