Aggies land first commit for '26 class
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Texas A&M has started its 2026 recruiting class in a big way with the commitment of Mesquite Horn 4-star safety Markel Ford.
Ford, whose recruitment has exploded in recent months, has more than 30 scholarship offers on the table. Those include offers from USC, Oregon and Michigan, as well as SEC offers from Texas, Oklahoma, LSU, Auburn, Missouri and Arkansas.
Safety will be an important position for the 2026 class, as players like Bryce Anderson and Jarred Kerr will be out of eligibility and Dalton Brooks and Marcus Ratcliffe will be seniors. Ford starts a reload at a position where the Aggies currently have one of the deepest and most talented groups in the nation.
Analysis of A&M's newest commit
A lot of these highlights are from his JV days (or his opponents sure look JV), but you can get a very real idea of what kind of athlete Ford is. He's quick, has great field intelligence and great change of direction.
I've never seen a guy pick off so many passes in one video. His anticipation is off the charts. He knows where the ball is going before the receiver makes his break. He instinctively gets himself into a superior position and makes the play.
When I look at him, my first thought is "Nickel". He looks, and plays, like Antonio Johnson. He's got another two seasons get bigger, and he will. But he looks like a guy who can defend slot receivers and be a stalker near the line of scrimmage.
This is a quality get for the Aggies and a good start to the class. Getting someone like this to anchor it can only help.