LAS VEGAS – One of the top overall national prospects in the class of 2017 announced his decision on Thursday evening as Las Vegas Bishop Gorman five-star quarterback Tate Martell committed to Texas A&M over his other finalists Alabama, Michigan, USC and Washington.

The 5-foot-11, 180-pound dual-threat passer is ranked as the No. 12 overall composite prospect in the nation after earning National Sophomore of the Year honors last season.

Martell visited College Station about a month ago and he says he knew than that he wanted to be an Aggie.

“It’s A&M, that’s where I’m going,” he said of his pledge.

“I knew where I wanted to go. I wasn’t planning on committing this early but, when I went out there and took the visit, I just knew that’s where I wanted to be.”

Martell saw quite a few things to like while in Aggieland. He has also built quite a rapport with head coach Kevin Sumlin and offensive coordinator/quarterback coach Jake Spavital.

“The coaches are really cool,” he said. “The facilities there are unreal and I just like the college feel at the school. It’s not like a big city but it’s its own college town. It’s still a big football town though.

“It’s just everything there. I just loved everything about the school. The coaches – coach Spav and coach Sumlin – are great coaches and I can’t wait to play for them.

“The facilities there and the area that it’s in, that’s great. The town is great and the fanbase is unreal. Football in Texas is big-time.”

Martell had been high on the Aggies but admits that A&M was likely behind a Pac-12 school until he took that visit.

“No, I didn’t (have them at the top),” he said of his mind prior to the trip. “USC was probably still my No. 1 at that time. Then, when I took my visit, it really changed my mind.”

After signing five-star passers in each of the past two classes, A&M is not likely to take one in 2016. That means Martell will be competing against Kyler Murray when he arrives in College Station. The two have similar skillsets and have been compared a bit.

“I haven’t had a chance to meet him yet,” Martell said of Murray. “He’s a great player though. He’s probably one of the best players to ever play high school football anywhere. What he did in Texas is unreal.

“I have a lot of respect for him for sure. When I get there, he’ll be the guy I’m competing against and hopefully we can bring out the best in each other.

“There’s the comparison with us some. Both of us are probably a little shorter than the prototypical quarterback. People have said it about the two of us before, even before I visited A&M.

“‘Who’s the next coming of Kyler Murray?’ Kyler Murray is getting the whole Johnny Manziel comparison now and I’m getting that a bit as well. People always try to find the next whoever. People compare us but I think I’m just my own player. I want to be the first me.”

For now, though, Martell is going to be busy recruiting for the Aggies and has a couple targets in mind, including his adopted brother – five-star wide receiver Tyjon Lindsey.

“Tyjon is going to take his time a bit but I’m obviously already working on him,” Martell said. “He was really excited when he got that A&M offer recently for sure. I’m also going really hard after (five-star Detroit Cass Tech wide receiver) Donovan Peoples-Jones. That’s the next guy I’m going after for sure.”

A&M fans can watch Martell and Bishop Gorman kick off the season Sat. Aug. 29 against Chandler, Ariz. on ESPNU at 9 p.m. Central.

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