From Midland to Miami, the Aggies’ search for tight ends this recruiting season unfolded under a searing spotlight. With such a glaring need at the position, Aggie fans followed the antics like Enron employees checked stock prices.

But in the end, a tight end treasure hidden away from a lot of the hype and hysteria emerged as one of Texas A&M’s top takes on National Signing Day.

Fort Worth All Saints Episcopal tight end Quinlin Germany might not have been seen by many fans this past fall, but the Aggie coaches – and several other Division I schools – seemed interested in the 6-foot-3, 255-pounder from the get-go.

"We marketed his name to 24 Division I schools," says All Saints Episcopal coach Matt Cook. "Of those schools, 19 came into our offices and offered him a scholarship. The entire time, he either wanted to go to A&M or UT. Then after about the first two months, he knew it was A&M. (The Aggies) got themselves a huge prize."

While R.C. Slocum spent much of his Signing Day press conference answering questions about Lufkin quarterback Reggie McNeal, the Aggie coach was quick to interject how impressed he was with the athletic tight end from Forth Worth.

"A guy who I really like is Quinlin Germany," said Slocum, heaping rare February praise on a recruit. "He is a really talented, athletic guy. We’re not certain what all he’ll play during his career here, but he likes to play football."

Germany played his first two years of high school football at Fort Worth Wyatt High School, a Class 5A public school, before transferring to All Saints Episcopal to finish out his junior and senior years. And that’s when his prep career took off, as he caught 58 balls for over 1,000 yards in two seasons.

Germany just turned 17 years old and could become a 6-3, 270-pound tight end who can run in the 4.7 range in the 40-yard dash. Those are big-time numbers for a kid from a private school. Yet, his high school coach and the A&M coaches are quick to dismiss any knock on Germany for not having played against the bigger schools and classifications in Texas.

Talent is talent, they claim.

"By no means do I think public school ball is better than private school ball," Cook said. "I just think it’s all hearsay. What a lot of coaches have told us is if the kid has talent, it doesn’t matter where he’s playing or whom he’s playing against. Just like Tam Hollingshead said: ‘We recruit all kids the same no matter where they come from.’"

Germany’s coming-out party as a tight end came in the fourth game of his junior year against a private school from Keller. Germany had 290-plus yards receiving, including a 90-yarder for a touchdown.

"Nobody even came close to catching him," Cook added. "We knew we had to get the ball in his hands all the time."

A well-known "stat rat," Germany is a walking football Encyclopedia. He recites the rosters of college and pro football teams like Mel Kiper Jr., and watches as much tape as some of his coaches.

It could be that kind of preparation that enables him to help the Aggies immediately this fall.

"Maturity-wise, he could wait a year," Cook said. "Physically, he’s ready. He could get in there and be ready. If they could wait a year, of course that would benefit him. But I know he’s ready."

Cook said Germany is a devastating blocker, as well, but most of his highlight films concentrated on his pass-catching skills. And the state top 100 prospect has yet to dedicate a full offseason to football weight training. When he does….

"Just watch how much better he’ll be," Cook said.

Indeed, the watch is already on.