Both Malick Sylla and Bobby Taylor knew that Texas A&M was where they belonged very early in their recruitment.

The Katy defensive lineman and defensive back both were offered by the Aggies as sophomores and it didn’t take long for them to land on the school as the place they wanted to come home.

Sylla and Taylor finally put pen to paper and signed to play football in College Station on Wednesday at the Katy High School Field House.

It’s like a second home,” Sylla said. “It’s the environment I wanted to be in. I just want to go in there and work and hopefully we can win a national championship.”

Sylla had a dominant senior year. The defensive end helped lead Katy to a District 19-6A championship and the Class 6A-Division II state semifinal. Taylor suffered an injury in the Tigers first game and missed every game after until he came back to play in the state semifinal game last week.

“Coming from a winning program like Katy I wanted to go to a program that was winning like that in college. I wanted to be a part of something like this. I feel like A&M was the perfect spot for me, it’s not too far from home but it’s a good distance and this recruiting class that we are bringing in is something special and I want to build on that.”

The two will join an Aggie class that is ranked No. 2 in the nation, only behind Georgia

“One thing that I benefitted from was going to summer school last year,” Taylor said. “That is going to allow me to enroll early and I’ll be able to play spring ball and build up my body with their program. I really want to be able to play early and I’m going to have to make some sacrifices by forfeiting a semester here at Katy to get an extra semester there, but that was something I’m willing to do. I’m just ready to get to work.”

Kana signs with Texas Tech

Ty Kana reopened his recruitment late after originally committing to USC.

The senior linebacker was open to offers, but when new Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire called and offered him a scholarship, it was an easy decision for Kana.

“McGuires brand of football, and it goes back to his days as a high school coach at Cedar Hill, is to play physical, hard nosed football and put your head down and work,” Kana said. “That’s the kind of football I love and that’s the kind of football at Katy that we pride ourselves on. He liked seeing that and I really like that that is the type of program he’s building at Texas Tech. That’s one of the things that stood out for me.”

Kana will enroll in Texas Tech this spring, forfeiting the back half of his senior year like Taylor so he will have extra time with the Red Raider program and can participate in spring practice.

“There is nothing in the world that I would trade my time as a Katy Tiger for,” Kana said. “Lots of teammates have come and gone and its been a great four years. Lots of memories, great memories and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

McMartin signs with The University of Texas

Hamilton McMartin’s recruitment heated up late. The senior defensive back was offered by the Uiversity of Texas on Dec. 2 and 13 days later was putting pen to paper, signing to be a Longhorn.

“It’s been nothing but love since the first day they contacted me,” McMartin said. “It’s Austin, that’s really hard to pass up. The education, the atmosphere, the the fans. It’s just nothing but love up there.”

A huge part of McMartin’s decision was the energy that Texas head coach Steve Sarkesian has brought to the program.

“His big saying is ‘all gas, no breaks, and he really meant that,” McMartin said. “He hasn’t let off the gas pedal yet. “We’re on the come up and it’s exciting to be a part of.”

Anderson signs with The University of Oklahoma

Even after Lincoln Riley left for USC, Nic Anderson knew there was only one college he wanted to call home.

The senior wide receiver is excited about new Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables and the staff he has put together, and he is excited to get to Norman.

“It’s a great program, that program is going to be there no matter who the coach is,” Anderson said. “It’s not about the coach it’s about the program and that’s the type of place I want to be. And then they also have a great coach coming in, so I was never really worried about if OU was going to rise or fall. I knew it was going to stay the same.”

Nic’s older brother, Rodney Anderson starred at OU as a running back and Anderson has always wanted to be the second member of his family to join the Sooners.

“My brother was going to support me regardless,” Anderson said. “But he’s definitely excited that I’m going to play at his alma mater. It’s just great, I already know the ropes out there because I’ve been up a couple times to visit him so he’s excited and I’m excited.”

Katy head coach Gary Joseph was proud of what the group brought to the Tigers program.

“They weren’t just good football players, they’re good people and that’s what you want to have in your program,” Joseph said. “You want people that optimize the character you are looking for and all of those kids did that.”