YESSIR: A&M lands Starkel
Texas A&M needed a quarterback in 2016 after Kyle Allen and Kyler Murray left the program and got one tonight as Argyle Liberty Christian quarterback Nick Starkel committed to A&M during his in-home visit with coach Kevin Sumlin.
The 6-foot-3, 185-pound pro-style quarterback committed to A&M over UCLA and said it was a decision Starkel made not long after his official visit Jan. 15. “A&M has always been a school I loved,” he said. “I wanted to visit them when A&M offered, but Oklahoma State would not let me. Once I decommitted from them, it gave me a chance to go visit them and I fell in love with A&M even more.”
Starkel was able to talk with new A&M offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone about his plans at A&M while on the official about what Mazzone has planned for the A&M offense moving forward.
“Coach Mazzone said he wants to throw the ball often while at A&M,” he said. “He told me about all the passing records that were broken at UCLA last season and he wants to do the same at A&M because he knows with the receivers A&M has he can break all the passing records.”
Starkel will enter into a quarterback competition with Trevor Knight and Jake Hubenak next fall. Starkel knows the competition will be tough with Knight now on campus and is amazed at how Starkel went from watching Knight to now competing with him for the starting quarterback job.
“I was at the Sugar Bowl game when Knight and Oklahoma beat Alabama,” he said. “I never imagined that I would compete with him for the job, but I can learn a lot from him. He has been through the highs and lows in his career and I can learn a lot from him no matter my role next season on the A&M depth chart.”
Now that Starkel is committed, he is going to work on getting a few key targets on the side of the ball for 2016 as he wants to help A&M finish strong down the stretch. “I am currently working on Thaddeous Moss, Quartney Davis, and D’Vaughn Pennamon,” he said. "I think A&M stands a good chance with all of those guys.”
Now that he is committed, Starkel is happy the process is over and is glad that he isnow part of the Texas A&M 2016 recruiting class.
“It means a lot to be going to Texas A&M,” he said. “I know when I get that A&M ring it opens a lot of doors throughout the nation with other A&M graduates and it will help me throughout life. I am glad the stars aligned for me to go to a great university and that my family and girlfriend don’t have to travel far to come see me play in college.”
Starkel is a three-star rated prospect and will be competing in International Bowl with Team USA as they play Canada this Sunday at noon at AT&T Stadium.