The Texas A&M Aggies arrive in the SEC as the new kid on the block, a fitting proposition given that much of this team is also new to the field and to the sidelines. Former Houston coach Kevin Sumlin was named to replace Mike Sherman last winter. Sumlin’s record at Houston was inconsistent, but the 2011 version of the Cougars were an offensive powerhouse. While it remains to be seen whether that was Sumlin’s doing, the workings of veteran quarterback Case Keenum, the continuation of an offensive style developed by guru and now-Baylor coach Art Briles, or some combination of the above, is yet to be known. What is known is that this is a team changing offenses and has one of the least impressive returning defenses in the SEC.

Returning Offensive Starters: 6 (SE, FL, LT, C, RT, TE)

Returning Defensive Starters: 4 (RDE, LDE, ROLB, LOLB)

Returning Specialists: 1 (P)

Projected Overall Record: 6-6 (UA, ARK, AU, LSU, MSU, UF)

Projected SEC Record: 2-6 (UA, ARK, AU, LSU, MSU, UF)

Projected SEC West Record: 1-5 (UA, ARK, AU, LSU, MSU)

Ratings (Ex, Vg, Av, Fr, Pr)

Quarterbacks: Fr Defensive Line: Fr

Running Backs: Vg Linebackers: Vg

Wide Receivers: Ex Defensive Backs: Pr

Offensive Line: Vg Special Teams: Fr

OFFENSE

Texas A&M is transitioning from Sherman’s pro-style passing attack to an even more wide-open spread variant under Sumlin and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury. The Aggies expect to have three or four wideouts in the pattern on every play. There will be no fullback except for situational plays. Interestingly, Sumlin made that choice despite two of the team’s best weapons being a Y-type tight end and a strong, big running back. The offensive line is strong on the corners, but questionable at the guards. The biggest question will be who is given the keys to the quarterback position and asked to succeed Ryan Tannehill.

QUARTERBACKS (rating: Fr; 7^th SEC West, 14^th overall)

A rating of dead last in the conference is a bit misleading, given the deep pool of SEC quarterbacks this year. But it’s also due to the Aggies electing to start freshman Johnny Manziel over sophomore Jameill Showers, a decision that can only be called a shock. Not only has Manziel been slow to develop on the field, he was arrested over the offseason and by most accounts, trailed Showers right up to the end of fall camp. Both players are dual-threat quarterbacks who can run, but neither has played a snap in this offensive style. There will be a learning curve, especially early on. As far as potential goes, both players have high ceilings. The Aggies need them to reach those ceilings sooner rather than later. The Aggies opened fall camp with eight quarterbacks on the roster, with just one of them an upperclassman. True freshman Matt Davis may be the third-stringer when it’s all said and done.

RUNNING BACKS (rating: Vg; 5^th SEC West, 7^th overall)

If Christine Michael can maintain his health, Texas A&M will be dangerous in the backfield. Michael is 5’11”, 220 pounds and has good speed, but he’s coming off a major knee injury. And if he goes down, the position will abruptly enter a period of dramatic transition. The two most likely backups, junior Ben Malena and freshman Trey Williams, are scatbacks, as is the fourth-stringer, sophomore Will Randolph. The only other big back on the roster, Tra Carson, is buried on the depth chart. The coaches appear to be prioritizing speed over any other attribute. If Texas A&M is forced to go with a fullback for any reason, there’s only one name listed on the roster, Garrett Graham. There is enough experience here among the returning tailbacks, combined with Michael’s playmaking prowess, to force opposing defenses to pay close attention to this group. But it needs to be said that the concept of smaller running backs rarely works in the SEC.

WIDE RECEIVERS (rating: Ex; 1^st SEC West, 1^st overall)

Few SEC fans have heard of either Ryan Swope or Uzoma Nwachukwu, but they enter the 2012 season as the most experienced and productive 1-2 punch in the conference. Together, they accounted for approximately 1,900 yards receiving last year, a rather jaw-dropping figure for an SEC tande. On top of that, new starter Kenric McNeal is also a senior like Swop and Nwachukwu, and he has good size. Rounding out this group will either be a fourth receiver – possibly another senior, Brandal Jackson – or one of the finest tight ends in the SEC for 2012, Nehemiah Hicks. The Aggies also have a dynamic freshman receiver in Mike Evans, who goes 6’5” but needs some conditioning work. Sophomore Malcome Kennedy and junior Nate Askew add depth at receiver, while another senior, Michael Lamothe, backs up Hicks at tight end. The most important name of all is Swope, who has great hands, runs precise routes and has good speed. He caught 11 touchdowns and 89 passes for 1,207 yards last year and demands attention.

OFFENSIVE LINE (rating: Vg; 3^rd SEC West, 4^th overall)

The offensive strength continues on the line, where the Aggies have three legitimate all-star candidates among the starting five. Tackles Jake Matthews on the right side and Luke Joeckel on the left both should play at the next level, as should center Patrick Lewis. The issue comes at guard, where a pair of untested sophomores figure to be the starters. Cedric Ogbuehi will start at right guard, but left guard is up in the air between Jarvis Harrison and junior Shep Klinke. Harrison held a slight edge going into fall camp. Depth up the middle isn’t great; undersized true freshman Mike Matthews may end up being the second-string center. Ben Compton can play either guard position or center, but there’s no one else ready. Both reserve tackles are freshmen, Nathan Gutekunst and Joseph Cheek. Size is also an issue, with the starters averaging a bit less than the typical SEC line.

DEFENSE

The front seven will be asked to hold on dearly for their lives while the Aggies break in an entirely new secondary – not to mention changing schemes from a 3-4 to a 4-3. Fortunately for Texas A&M, veterans heavily populate the defensive line and linebacker groups, but this is a team that consistently blew big leads last year and couldn’t get off the field in crucial situations. Statistically, the Aggies were strong against the run (12^th nationally) but were one of the 20 worst teams in the country stopping the pass. They also didn’t force nearly enough turnovers or make critical plays. And now it’s time to play in the SEC.

DEFENSIVE LINE (rating: Fr; 6^th SEC West, 14^th overall)

The Aggies should be fine at end, where a trio of players – Spencer Nealy, Gavin Stansbury and Damontre Moore – form a good rotation. There are questions, however. Nealy, at 280 pounds, is a lot bigger than the typical 4-3 defensive end, even in the SEC. Another question is one of scheme; Texas A&M made the move in part to simplify blitz and personnel packages, but the most dynamic defenses in the conference are the ones with an over/under look like Alabama’s. The biggest question of all, though, is whether a team with a depth problem at defensive tackle just made a bad situation worse by doubling the number of defensive tackles in the starting lineup. Jonathan Mathis and Kirby Ennis have experience, but Mathis is coming off significant injury and Ennis isn’t considered a big playmaker. Ivan Robinson is the only other non-freshman among the top names on the depth chart. Freshmen Tyrone Taylor, Julien Obioha and Shayvion Hatten will back up tackle and end both. The wild card is Brandon Alexander, who has been moved between end and linebacker and will play situationally at both.

LINEBACKERS (rating: Vg; 2^nd SEC West, 4^th overall)

The starting trio of Sean Porter, Jonathan Stewart and Steven Jenkins is experienced, talented and fast. Porter in particular has an NFL future ahead of him, but it’s Jenkins, a first-year player in 2011 out of junior college, that could be the breakout star to watch. By compressing four starters into three, A&M coaches developed some depth by default. Sophomore Shaun Ward is probably the best of the second group along with Charlie Thomas, Donnie Baggs and freshman Jordan Richmond. Brandon Alexander will probably end up playing outside linebacker as a situtational pass rusher. Despite giving up a ton of yardage to opposing passing games in 2011, Texas A&M was adept at getting pressure on the quarterback, and Porter led the charge. It will be interesting to see how the new scheme affects the Aggies’ effectiveness there.

DEFENSIVE BACKS (rating: Pr; 7^th SEC West, 14^th overall)

Free safety Steven Campbell has prior starting experience, but injuries have largely derailed what was supposed to be a promising career. If he can hold it together in 2012, he’ll get the nod at free safety. Even if he stays healthy, it will a chore to keep this unit percolating for the entire year; if Campbell goes down again, it’s an all-out grease fire. A pair of sophomores, Floyd Raven and Deshazor Everett, led the cornerback battles out of spring. They’re backed up by journeyman senior Dustin Harris and smallish junior Toney Hurd. If JUCO transfer Tremaine Jacobs can’t crack the playing rotation, there’s trouble. Strong safety Howard Matthews, a sophomore, has near-linebacker size. Another undersized upperclassman, senior Steven Terrell, will back up both safety positions with help from Clay Honeycutt. Texas A&M almost can’t get any worse than 2011, but a lot is riding on Campbell’s health.

SPECIAL TEAMS (rating: Fr; 7^th SEC West, 12^th overall)

Replacing Lou Groza Award winner Randy Bullock is going to be tough. Freshman Taylor Bertolet has the job for now. The punting position returns its starter, Ryan Epperson, but Epperson was too erratic in 2011 and Drew Kaser is threatening to take the job away from him. Dustin Harris led the nation in punt returns last year, but the Aggies were mediocre in kickoff returns. The kicking positions must be stabilized early on.