Texas A&M secured a commitment from four-star talented player, narrowly defeating Oklahoma for the ESPN No. 5 running back and No. 73 overall prospect.
A 6-foot-1, 210-pound athlete from Cibolo, Texas, ranks as the fifth-best prospect from Texas in the 2026 class. He becomes Texas A&M’s ninth commitment in this recruiting cycle and joins his Douglasville, Georgia, teammates Jordan Carter (No. 30) and Aaron Gregory (No. 53) as the third top-100 recruit in coach Mike Elko’s second full recruiting class with the Aggies.
“They’ve done some amazing things at Texas A&M and that school is just something I want to be a part of,” Hatton told ESPN. “The coaching staff is great. Between the coaches and the program, they’re only going to elevate from here.”
Hatton initially committed to Oklahoma in October 2023 during his sophomore season at Byron P. Steele II (Texas High School). Hatton, who was also a standout track sprinter, rushed for 1,229 yards and 20 touchdowns in Texas’ top high school classification last fall. He remained the top prospect in the Sooners’ 2026 class up to his decommitment from Oklahoma on Dec. 2, 2024, one day after the Sooners hired former Washington State offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle.
“I realized I was missing out on a bunch of stuff just because I was committed as a sophomore,” Hatton said. “When I reopened my process, all these schools came pouring in. I definitely feel like I made the right decision, decommitting from OU. I wanted to put myself in the best position for me.”
In the final weeks of 2024, Jonathan Hatton Jr. attracted interest from top programs like Alabama, Michigan, Ohio State, and Tennessee, while Oklahoma remained involved in his recruitment. Hatton, who had built a strong relationship with Oklahoma’s coach Arbuckle during his initial months with the Sooners, visited the program on March 8.
However, Texas A&M ultimately emerged as the frontrunner after Hatton reopened his recruitment last year. After his most recent visit to the school this weekend, Hatton committed to the Aggies on Saturday, making him the third-ranked prospect in their 2026 class.
Hatton joins a growing group of offensive talent headed to Texas A&M, including Gregory, the No. 9 wide receiver, and four-star quarterback Helaman Casuga (No. 268 overall). The Aggies also have commitments from tight end-y Caleb Tafua and athlete Madden Williams, who is expected to play wide receiver.
Texas A&M previously signed four-star running back Deondrae Riden and three-star rusher Jamarion Morrow in the 2025 cycle. With Le’Veon Moss and Amari Daniels returning as the team’s top two leading rushers, the Aggies’ backfield is set for the coming season.
Hatton expressed his growing bond with Texas A&M, praising coaches Elko, Trooper Taylor, and offensive coordinator Collin Klein. “The offense is crazy. It’s something different that Coach Klein does over there,” Hatton said.
Hatton’s commitment came during a pivotal recruiting weekend at Texas A&M, with several ESPN Junior 300 recruits visiting, including five-star tackles Lamar Brown (No. 5 overall) and Immanuel Iheanacho (No. 9), along with four-star wide receiver Ethan “Boobie” Feaster (No. 21) and safety Jireh Edwards (No. 43).
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