In the modern age of recruiting, college football programs often pull out all the stops on official visits to land some of the top prospects in the country.
Programs will take players out to dinner, throw large events, and set up photoshoots with all sorts of gear, cars, and more to try and show what type of swag their school will provide. One school, however, has taken a new approach to OV photoshoots, and it includes a live animal.
Texas A&M Uses Goats in Its Latest Official Visit Photo Shoot
That’s right, instead of putting their prospects inside a Lamborghini or setting up a throne for them to sit on, the Aggies gave their official visitors goats to take pictures with.
Texas A&M brought out real goats for their OV photos 🐐
We’ve seen schools use sports cars, thrones, & many other props, but I think this tops the list pic.twitter.com/ab6Q3qxeI0
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) June 7, 2025
It may seem crazy on the surface, but Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko seems to know what he is doing, as he heads into the first OV weekend for the Aggies with the seventh-ranked class in the 2026 cycle.
Will the goats actually make a difference in terms of recruiting? Not sure, but while it’s certainly an interesting recruiting strategy, it isn’t entirely unique.
Believe it or not, this actually isn’t the first time a school has used live goats during an official visit weekend. Back in 2022, the Michigan State Spartans also set up goats during their OV photoshoots.
If you’re wondering why on earth the goats are being used in the first place, G.O.A.T. happens to stand for the “greatest of all time” and is a phrase used often in sports. I would imagine that’s what Elko is playing off here, but honestly, who knows? The Aggies’ mascot has no ties to goats, and goats aren’t the official animal of Texas, so their addition likely represents the abbreviation.
Regardless of the reasoning, it’s certainly gaining traction and helping the Aggies stand out on the recruiting trail. In the past five recruiting cycles, the Aggies have finished with a top-20 class, including three appearances in the top 10.
KEEP READING: 1 Breakout Player for All 136 Teams in the 2025 College Football Season
In Elko’s first season with the Aggies, he brought in a top-10 class in the 2025 cycle, and now looks to replicate that in 2026.
There’s no secret that Texas A&M has a large purse when it comes to college football recruiting, but it’s easy to see Elko is still willing to use outside-the-box strategies. Time will tell if goats are the secret ingredient in recruiting success, but you have to appreciate the bold strategy from the Aggies.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
