BREAKING: No. 1 Quarterback in Nation, Ryder St. John, Flips Commitment to Texas A&M
In a move that immediately resets the trajectory of their program, the Texas A&M Aggies have secured a monumental recruiting victory. Five-star quarterback Ryder St. John, the consensus top-ranked passer in the class of 2025, announced today that he has decommitted from the Ohio State Buckeyes and will sign with Texas A&M and new head coach Mike Elko. The stunning flip gives the Aggies the franchise quarterback they have long coveted and serves as the first true seismic signature of the Elko era.
St. John, a 6’3″, 215-pound prodigy from Phoenix, Arizona, had been committed to Ohio State since the summer. However, the hiring of Mike Elko—and his subsequent appointment of renowned quarterback developer **Collin Klein** as offensive coordinator—created an irresistible pull. St. John took an official visit to College Station last weekend, and the vision presented by the new staff proved too compelling to ignore.
“This decision is about trust, innovation, and the opportunity to build something special,” St. John said in a statement released on social media. “My family and I have the utmost belief in Coach Elko’s program and in Coach Klein’s offensive mind. He has a proven history of developing quarterbacks and tailoring his system to their strengths. At A&M, I see a path to compete immediately in the SEC and to help lead this team to championships. It’s time to write our own story.”
For Texas A&M, this is a transformative acquisition. For years, the Aggies have pursued but often missed on the very top tier of quarterback talent. Securing St. John, a player with elite arm talent, advanced pocket presence, and dual-threat capability, represents a massive coup. It validates the aggressive early moves of Mike Elko’s tenure and demonstrates that A&M, with its unparalleled resources and SEC platform, can win the most heated recruiting battles under his leadership.
For Ohio State, the loss is significant. While the Buckeyes’ quarterback room remains talented, losing the nation’s top-rated passer is a undeniable setback and a rare defeat on the recruiting trail for Ryan Day.
Analysts point to Collin Klein’s hiring as the decisive factor. Klein, formerly the offensive coordinator at Kansas State, is credited with developing Will Howard and crafting a quarterback-friendly, multiple-formation offense that maximizes a player’s skillset. For a quarterback of St. John’s caliber, that specific development plan was a game-changer.
“This isn’t just a flip; it’s a program-altering moment for Texas A&M,” said 247Sports director of recruiting Steve Wiltfong. “Mike Elko needed a statement win, and there’s no bigger statement than stealing the No. 1 quarterback in America from a national powerhouse. It energizes the entire recruiting class, galvanizes the fanbase, and sends a message to the SEC: A&M is coming, and they have the most important piece in place.”
Ryder St. John is expected to enroll early, positioning him to compete for the starting job as a true freshman. His commitment instantly elevates Texas A&M’s 2025 recruiting class into the national top 10 and provides the cornerstone talent around which Mike Elko can build his aggressive vision for the future of Aggie football.
