Texas A&M Faces Unexpected Rival in High-Stakes Battle for 2026 4-Star WR Recruit

“After that, Texas A&M seems to have some optimism as well. Not nearly to the level of Auburn, but they are up there. They have done a great job of showing him what a future looks like in College Station, and that has resonated well with him and his family. Coach Wiggins does a tremendous job recruiting the receiver position, and he is very difficult to beat.”

Still, the Aggies are in a good spot heading into his commitment, and still have a solid chance at pulling off another surprise commitment and solidifying the program’s future wide receiver rotation that already looks borderline elite on paper. During his 2024 junior season, Mathews reeled in 1,138 yards and 15 touchdowns, and will more than likely play in the slot at the next level.Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.

According to 247Sports, Mathews is currently positioned as the 191st-ranked prospect in the 2026 cycle, the 27th-ranked wide receiver, and the 9th-ranked prospect in Mississippi.

While Texas A&M is reportedly 1B to Auburn’s 1A, 2026 5-star WR Tristen Keys, who is currently committed to LSU, is a candidate to flip to either A&M or Tennessee, which could shake up Mathew’s final decision, and if Mathews commits to Auburn, I’d expect Elko and Wiggins to go hard after Keys this fall, especially if Mathews shuts down his recruitment.

Texas A&M is crafting quite the impressive 2026 recruiting class, boasting three standout wide receivers—four-star talents Aaron Gregory, Madden Williams, and Mike Brown—who’ve all firmly committed ahead of the Early Signing Day this December 4th . But here’s the catch: head coach Mike Elko and his coaching staff aren’t content with just that trio. They’re zeroing in on landing one more top-tier receiver to complete an already enticing lineup. After missing out on four-star Ethan “Boobie” Feaster, who chose USC, eyes are now fixed on Mississippi’s own Jace Mathews, a four-star wideout known for his precision routes and big-play ability. Mathews plans to reveal his decision on August 8, with Auburn, LSU, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M emerging as finalists. The suspense is real as each program gears up to make its final push in this high-stakes recruitment dance, all hoping to lock down a player who could be a game-changer for their offense. LEARN MORE

After missing out on four-star wide receiver Ethan “Boobie” Feaster, who committed to USC earlier this month, Elko and his staff are eyeing the top route runner in the class, as four-star Mississippi native Jace Mathews will anounce his commitment on August 8, and has narrowed his list to Auburn, LSU, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M.Mathews has taken official visits to all four finalists, but it’s been unclear who is truly leading heading into next month. On Friday, 247Sports recruiting insider Tom Loy (Subscription Required) provided more clarity, stating that Auburn, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, and LSU, in that order, are where things stand from an “optimism” standpoint.

Texas A&M’s 2026 recruiting class features three of the top wide receiver prospects in the 2026 cycle, as four-star Aaron Gregory, Madden Williams, and Mike Brown have all shut down their recruitment and are expected to seal the deal with the program during Early Signing Day on December 4. However, head coach Mike Elko, OC Collin Klein, and WR coach Holmon Wiggins are looking to land one more elite pass catcher next month.