As members of Texas A&M’s 2026 recruiting class, the No. 7 and No. 13 running backs in the state of Texas have left their marks as two of the most promising players among the 20 other four-star prospects committed to the Aggies.
According to Rivals300 Rankings of the top 10 running backs in the country, KJ Edwards was listed at No. 3 and Jonathan Hatton Jr. at No. 5 in the site’s latest evaluation. Hatton made his commitment to the Maroon and White official in the spring, while Edwards committed to the Aggies on June 17 during the “Summer of Elko,” during which Texas A&M landed a plethora of top recruits that sent shockwaves through the national recruiting rankings.
Edwards and Hatton put Texas A&M in elite company with Notre Dame as the only programs in college football to have two top-10 running backs from the class of 2026 in the Rivals’ ranking.
Competing in his senior season at Carthage High School, Edwards is one of the most highly-touted overall players in the 2026 class. During his official visit to Texas A&M, Elko and company surprised the four-star recruit with his grandparents, who originally were not expected to make it. The Aggie coaching staff has done a tremendous job being personable with the players, which played a massive role in landing Edwards after his visit in College Station.
However, it is not quite a sealed deal for the Aggies with Edwards. LSU head coach Brian Kelly and the staff down in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, are making heavy attempts to flip him to the Tigers before the signing period in December. As it stands almost midway through his senior campaign at Carthage, Edwards ranks as the No. 56 recruit nationally via Rivals.
Although he has received offers from powerhouses like the reigning national champion Ohio State Buckeyes, Hatton is all-in with to compete in the Maroon and White uniform next year. The 5-foot-11, 195-pounder from Cibolo, Texas, is climbing rankings rapidly through his performances on the gridiron. According to MaxPreps’ entry of the senior’s stats so far this season, Hatton has rushed for 448 yards on 62 carries and scored seven times for Steele High School on the ground.
Both of Texas A&M’s commits have elite vision and breakaway speed that could translate to explosive plays at Kyle Field in the next few years. Should Edwards remain with the Aggies and sign with the program, Elko could reel in the most dangerous and electrifying running back tandem in the country.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Rivals300 Rankings lists 2026 Texas A&M RB tandem top 10 at position
Reporting by Dylan Flippo, Aggies Wire / Aggies Wire
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