2026 3-star safety out of Mesquite (TX) has committed to Texas A&M

Texas A&M adds its first commitment in the 2026 recruiting class!

Boom! Texas A&M’s 2026 recruiting class has gained its first commitment in the cycle. Three-star safety Markel Ford out of Mesquite (TX) announced his decision on Thursday afternoon after the Aggies offered him back in late December.

Unsurprisingly, first-year head coach Mike Elko’s defensive background has gained significant attention from nearly every highly ranked future defender. Ford is coming off one of the more productive sophomore campaigns in Texas high school football, recording 56 tackles, seven tackles for loss, and four interceptions on the year.

For those who may not have noticed, Horn HS is home to several elite prospects in the 2025 and 2026 recruiting class, including four-star offensive tackle Lamont Rogers, who recently visited Texas A&M after placing the Aggies in his top 8 program list in May.

Possessing adequate speed, agility, and, most importantly, coverage instincts to thrive in any system, Ford is also a consistent tackler after racking up nearly 60 tackles and seven tackles for loss, thriving against the run.

According to 247Sports, Ford is currently positioned as the 26th-ranked safety prospect and the 46th-ranked prospect in Texas.

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LSU offers 2026 safety from Mesquite, Texas

Oklahoma is the early favorite for Markel Ford.

LSU’s recruiting staff is working on bolstering the 2026 recruiting class. To do that, they have taken a trip out to Mesquite, Texas, to offer a talented Safety from Horn High School.

[autotag]Markel Ford[/autotag] is a 6-foot-1, 190-pound safety who plays for Horn High School. The Horn Jaguars finished the 2023 season 5-5 but they failed to make the class 6A playoffs.

There are currently no Crystal Ball projections at this time for Ford but the Oklahoma Sooners are a 37% favorite to land him per On3.

Film Analysis: Ford is a ball hawk. He roams the secondary like a vulture looking for prey and he gobbles up interceptions.

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