Making a Case for Texas A&M at SEC Media Days
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Last up on the stage was the Texas A&M. Jimbo Fisher and Nick Saban used to be friends. I don’t think they are anymore even though both say that their relationship is fine. The Aggies finally got over the hump by beating Alabama 41-38 in College Station last season. While that victory may have signified a momentous occasion for Fisher, his team finished the season with a disappointing 8-4 record after falling to Ole Miss and LSU to end the season. Let’s dig into the Aggies, shall we?
Case For
Jimbo Fisher’s 2021 Signing Class was one to remember. Texas A&M inked multiple five-stars on their way to singing the top-ranked class in the nation; several will see the field this fall. The Aggies are likely a season away from a serious challenge to Alabama in the West. But, the talent gathered in the Lone Star State is remarkable. One true freshman that will make an impact is receiver Evan Stewart. The 5’11, 170-pound five-star earned offensive MVP honors during spring practice.
Ainias Smith is a dynamic playmaker that accounted for 47 receptions for 509 yards and six touchdown catches last season. He was scheduled to attend Media Days but was a scratch following an incident that occurred earlier in the week. Evan Stewart and sophomore Moose Muhammad III are two young pass catchers that bring excitement. In all, Aggie receivers have to reduce the number of drops and become more consistent. Fisher’s passing offense ranked 12th in the SEC last season after recording 208 yards per game through the air. Running back Devon Achane is a potential Heisman Trophy candidate. He rushed for 910 yards as the second choice behind the departed Isaiah Spiller. The speedster averaged 7 yards per carry last season and is expected to carry a heavier load in 2022.
The offensive line should be a team strength. Freshman All-American center Bryce Foster (6’5, 325) and tackle Reuben Fatheree (6’8, 320) join Preseason All-SEC guard Layden Robinson (6’4, 320) to shore up the front. Fisher has to replace two-time All-American Kenyon Green. His front five could include a freshman, three sophomores, and a junior.
D.J. Durkin worked wonders for Ole Miss’ defense after showing nearly a hundred-yard improvement from 2020 to 2021. He’ll have All-American Nickel/Safety Antonio Johnson in the secondary along with five other returning starters. Starting corners Tyreek Chappell and Jaylon Jones will provide a veteran presence as will safety Demani Richardson. With most of its returning secondary intact, A&M can focus on the front seven.
Case Against
Who’s the quarterback? That position was shaky a year ago and played a major factor in the Aggies’ four losses. Haynes King was the starter before getting injured in the second game of the season. Zach Calzada was a boom or bust replacement who later transferred to Auburn. Former LSU signal caller Max Johnson enters the competition via the Portal. Johnson tossed 27 touchdowns for the Tigers last season and is a veteran of the SEC West. Former 5-star Conner Weigman is also on campus and is still in the hunt for the QB1 role. King is fighting to retain his starting role. With all that said, there doesn’t appear to be a clear-cut leader in the clubhouse. Consistency from the quarterback position was missing in 2021.
Texas A&M returns four out of five starters in the secondary which is a team strength. But, it only brings back one starter in the front seven. That could be a problem. But again, remember the youthful talent in College Station. The defensive line is stocked with projectable, 5-star talent. Linebacker Andre White is the lone veteran starter on the first and second levels. D.J. Durkin will have his hands full in preseason camp sorting through which true freshmen will compete to earn playing time in 2022.
Signing Day is exciting and fires up the collective, boosters, and fan bases. Texas A&M will have a bunch of newcomers on the field this fall. The majority of rookies are ultra-talented, but inexperience can be a downfall, especially in the ever-competitive SEC West.
Verdict
The youthful Aggies open the season with home games against Sam Houston and Appalachian State before taking on Arkansas in Arlington. The Hogs will test the toughness of the youthful squad. Nick Saban will have October 8 circled on the schedule in what’s sure to be a can’t-miss event in Tuscaloosa when the Aggies visit. Overall, Texas A&M’s schedule is demanding but not daunting with five of their last six games being played at Kyle Field. The Aggies could be a year away. Talking heads and Pro Js loved A&M in Atlanta. I’m not quite so sold but that schedule is inviting to prognosticate a 10-win season. I’m leaning more towards an 8-4 finish or 9-3 finish. Remember, A&M lost four games in which they were favored a year ago. The Aggies finally beat Alabama but posted an 8-4 record in 2021. “Finishing” is a focus in College Station.
What Does All This Mean for Kentucky?
Nothing. Texas A&M is not on the schedule and will not likely win the West.
Head Coach’s Best Quotes
Q. When you look back at the press conference in May, do you have any regrets over how that was handled? Do you feel like you owe Nick an apology? How do things stand between you and him?
“Listen, we’re great. Two competitive guys that go at it. We all learn from things we do in our business. Two competitive guys on a topic that is very — everywhere, as they say. There’s no rules in this thing, where it goes. Each state has different laws and everything.
And like he said, I heard a statement he made, the arguments we had in the staff room and on the basketball court and all those things. But on the basketball court, we didn’t have them. We were always on the same team. So we usually had them against other people.
I have great respect for Nick. Unfortunately, our thing went public. Sometimes that happens in this world. Nothing is private anymore, is it?
Anyway. But, no, have great respect from Nick. We all learn from him. We all will learn, like I say, he will learn, hopefully I learn from things we do and say, and we move on from there.
But I have great respect for him and their program like always.”
Q. You did say some very poignant things about Nick Saban, and NIL is very real, it’s here to stay. One of your staff members was caught on video telling some recruits that they were going to be paid very well for playing football —
“No, that’s not what he said. Those guys pay down there very well, and what he meant was, he was a young guy, been there about a month, the guys behind those seats is what paid for your program. That was the donations and boosters and how he said it and how he spoke. Do we all have NIL? Yes, we do. But that’s what he was meaning. It’s a transfer thing that we say with all recruits. The guys behind those things are the guys who pay for our program, what we do, the donations. That’s what it was. He had been here one month.”
Q. Hypothetical question. If there’s no NIL, do you and Nick have this public beef?
“No, because the — listen, what he said and what I said, we moved on from it. But NIL, like I say, guys, there’s no rules. Each state has its own rules. I mean, it’s not just an NCAA thing or a national thing. Each state. For instance, in Texas, we cannot bring up NIL to a recruit. We can’t say it, we can’t promise. All we can say if guys on our team have it, that’s all we can say.
Other states can present written contracts. They can send you a written contract to a guy. I’ve been going through that in a recruiting thing. It’s just the world we’re in. We are frustrated because there’s no unification of what happens and the way it happens. It’s a different day and time.
Change is inevitable. That’s the rules we have to play by, so we all have to adapt and adjust. You either adapt and adjust or you don’t, one of the two.”
That’s it from Atlanta. I hope you’ve enjoyed our team previews. Remember our friends at Morgan & Morgan. For a free consultation, call DIAL POUND (#) LAW – That’s POUND L-A-W or 5-2-9 on your cell phone — 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Check out the rest of Freddie’s “Making the Case For” SEC Media Days series:
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