Historic College Football Programs Trail SEC Team in Pursuit of Nation's No. 2 EDGE

College Station, Texas — The battle for five-star edge rusher Zyron Forstall has taken a decisive turn toward the Southeastern Conference, with Texas A&M now holding what industry insiders describe as “real separation” over a field of blue-blood suitors that includes Miami, LSU, and Notre Dame.

Rivals’ national analyst Chad Simmons reports that the Aggies are in “pole position” for the 6-foot-4, 235-pound IMG Academy standout, who is rated by every major service as the No. 2 edge prospect—and a top-12 overall player—in the 2027 cycle. The shift comes after Forstall’s extended visit to Texas A&M last fall and ahead of a planned return trip this spring that is expected to solidify relationships inside Mike Elko’s program.

Central to the Aggies’ surge is Forstall’s bond with defensive line coach Elijah Robinson, a connection both parties intend to deepen during the upcoming visit. Robinson’s pitch has been amplified by on-field proof: Texas A&M’s 2027 class already features four-star Houston edge Kaden McCarty (No. 11 nationally at the position), and the Aggies sit No. 4 in the composite national rankings, second according to 247Sports.

While the Aggies accelerate, traditional powers are scrambling to close the gap. Miami, fresh off a College Football Playoff runner-up finish, ranks as the closest pursuer. The Hurricanes, who check in at No. 10 in the 2027 team rankings, will host Forstall again this offseason and tout fellow Florida edge Demarcus Deroche as a cornerstone of their defensive haul.

LSU and Notre Dame remain in the conversation, albeit with different recruiting profiles. The Tigers, who have just two 2027 pledges so far, counter with four-star edge Jaiden Bryant (No. 4 nationally). Notre Dame boasts the nation’s sixth-ranked class and a defensive-heavy foundation, though it has yet to secure an edge rusher commit.

The industry consensus now reflects Texas A&M’s momentum. Rivals’ Recruiting Prediction Machine lists the Aggies at 96 percent to land Forstall, with every other program sitting under 2 percent. USC, once viewed as the leader when Trojans defensive line coach Eric Henderson spearheaded the recruitment, has seen its odds plummet to 1.7 percent following Henderson’s departure to the Washington Commanders.

Forstall, a consensus five-star and the second-ranked prospect from Florida, is scheduled to decide later this year. Until then, Texas A&M will attempt to turn statistical probability into signature reality, while college football’s most storied brands look for one final counter-move.