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Texas A&M coach Mike Elko’s defensive background has impacted recruiting throughout his coaching history while developing several underrated cornerbacks and safeties who have gone on to successful NFL careers. In the 2025 signing class, four-star cornerback Jamar Beal-Gaines may have risen in the rankings, but he was a relatively unknown three-star prospect when the Aggies offered him.
In the 2026 recruiting class, Elko has fielded offers to similar underrated prospects in the secondary out the west coast, including three-star cornerback CJ Lavender, who recently placed the Aggies in his top 6 program list, joining Miami, Oklahoma, Stanford, USC, and Washington.
Elko offered Lavender this time last year, and ever since, every program listed in his program list followed suit. On the field, Lavender’s 5-11, 175-pound frame comes into play on the boundary, while his speed and man coverage traits make his development path much easier once he chooses a collegiate program.
During his 2024 junior season at the prestigious Mater Dei HS, Lavender recorded 41 tackles, two interceptions, and five pass breakups.
According to 247Sports, CJ Lavender is currently positioned as the 67th-ranked cornerback prospect in the 2026 class and the 85th-ranked prospect in California.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M is a finalist for 2026 3-star CB CJ Lavender
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/texas-m-finalist-2026-3-113047214.html
Author : Aggies Wire
Publish date : 2025-02-19 11:30:00
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