A&M adds two commits as signing day approaches

  • By DAVID HARRIS

  • Posted: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 7:00 a.m.
  • Text size: A A A

By DAVID HARRIS


david.harris@theeagle.com


Officially, all is quiet on the recruiting front. But until National Signing Day, which is Wednesday, speculation and rumors will run rampant.


The final dead period of the 2012 recruiting season began Monday, meaning coaches can't contact prospects or commits until they sign on the dotted line.


Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin has been on the trail since he was hired, hoping to keep Mike Sherman's top-10 class intact.


Over the weekend, A&M added two more commitments to a class ranked No. 10 by 247Sports.com.


Euless Trinity defensive lineman Polo Manukainu became the 22nd known commitment in the class. The 6-foot-5 talent told Gigem247.com, The Eagle's internet recruiting partner, that A&M's move to the Southeastern Conference next year was a huge draw.


"Going to the SEC is like going from JV to varsity," Manukainu said. "The SEC is a whole different ballgame. It's the best of the best. I want to compete with the best of the best so that I can be my best. That's all there is to it."


Carthage's Edward Pope, formerly a TCU commit, was in town over the weekend as an official visitor. By the time Sunday rolled around, the U.S. Army All-American had decided he wanted to be an Aggie, becoming the 23rd pledge in this highly touted class. Pope, who played safety in high school, is expected to play wide receiver in Sumlin's offense.


But not everything is certain for the Aggies as Signing Day nears. Longtime A&M commit Bralon Addison, a four-star wide receiver, is said to be wavering after a weekend visit to Oregon. According to Gigem247.com, A&M is still the favorite for the Hightower native, but the Ducks are definitely in play.


Longtime A&M commit Corey Thompson decided Monday night that he wanted to attent LSU instead, according to GigEm247.com's Taylor Hamm. The Elkins safety took an unofficial visit to College Station this weekend to meet with Sumlin, defensive coordinator Mark Snyder and new secondary coach Marcel Yates.


The Aggies hosted a surprise visitor over the weekend as defensive end Hassan Ridgeway, a Texas commit, was at the Bright Complex. The four-star prospect hasn't decommitted from the Longhorns.