5-star 2020 Texas WR target Demond Demas commits to Texas A&M

Texas A&M fell just short at home against No. 2-ranked Clemson on Saturday night, but Jimbo Fisher and the Aggies ended the evening with a major victory on the recruiting trail.

Following the Aggies 28-26 last-minute loss to the Tigers, elite 2020 Houston North Shore wide receiver Demond Demas capped his trip to College Station with a commitment to Texas A&M, pledging to Fisher’s program over options such as Texas, Alabama, and Oklahoma.

A five-star prospect who’s ranked as the nation’s No. 3 wide receiver and the No. 20 player overall, Demas is among Texas’ top targets in the 2020 class, regardless of position. Prior to his pledge to Texas A&M on Saturday, the interest was reciprocated.

After making multiple trips to the Forty Acres throughout the offseason, Demas named Texas in his top eight on June 22, and the Longhorns survived his most recent cut on July 30, which was top a five featuring Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Georgia, and Ohio State.

The notable exclusion? Texas A&M, and now after rumblings pointed towards the Aggies re-emerging as a major factor in Demas’ recruitment, the teammate of Texas offensive tackle commit Javonne Shepherd is now the headliner of Fisher’s top five-ranked 2020 class; one that may soon be bolstered even further.

Shortly thereafter Demas announced his commitment, Texas A&M recruiting reporter Taylor Hamm noted on The Other 98 that “Demond Demas and Malik Hornsby are now Ags.”

Hornsby, the nation’s No. 2-ranked 2020 dual-threat quarterback out of Missouri City Fort Bend Marshall, is yet to publicly announce a pledge to the Aggies, but he retweeted a congratulatory tweet from Eric Bankhead, the father of 2020 Texas A&M offensive guard commit Eric Bankhead.

Although Texas does hold a pledge from 2020 Lake Travis gunslinger Hudson Card, who’s currently ranked just below Hornsby as the No. 3 dual-threat quarterback in his class, the Horns are interested in adding another quarterback to their 2020 class and Hornsby was the top target.

The four-star passer visited the Forty Acres on July 27 for the Longhorns Stars at Night camp, but in a recruitment that was expected to be an in-state battle between Texas and Texas A&M, it appears the Aggies have earned the early edge.

Per usual, expect Texas to continue pushing here, but it’s become quite clear that much like that new-car smell Herman enjoyed throughout the 2018 cycle, Texas A&M’s recruiting momentum to this point is palpable and Texas is suffering as a result.