DeSoto running back Deondrae Riden first took the name 'Tiger' as a six-year old from his little league football coach. 

But Tiger became 'Robo Tiger' for DeSoto in 2023. Riden dislocated his elbow in game one and only received 18 carries in the final three games of the regular season as DeSoto reacclimated him to game speed. In the playoffs, he donned a full arm brace on his right arm and ran for over 100 yards in five of DeSoto's six playoff games en route to a second-straight state championship.

“I’m tough, and I’m never going to give up on my team,” Riden said. “I love to get back in the game, help where the team needs me, and come in clutch.”

That toughness is why Texas A&M and 37 other schools offered the four-star. But Riden knew he had to commit to the Aggies the first time he met head coach Mike Elko.

“Being around him for that one day made my mind up,” Riden said. “He’s a genuine person. I had to come.”

Riden said that Elko and associate head coach Trooper Taylor sold him on the program's vision after describing how they brought Duke from five wins in two years pre-Elko to a 17–9 record in two years with Elko.

“After I saw what they did at Duke, them breaking it down, and then being around the culture, I said, ‘Yes sir. This is my place I want to be,’” Riden said.

Riden is the Aggies' sole running back commit in the Class of 2025, and they've added four offensive linemen to block for him. While he's in a big group chat with all the commits, Riden is most familiar with Cy-Fair defensive lineman Landon Rink and Forney linebacker Kelvion Riggins. The trio played on the DFW Elite team as little leaguers, back when Riden was first named Tiger. Now, each of them are DCTF Top 50 recruits in the Class of 2025. 

They'll team up again in Texas A&M uniforms.