The 2024 season did give the Texas A&M fans a taste of being on a real rollercoaster. Mike Elko’s boys had a 7-game winning streak, but sadly, they lost their final games and finished 8-5. So Elko gave reeling Aggies fans a massive gift—they snagged a 4-star running back commit. It wasn’t a cakewalk, but Elko and Co. swooped in as the dark horse. Their secret weapon? A major selling point that left big-name programs like Alabama and Oklahoma in the dust. Turns out, even a national championship run wasn’t enough to sway the recruit for a top contender.

December 2, 2024: a date Oklahoma fans won’t soon forget. After all, on that fateful day, they lost the commitment of their San Antonio (Texas) Steele four-star running back Jonathan Hatton Jr. The young chap committed back on October 3rd, 2023, but then bailed, saying, “The main reason I decommitted was to make sure I’m putting myself in the best possible position to be successful.” Suddenly, Hatton was hot property, racking up 24 offers. Oklahoma was still in the mix, along with Alabama, Ohio State, Auburn, LSU, and a bunch more. But Texas A&M, led by Elko, snagged him.

On March 22nd, On3 Recruits tweeted, “🚨BREAKING🚨 Elite RB Jonathan Hatton Jr. has committed to Texas A&M, @Hayesfawcett3 reports👍 Hatton decommitted from Oklahoma in December.” And this wasn’t a snap decision. Hatton made it clear Texas A&M had been a top contender for a long time. “I knew 100% of my decision around a month and a half ago. I wanted to make sure and the more I thought about it, the more clear it became. Earlier this year, it just became clear Texas A&M was the place for me.” Something worked in their favor. And what’s that?

Hatton told On3 how the Aggies have been high on his list for quite some time. But he finally got the clarity at the beginning of 2025. “What really made it clear was getting back on campus, being around the coaches me and just continuing to talk with coach Troop (Trooper Taylor) and coach Elko. They made me comfortable. I knew they wanted me and they not only recruited me, but they recruited my family and made them feel involved.” So, that’s how Elko and Co.’s ‘feel at home’ factor paid off, convincing Hatton about making College Station his next home. 

Now this did not happen overnight.  Texas A&M has hosted him three to four times, and only then did they become a family. Now what makes Hatton all excited to join Elko’s troop being the No.10 prospect in Texas? “Coach Elko is building something scary at Texas A&M. That is something I am excited about being a part of. Coach Elko is changing the whole program around, coach Troop [Taylor] is changing the running back room, and the program is really on its way up.”

Texas A&M’s deep running back room, headlined by the return of Le’Veon Moss coupled with Rueben Owens and Amari Daniels, will help OC Collin Klein’s run-dependent scheme. Now two programs must be most upset with Hatton’s final call. 

The power of prioritization in Jonathan Hatton Jr.’s recruitment  

Even though he backed off his commitment from Oklahoma, HC Brent Venables was still living in denial. He took part in pursuing Hatton once again. But what made him keep pushing for the player? The 4-star’s connection with the Sooners’ running backs coach, Demarco Murray. Turns out, neither Hatton’s old team nor national runner-up Notre Dame could seal the deal.

Back in January, after losing to Ohio State in finals, Marcus Freeman and his staff were on the road to check in on some of the top 2026 recruits across the country. And how could they miss out on the top overall runners in the country? So the Fighting Irish RB coach, Deland McCullough, planned a meet-up session with Hatton Jr. And it did give them some hope. Alas, it turned out to be all false.

Right after their visit, Jonathan Hatton Jr. tweeted pictures posing with Deland McCullough. The caption read, “ Thanks @coachdmc for a great visit. ☘️.” But at the end of the day, it comes to just one point. That is making one feel like a priority. “Oklahoma is a great program. Ohio State and Tennessee were pushing hard too, but Texas A&M is the right school for me. The staff made me a priority, they made my family feel important and the people at Texas A&M help their players on and off the field. I know I will be in good hands in the future.” And that’s how Mike Elko’s Texas A&M aced the game.