Aggies head coach Jimbo Fisher isn’t focused on player rankings when building his 2024 recruiting class. But, as any scout knows, a player’s tape is usually the deciding factor when recruiting a player within a specific program.
For 2024, Edge/Athlete Gabriel Reliford out of Shreveport, Louisiana, currently unranked by both 247Sports and Rivals, has received 21 offers, including from Texas A&M, on Monday, May 22. Standing at 6-2 and 250 pounds, Reliford’s tape shows a powerful player as a pass rusher, and his 2021 and 2022 numbers back it up.
During his 2021 sophomore season, he racked up 100 tackles, 28 tackles for loss, 15 sacks, and three forced fumbles, leading to his 2022 junior campaign composed of 129 tackles, 27 tackles for loss, six sacks, and three forced fumbles on the year.
Blessed to receive an offer from the Texas A&M University. @TJRushing20 @CoachE_TAMU #GigEm pic.twitter.com/OPKwnRw40z
— β± π²ππππππ π½πππππππ β± (@greliford9) May 23, 2023
So, why the lack of recruiting prominence? His 6-2 height as an outside pass rusher has most likely scared some teams away, while many programs probably feel that a move inside is a better fit. However, numbers do not lie, and Reliford’s 21 sacks over two seasons against stiff competition in Louisiana is a no-brainer for Jimbo Fisher. With upcoming visits to Vanderbilt and SMU, look for Fisher and his staff to set up a visit later this Summer/Fall.
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