Aggies Land Major Four-Star Tight End Commitment, Beat Out Notre Dame
In a massive recruiting win that sent shockwaves through the college football world, the Texas A&M Aggies secured the commitment of elite four-star tight end Jordan “J.J.” Lattimore, a 6-foot-6, 245-pound powerhouse from Alpharetta, Georgia. Lattimore, the No. 3 tight end in the class of 2026 according to 247Sports Composite, chose the Aggies over Notre Dame, Alabama, and Florida in a nationally televised announcement on Friday evening.
Wearing a custom navy suit with a maroon tie, Lattimore unzipped his duffel bag on stage to reveal a Texas A&M helmet, instantly igniting cheers from a small crowd of family and friends at his high school gym. “It just felt like home,” Lattimore said. “Coach Elko and Coach Coley made me feel like a priority from day one. They showed me how I could be the next great tight end in Aggieland.”
The commitment is a major coup for head coach Mike Elko and tight ends coach James Coley, who worked tirelessly to sway Lattimore away from Notre Dame, long considered the frontrunner. The Fighting Irish had hosted Lattimore three times in South Bend and were widely believed to be his dream school growing up. But a late official visit to College Station in early July, during the Aggies’ annual “Pool Party Weekend,” turned the tide.
“Jordan got to see the culture, meet the players, and talk one-on-one with Coach Elko and some of the current NFL guys who came back to speak,” said Lattimore’s father, Julius Lattimore. “That visit changed everything. He felt the brotherhood. The facilities were top-tier. And they laid out a plan for how he could get to the league.”
On the field, Lattimore is a matchup nightmare. A former basketball standout, he combines fluid route running with soft hands and surprising acceleration. Scouts rave about his ability to high-point the football and block like a sixth offensive lineman. Last season, he posted 61 receptions for 873 yards and 11 touchdowns, while also helping pave the way for a 1,500-yard rusher.
Recruiting analysts are already comparing Lattimore to former Aggie great Jace Sternberger, but with an even higher ceiling. “He’s the kind of tight end who can stay on the field all three downs,” said ESPN’s Tom Luginbill. “He’s physical enough to block in-line and athletic enough to flex out as a receiver. Texas A&M just got a big-time weapon.”
The commitment propels Texas A&M’s 2026 recruiting class into the top five nationally, and signals that Coach Elko’s vision for the program is resonating with elite talent across the country.
As for Lattimore, he says he’s shutting down his recruitment. “I’m 100% committed to the Aggies,” he said. “Gig ’em.”
Notre Dame fans may be left wondering what went wrong, but in College Station, the message is clear: the Aggies are back in the hunt, and they’re not afraid to take on — and beat — college football’s elite.
