Texas A&M could lose momentum with five-star RB Landen Williams-Callis as Texas, SMU and Houston push hard in a high-stakes NIL battle.
Texas A&M football recruiting already owns the No. 1-ranked 2027 class, but the Aggies may have a real fight on their hands for five-star running back Landen Williams-Callis.
The Richmond, Texas, star has been one of the biggest names left on Texas A&M’s priority board, but the chase is getting messy fast.
After official visits to Indiana, SMU, Oregon, Houston, Missouri, Texas A&M and Texas, Williams-Callis is now being linked more heavily to the Longhorns.
A recent prediction has him landing in Austin, and that’s exactly the kind of recruiting twist that gets both fan bases fired up.
Williams-Callis isn’t just another blue-chip back. He’s been absurdly productive at Randle High School, piling up 4,049 rushing yards and 66 touchdowns.
His 2024 season was ridiculous by itself, with 2,103 yards and 43 scores. Then he kept smashing defenses in 2025, rushing for 3,502 yards and 59 touchdowns while averaging 10.8 yards per carry.
The bigger question now is whether this recruitment turns into an NIL arms race. Texas A&M, under head coach Mike Elko and athletic director Trev Alberts, has reportedly been aggressive in the 2027 cycle, with NIL spending said to be around $10 million.
That investment has helped the Aggies build a monster class, including five-star offensive lineman Mark Matthews, the No. 1 tackle in the cycle.
But with Texas, Houston and SMU reportedly gaining traction, Williams-Callis’ recruitment may come down to who’s willing to push hardest at the finish line.
The Aggies have resources, but they may not feel desperate enough to overspend at running back after already adding young talent like KJ Edwards and Carsyn Baker.
If Texas does win the Williams-Callis sweepstakes, Texas A&M could pivot toward Texas Tech commit SaRod Baker, a four-star running back expected to return to College Station this fall.
Baker may not carry the same five-star label, but he’s still a serious target and could become a bigger part of the Aggies’ board depending on how the Williams-Callis battle shakes out.
For now, Texas A&M still has the class everyone is chasing.
But losing a five-star in-state running back to Texas? That would sting, and the Longhorns know it.
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