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MAKING THE CATCH Top-flight receivers headline A&M's Signing Day haul By Homer Jacobs

Wide receivers flocked to Aggieland, while linebackers shunned the Wrecking Crew. Three offensive linemen already weigh in over 300 pounds, and the surprise of the class came on a last-minute defection from Alabama.

Indeed, this was not your typical Old Army recruiting class… or even one that resembled those R.C. Slocum used to sign just five or six years ago.

Rather, Texas A&M signed a class top-heavy with talented receivers – players Slocum could hardly convince to come to College Station when the perception of a pass-less society was stamped on the Aggie football program.

But that was before the arrival of Robert Ferguson last season and the emergence of quarterback Mark Farris. On National Signing Day in 2001, the Aggies filled perhaps their biggest need with five receivers, led by Bay City star John Roberson.

Last February, the Aggies managed to sign just one receiver, and that was Ferguson as a junior college transfer. This fabulous five may not rival the "Big Three" haul the Longhorns signed last year at wide receiver, but it’s a group that has more speed and big-play abilities than perhaps any receiving unit ever signed by A&M.

"We’ve demonstrated to receivers that we will throw and that we do have someone that can throw it," Slocum said. "I think that was one of the most refreshing things in recruiting. We didn’t spend hardly any time this year trying to convince some guy that we would throw the ball to him if he came here.

"Those guys, most of them had already watched us play. Many of them had seen us play in person and seen the receiving opportunities that Robert (Ferguson) had along with some of our other receivers. He led the Big 12 conference in receivers; so in spite of all the talk about the passing game, you look at the numbers and there are opportunities here for guys to catch the football and to throw the football."

In all, the Aggies signed a solid and balanced class with 11 defensive players and 12 from the offensive side of the ball. As for filling needs, A&M shined with the receivers, five defensive linemen and four defensive backs.

And although the Aggies didn’t sign a large number of offensive linemen, they did sign offensive linemen who were large. Very large.

Jacksonville’s Jami Hightower is the headliner of the group, and the 6-5, 305-pound tackle could very well be the most dominant player in the state of Texas… at any position.

"Jami is one of the top offensive linemen in the country," Slocum said. "He will play tackle, and he has outstanding physical abilities. Jami’s a young man with great character, and I look for him to have an outstanding career at Texas A&M."

A&M coach R.C. Slocum signed 23 players to letters-of-intent, including five receivers and five defensive linemen.

Hightower’s signing was huge for the Aggies, who battled the Longhorns and Nebraska Cornhuskers for his services. In the end, Hightower cited the comfort zone he felt in College Station for his decision, and along with OL teammate Quentin Holman, continued the Jacksonville pipeline to Aggieland that Randy McCown and current tailback Richard Whitaker had created.

Holman, Hightower and Temple star Dominique Steamer are all 300 pounders along the offensive line, while 280-pound guard Cole Smith kept another legacy intact, following in his brother Vance’s footsteps to A&M.

Hightower was one of four four-star recruits (five stars is the highest) the Aggies signed, according to Rivals100.com, one of the nation’s top recruiting services.

Caldwell quarterback Jason Carter was another four-star member of the A&M class, and the run/pass threat became A&M’s only quarterback target. Carter’s stock rose after stellar stops on the summer camp circuit.

"Jason is a very athletic quarterback," Slocum said of the strong-armed local product. "He’s a dynamic player with the ball in his hands."

While Carter’s signing and the landing of the five receivers were big boosts to this A&M class, the most memorable jolt of good news came as the fax machines buzzed inside the A&M football offices on Signing Day. That’s when Tyler Lee tailback Derek Farmer’s letter-of-intent surprisingly arrived.

And in a slow year for running backs in the state of Texas, Farmer’s signing turned out to be critical.

"There were about three guys that we actually recruited, and he was one of those guys," Slocum added. "We were surprised, too. Not totally surprised, but we didn’t know until we added his name on the list (that) morning. It was quite a roar going through the hall when we got the call that he had signed with us."

Like last year, the Aggies cleaned up with defensive backs, signing four more to go along with the six defensive backs signed in February of 2000.

After last season’s injury-plagued game with Texas, in which A&M played with a depleted secondary, Slocum said shoring up depth at that position was a major priority.

And the Aggies not only signed four more bodies, but the quality of the players was evident. Led by Bay City’s Byron Jones and Friendswood’s Jaxson Appel, A&M can argue that it signed two of the top defensive backs in the state.

Jones was certainly considered one of the top cover corners in the state last season, scaring opponents into throwing just nine passes his way in a 16-game, state championship season.

And Appel could be the most underrated player in the state, after tearing up the Greater Houston area as a defensive back, running back and kick returner at Friendswood.

The 5-11, 195-pound athlete had 117 tackles and five interceptions on defense and rushed for 1,864 yards and 22 touchdowns on offense.

"He did everything," Slocum said. "If you needed the water jugs filled, he would do that, as well."

The A&M coaching staff was hoping to land more than three linebackers, although the LB class for 2001 in the state of Texas was a thin one. Fortunately for the Aggies, next year’s crop is considered one of the best for linebackers in recent years.

Of the three linebackers A&M did sign, one is a converted defensive back (Randall Webb), while John Boutte will move from tight end to linebacker in college and Bryan’s Brandon Johnson will move over from the defensive line.

With the Aggies losing two senior starters off the defensive line, A&M was in dire need of finding depth along the line. While none of the five signees at defensive lineman were considered can’t-miss prospects by the recruiting services, players like Forney’s David Ross and Lawrence Hooper of Aldine possess some of the best athleticism the state has to offer.

When the final rankings – for whatever they’re worth – were released by Rivals100.com, the Aggies hovered near the bottom of the Top 25. Did A&M sign the glamour class like Big 12 rivals Oklahoma and Texas? No, but the A&M class was well-rounded and met the program’s needs at almost every position.

Especially at wide receiver, where the influx of talented players told the story of change at Texas A&M.