Dec. 15, 2025, 6:31 a.m. CT
Texas A&M’s (11-1, 7-1 SEC) first-round home matchup vs. Miami (FL) (10-2) on Saturday afternoon will also serve as another opportunity for head coach Mike Elko and his staff to host several prospects in the 2027 recruiting class, which is guaranteed to include four-star edge Kaden McCarty, who committed to the Aggies late last week.
With the news that defensive coordinator Jay Bateman will leave for a lateral position and join the Kentucky Wildcats as the primary defensive play-caller, who has not been the primary play-caller this season, as Mike Elko took over the play-calling duties.
After the news that Bateman was leaving after the tournament, some worried that McCarty’s commitment could be affected. Still, it’s essential to note that Texas A&M defensive line coaches Tony Jerod-Eddie and Sean Spencer, who were the primary recruiters, remain on staff for now.
On Friday, McCarty announced on X that he will be back in College Station for Saturday’s game, which is a significant development, knowing that his elite talent and rising profile will attract every SEC team attempting to flip his commitment heading into next summer.
McCarty’s 6’2″ frame and long arms are the main reasons for his blue-chip status, and he has been highly productive during his high school career, including 51 tackles, 12 sacks, and 26 tackles for loss during his 2025 junior season. McCarty is the program’s 8th commitment and one of several blue-chip prospects likely headed to College Station in the near future.
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