Texas A&M Secures 2026 4-Star LB Tamarion Watkins Over South Carolina

Tamarion Watkins, a highly versatile four-star safety/linebacker from Northwestern High School in Rock Hill, South Carolina, has committed to Texas A&M over finalists Georgia, Miami, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Standing about 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds, Watkins brings notable athleticism, positional flexibility, and strong defensive production, including 75 tackles, multiple sacks, interceptions, and pass breakups during his junior season. Texas A&M's coaching staff, particularly defensive coaches Mike Elko and Jay Bateman, successfully recruited Watkins by highlighting a linebacker role tailored to his skill set, convincing him to choose the Aggies despite South Carolina's strong late efforts to keep him in-state. Watkins' commitment marks Texas A&M's 25th in the 2026 class, which ranks among the top in the SEC and nationally, bolstering an already impressive defensive recruiting haul. This marks another setback for South Carolina, who have seen multiple in-state prospects commit elsewhere, and face challenges to maintain their previous top-20 recruiting class stature. Watkins' addition further solidifies Texas A&M's defensive depth and versatility for the upcoming seasons.