Inside Texas A&M's 2009 Recruiting Class

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INSTANT CONTRIBUTORS: Despite the Aggies' current depth in the backfield, starting this conversation anywhere other than Beaumont West Brook RB Christine Michael would be a mistake. Michael is going to be the featured back -- there's almost no question about that -- but he's also going to bring an intense work ethic and a iron sense of leadership, two things A&M seemed to lack last year. Before Michael added his verbal to the Aggies' massive 2009 class, Mike Sherman's collective efforts had failed to energize his grumbly fan base. Funny how tossing in a blue-chip recruit can change things. ... Since A&M is still scrambling to replace the standout offensive lineman it graduated a year ago, the additions of Killeen's Rhontae Scales, Klein Oak's Clint Naron and Clear Lake's Stephen Barrera are critical; Scales and Naron are both worthy of state-wide Top Ten consideration for linemen and Barrera is good enough to play on either side of the trenches. ... A&M's linebackers were pretty underwhelming last season, so expect one of two out-of-state talents -- New Iberia (New Iberia, Louisiana) LB Michael Lamothe or Byrd (Shreveport, Louisiana) LB Jonathan Stewart -- to seriously push incumbents Von Miller and Matt Featherston.