Living in the past isn’t ideal for anyone’s mental health, especially for football coaches who miss out on landing top-level prospects who hold longstanding fandom for a program from their youth. Former Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher did not leave College Station with many fans, given his lackluster six-year tenure, and to make matters worse, the Aggies reportedly could have landed one of the NFL’s top young playmakers.
Entering his fourth NFL season, reigning Super Bowl champion and first-team All-Pro wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba is already one of the top wideouts in the league, but before committing to Ohio State, where he would cement his first-round NFL Draft status after reeling in 96 receptions for 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns during the 2021 season, the Rockwall, Texas native reportedly grew up as a massive Texas A&M fan during his early years.
However, Fisher and A&M don’t deserve much flak for not landing the standout receiver in the 2020 recruiting class, as his recent interview with BarStool Sports host Ryan Rusillo revealed that, while he was a fan of the program, he attended the Red River Rivalry in middle school and came away wanting to play for either Texas or Oklahoma, which is understandable.
Still, Ohio State, which has produced too many first-round wide receivers to count, swooped in at the perfect time, while the Texas Longhorns, then led by head coach Tom Herman, “came in way too late,” and ultimately led to Smith-Njigba committing to the Buckeyes, as the rest of history.
What could have been for Texas A&M, Texas, and Oklahoma if Ohio State wasn’t, well, Ohio State?
(🎥: Barstool Sports) pic.twitter.com/B5ydQB4Hi4
— Football Forever (@fballforeverhq) September 4, 2026
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: NFL OPOY reveals why Texas and Texas A&M missed out on him
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