In the world of college football recruiting, it is not uncommon for recruits to decommit based on a program’s on-field performance. However typically, those decommits come as a result of losing. The perplexing aspect of this decommit is that it comes after the Aggies reached an eight game undefeated record with the No. 1 spot in the SEC standings and a No. 3 ranking in the AP top 25.
The Aggies are off to their best start in over thirty years, not exactly a situation to anticipate losing recruits. However, four-star pass rusher Jordan Carter has been committed to the Aggies since October of 2024. Yet per Hayes Fawcett of On3, Carter has decommitted and reopened his recruitment.
The Douglasville Georgia product is not short on interest though. Carter had an incredible high school career. As an incoming freshman he has an ideal frame to build out at 6’3, 235. With over 50 official offers from programs, Carter will not likely have try very hard to get back on teams’ radars. According to ESPN, Carter had the attention of most of the SEC schools as well as many of the currently nationally ranked teams from the Big Ten and ACC.
Good college football programs, especially at the top, recruit so they have waves of talent. The loss of Carter is only compounded by the 6’2, 248-pound elephant in the room. A big part of Texas A&M’s success is due to their defense and specifically Cashius Howell. By season’s end, 2025 should end up being a career year for Howell. He is also in his fifth year of college football and a likely candidate to leave for the NFL.
Carter and the Aggies will be fine, both have options
Head coach Mike Elko has done a significant job recruiting and the Aggie cupboard is by no means bare. In addition to Carter, Elko has secured commitments from Bryce Perry-Wright, Jermaine Kinsler, and Samu Moala. Three players believed to see significant action in the upcoming seasons.
The Aggies are not hurting for talent, so eventually this decommit from Carter might not seem all that debilitating. However, the move still raises eyebrows. Considering the status of the recruit, the current position of the team he was committed to, and the long-term future of the program, it is a peculiar college football story that flies in the face of what is typical.
Texas A&M travels to Columbia Missouri to take on the 19th ranked Missouri Tigers. That game will broadcast on ABC with a 3:30 ET kickoff.
