Texas A&M’s hot-start 2027 class just took a hit as five-star LB Cooper Witten committed to Oklahoma after his dad, Jason, joined the Sooners’ staff.
Texas A&M recruiting has been on a heater in the 2027 cycle, and early momentum matters. It shapes perception, builds peer recruiting, and keeps the Aggies sitting pretty near the top of the national rankings as summer approaches.
But even a fast start can feel a lot less comfortable when a true program-changer picks someone else.
That’s exactly what happened when five-star linebacker Cooper Witten - yes, that Witten - announced his commitment to Oklahoma, a decision that stings in College Station because Texas A&M had been very much in the mix.
The Aggies got him on campus multiple times, kept lines of communication wide open, and watched his interest climb into a top-group conversation.
Then the recruiting world did what it always does ... it followed relationships.
When Jason Witten was hired as Oklahoma’s new tight ends coach, the chessboard moved instantly.
The Sooners didn’t just gain an NFL legend on staff - they gained a direct connection to one of the most coveted defenders in the country.
And once that door opened, it didn’t take long for Oklahoma to step through it.
On the field, Cooper Witten is exactly the kind of “build-your-class-around-him” athlete coaches circle in red ink.
During his 2025 junior season at Liberty Christian (Texas), Witten piled up 87 tackles, including 62 solo stops, added two sacks, forced a jaw-dropping seven fumbles, and even snagged one interception.
At 6-2, 220 pounds, he’s not just a heat-seeking missile as a linebacker; he’s also advertised as a legitimate offensive threat with receiver-type versatility.
He can affect the game in multiple ways, and that’s why the five-star label isn’t just hype.
Recruiting services back it up, too. The folks at 247Sports list Witten as the No. 44 overall prospect in the 2027 class, the No. 1 linebacker nationally, and the No. 8 player in Texas.
That’s rare air, and it’s the kind of profile that usually ends up anchoring a top-five class.
For Texas A&M, this doesn’t erase the strong foundation Mike Elko and staff have built early, including a commitment group led by four-star corner Raylaun Henry.
But it does change the vibe around the cycle.
The Aggies were tracking toward a summer with major headline wins still on the table, including the looming decision of five-star CB John Meredith, and losing Witten means A&M now needs its next “statement” pull.
Because in recruiting, momentum is real. And so is the sting when it flips.