Three Things Texas A&M fans should be thankful for

Things are bleak around College Station right now, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t anything to be thankful for. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, here are three things Texas A&M fans should be thankful for this year.

The young offensive core

Things might be bleak right now, especially offensively, but as long as Conner Weigman, Donovan Green, Evan Stewart and Moose Muhammad are at Texas A&M, there’s hope for the Aggies’ offense. Weigman has had his ups and downs since taking over as the starter but his performance against Ole Miss is perhaps a sign of things to come under a new offensive coordinator. On the season, he’s thrown for 741 yards and six touchdowns with no interceptions. Stewart has lived up to his five-star billing, with 49 receptions for 607 yards and two touchdowns, leading the team in both yards and receptions. Muhammad trails in second in yards with 33 receptions for 516 yards and three touchdowns. Paired with Donovan Green’s 220 yards and one touchdown on just 20 receptions, whoever Texas A&M’s next offensive coordinator is will have plenty of weapons to work with.

TJ Rushing and the secondary

As much as Texas A&M’s defense has struggled to defend the run this season, Texas A&M’s pass defense has legitimately been one of the best in the country. The Aggies have given up both the second-fewest total passing yards on the season and the second fewest passing yards per game. Antonio Johnson, Demani Richardson, Jaylon Jones and Tyreek Chappell have all played at a high level this season, despite battling through injuries. Johnson, Richardson and Jones are expected to declare for the 2023 NFL Draft after the season and could hear their name called very, very early in the draft. Behind those four, underclassmen like Bryce Anderson, Jardin Gilbert, Jacoby Mathews, Denver Harris, Smoke Bouie and Jarred Kerr have flashed in limited action. TJ Rushing has coached his unit up well, and he’s set to add three of the top defensive backs to his room in the 2023 class in Shiner (Tex.) High four-star safety Dalton Brooks, La Grange (Tex.) High four-star cornerback Bravion Rogers and Dallas (Tex.) South Oak Cliff four-star cornerback Jayvon Thomas. More could still join the class before signing day.

Devon Achane

Saturday might be Devon Achane’s last game at Texas A&M and if it is, the speedster should be remembered as one of the most electric playmakers in program history. Despite missing two games this season, he’s just over 100 yards away from clearing 1,000 rushing yards on the season and is already well-over 1,300 all-purpose yards on the year. In his career, he’s set to finish with over 3,300 all-purpose yards and over 25 touchdowns in just three seasons. His 96-yard kick return in the upset against Alabama in 2021 will go down as one of the top plays in program history. His performance this season likely could get forgotten due the team record, but he consistently put the team on his back and is perhaps the only reason the Aggies’ record isn’t even worse at this point. He could opt to return for his senior season, but given his position and the quality of tape he’s already put up, there’s nothing stopping him from forgoing his final season and if he does, his contributions in the maroon and white should be celebrated.