COLLEGE STATION -- One of Mike Sherman's first mandates for his staff when he became Texas A&M's coach in November 2007 was to start evaluating the nation's high school juniors.

Sherman unveiled the results of their labors on Wednesday, the first day of the national signing period, announcing a list of 28 recruits for the 2009 season. The class includes 16 defensive players, 11 offensive players and a punter. Sherman lured the entire class from two states - 25 from Texas and three from Louisiana.

The Aggies went 4-8 in Sherman's first season and need help across the board. They finished 11th in the Big 12 in both total offense (341 yards per game) and total defense (462 yards per game) in 2008.

``We've been recruiting these kids for a long time, and it's nice to get to this point,'' Sherman said. ``To measure it with a crystal ball, where we're going to be with this class, I don't know. But I think we'll be fun to watch and I think we'll have to accept the fact that some of these kids are going to be thrown into the fire.''

The gem of the class is Christine Michael, a 5-foot-11, 202-pound running back from Beaumont. Michael was rated as the nation's No. 4 running back by Rivals.com and was named an All-American by SuperPrep, a recruiting magazine.

Sherman envisions Michael making an instant impact, like freshman Cyrus Gray did for the Aggies last season. Gray was A&M's second-leading rusher, behind Mike Goodson, but also returned kickoffs and led the Aggies with 133 all-purpose yards per game.

``I expect no more from him than anybody else,'' Sherman said. ``But he is someone that has tremendous talent. The versatility he has - he is very quick, he can accelerate, he can make a big play, he can catch the ball very well out of the backfield. We will accelerate the learning curve for him.''

The Aggies ranked last in the Big 12 in rushing, averaging only 88.5 yards per game, and Goodson left a year early to test the NFL draft. A&M had 85 plays for more than 20 yards last season, but only five on rushing plays, a stat that Sherman says must improve.

``We need more explosive plays,'' Sherman said. ``That player (Michael) can get that for us.''

Sherman also expects big things from Uzoma Nwachukwu, a 6-foot receiver from Allen, the reigning Division I, 5-A champion. The receiving corps turned out to be one of the bright spots for A&M last season, with freshmen Jeff Fuller and Ryan Tannehill combining for 105 catches and 14 touchdowns.

Sherman said he watched Nwachukwu closely during last year's playoffs and was impressed with his work ethic.

``I loved the way he practiced,'' Sherman said. ``He's going to be a big contributor. He knows how to run routes as well. He's very powerful in his lower body and he's an extremely quick-footed athlete. I don't know how fast downfield, but he has some quickness in his size and can do some special things.''

The class includes 12 defensive backs and linebackers, areas of weakness for A&M in recent years. Sherman sought players who fit the mold of A&M's ``Wrecking Crew'' defenses from the early 1990s, when Sherman was an A&M assistant under R.C. Slocum.

``The model is much like the model we've had in the past,'' Sherman said. ``We really went after speed. I told our coaches from the outset, when we took off on recruiting - 'We can make some mistakes, but we can't make mistakes on their character. We can't make mistakes on speed. We can't make mistakes on their desire to be at Texas A&M.' I think we were able to hit on those fronts.''

The class does not include a scholarship quarterback. Sherman said A&M was in the running for a few, but probably failed to nab one because of the current depth at the position.

Jerrod Johnson appeared in all 12 games as a sophomore in 2008 and is the likely starter for the next two seasons. Tannehill, a redshirt freshman, may move back to quarterback - which he came to A&M to play - after Sherman moved him to receiver last season. And Tommy Dorman is still in the mix after redshirting in 2008.

``It is a high priority now, as we enter our junior recruiting (for 2010),'' Sherman said. ``We did go after a couple of guys early in the recruiting process. Because of the success Jerrod Johnson and Ryan Tannehill had, and their future, and being as young as they were this season, I think some players felt like they didn't want to stack themselves up in that situation.''

The class also includes punter Ryan Epperson, from Keller, the brother of Baylor punter Derek Epperson. Sherman hopes Ryan, also a high-school soccer player, can fill the void left by outgoing senior Justin Brantly, the Big 12's leading punter in 2008.

``I thought this was a situation we had to address,'' Sherman said. ``I don't want to be stuck, through the course of the season, without a punter. They (punters) can be a little bit of an afterthought until you don't have one. I didn't want it to be an afterthought.''

Sherman also announced commitments from eight walk-ons - quarterback Patrick O'Quinn, linebacker Kody Johnston, defensive linemen Wells Childress and Ryan Koch, offensive lineman Mitchell Crouch, tight end James Pearson, kicker Kyle Serres and athlete Grant Gunderson.