After a brutal 10-3 CFP loss to Miami, Texas A&M lands 4-star 2027 DL Myels Smith, keeping Mike Elko's long-term defensive vision on schedule.
The Texas A&M Aggies walked out of Kyle Field on Saturday with their season in pieces after an ugly 10-3 College Football Playoff loss to Miami.
An 11-2 campaign that once felt destined for history instead closed with back-to-back defeats and a whole lot of what-ifs for the 12th Man.
But even as the pain lingered, there was at least one jolt of good news for the future in Aggieland.
Texas A&M secured a massive building block for its 2027 class as four-star defensive lineman Myels Smith announced his commitment to the Aggies.
The Inglewood (Calif.) product, listed at 6-3 and 295 pounds, chose A&M over a loaded national offer sheet that included Oregon, Michigan, Texas, Arizona State, Ohio State, Alabama, Tennessee, USC, Washington, Arizona, Nebraska, and more.
He had previously named a top six of Texas A&M, Nebraska, USC, Washington, Arizona State and Cal before ultimately rolling with the Aggies.
Smith made an unofficial visit to College Station on Nov. 15, continuing a relationship that started when A&M extended an offer on Jan. 29, 2025. That persistence paid off, and now he becomes another centerpiece in what is quickly turning into a nasty defensive core for 2027.
On the field, Smith brings production that matches the hype.
As a junior, he racked up 91 tackles with a ridiculous 30 tackles for loss, 11 quarterback hits, 10 sacks, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and four pass breakups. His sophomore season wasn't far behind with 65 tackles, 20 for loss, 7.5 sacks and multiple QB hits.
The scouting reports label him as a late-career breakout with an explosive first step and the ability to wreck plays in the backfield when he times his jump.
Smith joins an already loaded group of 2027 pledges for Texas A&M, including four-star quarterback Jayce Johnson, defensive backs Raylaun Henry, JayQuan Snell and Kamarui Dorsey, edge rusher Kaden McCarty, offensive tackle DeMarrion Johnson, defensive lineman Elijah Patmon and three-star athlete Hakim Frampton.
For Mike Elko, the message is clear ... the CFP loss stings, but the long-term talent pipeline is very much alive.
The Aggies didn't get the ending they wanted in 2025. But with recruits like Myels Smith on the way, they're doing everything they can to make sure this is just the beginning.