Texas A&M Aggies
Overview: After multiple seasons dealing with linebackers and defensive backs who couldn’t tackle a runaway sheet of paper, quarterbacks more concerned with copyrighting their nicknames than learning how to read defenses, and a coaching staff seemingly more concerned with the sizzle and less concerned about the steak, Kevin Sumlin enters this season on the hotseat. Texas A&M doesn’t need to win the SEC West for Sumlin to keep his job – a good thing, given it’s very unlikely to happen – but the Aggies seem to be taking another look at how to compete in their new conference. Expect a more physical Aggie team in 2016, even if the results don’t reflect it.
Projected record: 8-4 (UA, Ark, MSU, AU); 4-4 and 6th SEC West
Returning offensive starters: 5 (SE, FL, WR, LT, LG)
Returning defensive starters: 5 (RDE, LDE, RLB, SS, FS)
Returning specialists: 0
Unit ratings
QB: Av DL: Vg
RB: Vg LB: Fr
WR: Vg DB: Av
OL: Pr ST: Pr
Offensive breakdown: By the time his career is over, Noel Mazzone very well may have coached at every single FBS school. Texas A&M is ditching the full-time, four-wide offense of the Johnny Manziel era for a more physical version of a three-wide, one-back attack, an admission that the SEC is simply too physical for Big 12-style offense to win consistently. To run it in 2016, the Aggies are turning to Oklahoma transfer Trevor Knight, whose career to this point has been defined by a win over an unfocused Alabama in the Sugar Bowl that followed the infamous “Kick Six” Auburn game. Knight certainly has enough talent to get the job done, but he’s not a particularly big guy (6’1”) and has never been consistent.
Former Oklahoma State player Jake Hubenak figures to be the backup quarterback, meaning the Aggies didn’t just move away from the specter of the Manziel-type quarterback, they went running away from it full-speed. What A&M needs most at this position is calm and serenity, given the way Kenny Hill, Kyler Murray and Kyle Allen left the program.
The Norman-to-College-Station pipeline also figures to fill up the empty running back slot, where Keith Ford is battling holdover James White for Tra Carson’s old job. Carson proved to Sumlin the advantage of having a bigger back for SEC play, and both White and Ford have the requisite size to take a pounding. Scatbacks Kwame Etwi and Trayveon Williams are available for when Sumlin just can’t stand it anymore and has to go with a smaller lineup.
The wide receiver group ought to be one of the best in the conference, as Texas A&M will be able to rotate almost three full platoons of players with starting experience. Speedy Noil, Josh Reynolds, Christian Kirk, Ricky Seals-Jones, Damion Ratley and Boone Niederhofer led the team coming out of spring, with Jeremy Tabuyo and Frank Iheanacho also available. For those wondering how Texas A&M didn’t get a rating of “Excellent” for this group, it’s the tight end position’s fault. Tanner Schorp, a converted defensive lineman, is the likely starter here, with Virginia Tech transfer Kalvin Cline his backup. If Cline can fully rebound from a knee injury suffered earlier in his career, the Aggies might have something here.
The biggest question mark for Texas A&M, on either side of the ball, is the offensive line. “Terrible” was its default setting for most of 2015, despite Germain Ifedi and Mike Matthews in its ranks, and now the Aggies will be replacing three starters. Left tackle Avery Gennesy will be expected to carry this group emotionally, at least early on, as he’s the only proven commodity. Guard Keaton Sutherland missed spring with injury but is expected to be OK for the regular season.
The rest of the line could be a disaster. Freshman Erik McCoy will start at center, but he’s looked overmatched at times. Jermaine Eluemunor and Koda Martin were the presumptive starters at right guard and tackle, respectively, coming out of spring, but both are big question marks. Connor Lanfear will get an early look at guard, while Justin Dworaczyk is in the mix at tackle, although he needs another year in the weight room.
Defensive breakdown: John Chavis made an immediate difference in Texas A&M’s pass defense, as it jumped from 80th the year before to 4th in 2015. The secondary could end up being much better than advertised if Chavis can find new starters at cornerback. UCLA transfer Priest Willis will likely get one of the spots, with Nick Harvey the other and DeShawn Capers-Smith getting the nickel role. Safety is in good hands, with returning starters Justin Evans and Armani Watts returning, as well as top reserve Donovan Wilson.
The front four ought to be a strong point as well. Myles Garrett is the best hand-down end in the SEC, and could be the best pass rusher in the conference altogether, with Alabama’s Tim Williams the only other real contender for the title. Zaycoven Henderson and Daylon Mack give Texas A&M a pair of solid tackles, with Hardreck Walker an experienced, tough player off the bench.
The mystery man is Daeshon Hall, Garrett’s partner at end, who swung back and forth between dominating and disappearing for the whole of 2015. He needs to put it together; otherwise, Qualen Cunningham and Jarrett Johnson are legitimate threats to take his job. Depth at tackle could be better, with Kingsley Keke the only other pure tackle with experience on the team. Signee T.D. Moton figures to play a role.
The linebacker corps, which is Chavis’ personal project, needs help. Shaan Washington is the only returning starter, but while he was productive in 2015, he’s not dynamic. The key is Otaro Alaka, or more specifically, his health. If he’s ready to go in the middle, he’s a big upgrade over Claude George. True freshman Tyrel Dodson may pass George for the backup’s spot. Dwaine Thomas and Richard Moore are fighting for the other position.
The special teams could wind up being a total bust. Daniel LaCamera had a strong spring camp but then spit the bit at A&M’s spring game. Braden Mann and Peter Grady are his competition but neither looks likely to take the job away by their own actions. LaCamera is also listed at punter along with Shane Tripuka, and that position was also a source of concern in the spring. The one aspect of special teams play that should be fine is the return game; punt returner Christian Kirk averaged an impossible 24.4 yards per return in 2015.
Overall trend: Up. Strange as it might sound, this projection is based more on the change of heart A&M is undergoing rather than the arrival of new talent or a big uptick in final record. Texas A&M would do well to match the 8-5 mark it set a year ago; 10 wins (counting a bowl) would be an achievement. Noel Mazzone’s involvement will be interesting to watch, given that he has struggled at several stops over the latter half of his career. Lack of talent won’t be a viable excuse this time around.
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