Texas A&M Aggies Receiver Raymond Cottrell 1st to Announce Transfer After Jimbo Fisher Firing

Just hours after the Texas A&M Aggies officially fired Jimbo Fisher, one of their up-and-coming freshman receivers, Raymond Cottrell, announced he, too, would be leaving — only setting the tone for what's likely to come from multiple other players and future commits.

And so it begins. 

Just a few hours after it was announced that Texas A&M Aggies coach Jimbo Fisher would no longer be leading the program from the sidelines, the transfer portal was once again opened up — and not in a good way. 

Yes, the portal has been open and would have remained so regardless, but with Fisher leaving, many of the players he personally recruited will suddenly be faced with a tough task: staying or leaving. 

Aggies freshman receiver Raymond Cottrell was the first to make his decision. 

Former Texas A&M Aggies coach Jimbo Fisher / © Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports

"In the realm of collegiate athletics, where opportunities for growth and success abound, I have made the decision to to embark on a new chapter in my journey by hitting the transfer portal," Cottrell announced via X, formerly known as Twitter. "The choice is not one taken lightly, but God has a plan for me and I can't wait to see what He has for me." 

Cottrell's decision doesn't come at a huge loss for a Texas A&M program with abundant talent at the wide-out position, but it isn't him specifically that's creating some drama. It's the precedent he's setting. 

Cottrell has only tallied one reception this season for the Aggies, and he came to College Station as a four-star receiver. He has three years of remaining eligibility, which makes his announcement mean one thing, simply put: 

He committed to Texas A&M for Fisher. Not for the program or the school.

"I want to thank coach Jimbo and the staff for taking me in and giving me my knowledge of the game," Cottrell continued. "Thanks to everyone who has been on this journey. Thank you Aggie nation." 

With Fisher gone, the Aggies are about to endure a harsh couple of weeks — and without a strong recruiter in line for the job next, quite possibly a few years. Current talent and prospective talent alike will be rethinking their commitment to play for Texas A&M, and if it doesn't swing in the school's favor, the Aggies could find themselves with a near-blank slate.

Fisher's firing is an unlikely time for a rebuild, especially with the new SEC rules and CFP expansion set to take effect next season, and even if Fisher's replacement is capable and strong, recruiting and talent might still see a decrease. 

Buckle up, Aggie fans. It could get ugly.