BREAKING: Smyrna, Tenn. safety Ikenna Okeke has committed to Texas A&M. The 247Composite three-star defender chose the Aggies over the likes of Notre Dame, Missouri, Penn State and Stanford. He was thought to be a heavy Notre Dame lean before being offered by A&M midseason.

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Moments ago Okeke made the news public but the 6-2, 200-pounder spoke to GigEm247 earlier today about his decision to further his career in the SEC for Kevin Sumlin.

“When coach (John) Chavis came down to see me and offered me I knew that A&M could be a place for me,” he said. "We talked on the phone for a while and our conversation went so well that I felt like I needed to take an official visit.”

He added, “This whole process has been a blessing. Obviously, when you get towards the end it can be a little stressful, and you just want to get it over with, but the way I look at it, God has blessed me with this opportunity. I’ve had help along the way so I can’t take all the credit.”

Ikenna Okeke S | 6-2 | 200 Smyrna (Smyrna, TN) Class of 16 247Sports Composite 0.8656 Natl 521 Pos 32 State14 60%

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Okeke describes the moment he knew that Aggieland was the place he’d call home.

“When I got down to A&M for my official visit I just got that home feeling and the environment was crazy,” he said. “I knew the opportunity was there at Texas A&M so that’s what brought me there. I knew before the game even started, when I was talking to a few coaches on the field that it was the place for me.”

Just thinking about a defense comprised of himself, fellow Tennessean Tyrel Dodson and the other young talent on the A&M roster gets Okeke excited about the future.

“When I get there, along with the other underclassmen, I’m ready to compete and take over,” he said. “With Tyrel being a Tennessee native, it will be fun to take over Texas with him. There’s so much talent there already so we both just want to help that defense get to a championship level.”

He added, “It feels great to be an Aggie. I’m coming in hungry and ready to compete for a championship because that’s the goal.”

Terry Joseph and John Chavis will conduct an in-home visit with Okeke next week.

This season, Okeke recorded 74 tackles, two interceptions, seven pass breakups and a forced fumble. He also caught 68 passes for 849 yards and two touchdowns while returning a punt for a score as well.

Okeke is the 18th commitment for the Aggies and his pledge moves A&M up one spot in the 247Sports team recruiting rankings to No. 15 in the country, bumping ahead of Baylor.