Front Porch FootballTexas A&M 2021 Preview
Quote of the Day: “We’re going to beat his ass even when he’s there.” – Head Coach Jimbo Fisher when asked the key to beating Alabama other than Saban retiring.
by Chris Paschal
That quote says it all. Texas A&M, who has been wandering in the SEC desert for years, finally has a team that can not only compete for an SEC title, but possibly even a national title. Entering his fourth year in College Station, Jimbo Fisher has gone 26-10, won a Gator Bowl, won an Orange Bowl, and finished his third season ranked fourth in the nation. Impressive start. But when you’re the head coach at Texas A&M, which is the most valuable college football program in the nation according to Forbes Magazine, you’re expected to win championships.
Offense
In a season where A&M played 9 SEC games and an Orange Bowl against the resurgent North Carolina Tarheels, A&M’s offense played at a high level. The Aggies finished the year fourth in the SEC in scoring offense (averaging over 32 points per game) and second in the league in rushing offense (averaging almost 235 yards per game). Obviously, the scheme and recruiting blueprint Jimbo has implemented at A&M is working. That being said, four of last year’s five starting offensive linemen cycled out of the program, along with long-time starting quarterback Kellen Mond.
Departed Notable Starters
Kellen Mond – QB – NFL
Ryan McCollum – C – NFL
Dan Moore – OT – NFL
Quarterback
Four-year starter Kellen Mond did not get enough credit for the career he had at A&M. By the time he left College Station, he had become one of only three quarterbacks in SEC history to pass for over 9,000 yards and rush for over 1,500 yards. The other two were Dak Prescott and Tim Tebow. Mond was never an all-conference type player, but what he did bring to the table was stability and a command of the offense. Last season, Mond was also finally able to cut down on costly interceptions, finishing with 19 passing touchdowns to only three interceptions.
But that is all in the past. For the first time in years, Texas A&M will have a new quarterback under center. And the battle to win the starting job is heating up as we head into the heart of August camp. The two front runners are Haynes King (6-3, 200) and Zach Calzada (6-4, 200). In most of our previews, there is film or breakdowns that can aid in our analysis of various players or position groups. That’s not the case here. Last season, Haynes attempted four passes. Calzada, who is going into his third year on campus, has attempted 12 passes in his career. That said, from recruiting rankings, high school tape, and some reports coming out of College Station in the past couple of weeks, we have plenty to work with.
Both are inexperienced, but the similarities end there. Calzada was a three-star recruit from Georgia; while he had some good offers, he was not widely known or heavily recruited, despite possessing arm strength that Jimbo recently described as NFL-level. Meanwhile, King was a top-150 recruit from Longview, Texas.
King has a good arm, but not an NFL arm. What he does have, though, is playmaking ability that probably hasn’t been seen in College Station since Johnny Manziel. In high school, King also played baseball (finishing with a 37-2 record as a starting pitcher) and competed in track and field (where he ran the 400 meters, did relays, and even won the district championship in discus). Word out of College Station is King might not be able to make all the throws Calzada can, but his rushing skills, pocket awareness, and playmaking ability all make him an exciting prospect. While this competition will probably go deep into camp, look for King to edge Calzada out as the starter.
Running Back
Whoever wins the quarterback competition will have the benefit of having one of the best tailbacks in all of college football to his left or right. Isaiah Spiller (6-1, 225) is a stud. No other way to put it. In fact, watch this tape to just set the table for the rest of this position breakdown:
Obviously, there is so much to like about Spiller. He has great size, runs hard, has decent top-end speed, and can run with power while also having great instincts and vision. What I love the most about Spiller, though, is his ability to always fall forward when he gets tackled. When I was a kid, the player that did that the best was Hall-of-Famer Jerome Bettis. For a recent SEC comparison, Marcus Lattimore always found a way, even when being tackled, to get an extra yard or two ball falling forward. Spiller has that skill. In ten games last season, he finished with 1,036 rushing yards and 9 touchdowns while averaging over 5.5 yards per carry.
The most exciting thing about this position, however, may be its depth. Spiller was the champion of the running back room last year (rightfully so), after earning All-SEC honors. But in the tenth game of the season (the Orange Bowl against North Carolina), another impressive running back emerged on the scene in Devon Achane (5-9, 185). Achane rushed for over 140 yards, including a late fourth quarter touchdown where he kept his balance to avoid defenders and the sideline. He finished the game as the Orange Bowl MVP. Look for the Aggies to have an elite rushing attack this fall, especially if Haynes King wins the QB job. Look for blue chip recruit LJ Johnson, Jr. (5-10, 205), to also get some touches this fall.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
There are two names to know here. First is Ainias Smith (5-10, 190) who is a Swiss army knife for A&M. Last season, Smith split time out wide and in the back field, accumulating close to 1,000 yards of total offense and 10 touchdowns. This season, with A&M’s backfield as loaded as it is, look for Smith to get a lot more receptions as a receiver than as a running back.
The other name to know is tight end Jalen Wydermyer (6-5, 250). Wydermyer led the Aggies in receptions last season and averaged 11 yards per reception. He also finished his All-SEC campaign with six touchdowns. Jimbo Fisher loves to utilize the tight end, and with a new quarterback being broken in, a strong tight end presence will help this Aggie offense. Behind Wydermyer is Baylor Cupp (6-7, 240), a big-time recruit out of the state of Texas. With defenses focused on Wydermyer, Cupp could see the ball thrown his way fairly often.
Chase Lane (6-0, 190) returns for his redshirt sophomore season after hauling in 29 receptions last year. The Houston product was a lightly recruited, three-star prospect but has found a nice role in this offense. Overall, this receiver group is not supremely talented, with stars littered throughout the roster. But this position group, among others, will highlight just how good a recruiter Jimbo has been the past few seasons. Just this past recruiting cycle, A&M was able to snag a four-star speedy receiver Yulkeith Brown (5-10, 175) from Miami. Look for Brown to make an impact on the field this upcoming season.
Finally, one name to look out for is Demond Demas (6-3, 180). Demas was redshirted last season as a freshman. He didn’t record a single reception in his four game appearances, and looked lost on field at times. But Demas was a highly sought-after recruit and has first-class athleticism. If he can figure things out, he could be a shot in the arm for A&M this season.
Offensive Line
The Aggies lost four of last year’s starting offensive linemen, but this is still an excellent group. It starts with Kenyon Green (6-4, 325), who is moving from guard to left tackle for his junior year. Green is from Humble, Texas, and plays like it. Humble has produced some great high school football prospects over the years, most recently offensive tackle Samuel Cosmi, who was selected out of Texas in the second round of this year’s NFL draft. Cosmi is a great football player. Green is an elite football player. After being named a first team All-American as a sophomore, look for Green to be a top 10 pick in next year’s NFL Draft if he has another exceptional season.
In addition to Green, A&M still has a lot of talent to work with, even if it is inexperienced. One fantastic addition for the Aggies was senior transfer Jahmir Johnson (6-5, 300) from Tennessee. Johnson adds experience and skill at tackle, a position group that needs it. Competing with Johnson for the other starting tackle position will be Blake Trainor (6-7, 330), a big, long tackle from East Texas. Trainor doesn’t have the feet or athleticism that Johnson has, but he makes up for it with his motor and his ability to finish blocks.
In the interior, Luke Matthews (6-4, 320) will man the center position. The Matthews family has been a staple for A&M’s offensive line for years, and Luke potentially would have started had his season not been cut short in 2020 due to injury. At guard, it looks like Layden Robinson (6-4, 330) from Manvel, Texas, and Aki Ogunbiyi (6-4, 305) from Sugar Land, Texas, will win those two spots. Both Robinson (a three-year veteran) and Ogunbiyi (an elite 2020 recruit) will have pressure from this incoming recruiting class, with a total of six offensive linemen signing to play for the Aggies. One name to keep an eye out for:
Bryce Foster (6-5, 330) out of Katy, Texas. A five-star recruit (according to Rivals.com), Foster was heavily recruited by Georgia and Auburn but ultimately decided to stay home.
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Defense
Mike Elko is one of the premier defensive coordinators in college football. Since Elko departed Notre Dame to join A&M in 2017, the Aggies have had one of the best defenses in the SEC. Last season, A&M finished first in the SEC in total defense, third in the SEC in total defense, and second in the entire country in run defense. Elko’s 4-2-5 scheme explains part of the defense’s success of the past few years, but much is due to A&M’s elite talent level. This season should be no different.
Departed Starters
Buddy Johnson – LB – NFL
Bobby Brown III – DT – NFL
Defensive Line
When we first started Front Porch Football in the summer of 2015, I was ruthless analyzing the A&M defense. At the time, they did not have an SEC defensive line. To close out the 2015, 2016 and 2017 seasons, A&M fell apart, mostly due to the collapse of the defense midway through each season. The biggest culprit each year was the defensive line. In 2016, A&M gave up 54 points to LSU to close out the season. The following season, after choking away the opener against UCLA, A&M bounced back and went 5-1 in their next six games, losing only to Alabama by a touchdown. But by the back half of their schedule, the defensive line was worn down, and the Aggies lost four of their next six games, giving up 35 points to Mississippi State, 42 points to Auburn, and 45 points to LSU.
That A&M doesn’t exist anymore. This defensive line is one of the best units, not only in the SEC, but in the country. DeMarvin Leal (6-4, 290) is a prototypical SEC defensive lineman. With great feet, the ability to defend the run, and a knack for getting into the backfield quickly, he reminds me of Alabama great Marcell Dareus. Leal mostly lines up at defensive end and demands double teams not only in run blocking, but in pass blocking, as well. Leal will be a first-round draft pick in next year’s NFL Draft. Our friend Harris Oates with DraftID agrees; “[Neal is] one of the most dominant defensive lineman in the NCAA. He comes in the season as a Top 10 prospect due to his amazing size and speed combo. Leal has the size of a defensive end but moves like a linebacker…he has first round pick written all over him and can play in any defensive scheme ever created.”
Opposite Leal will be seniors Michael Clemons and Tyree Johnson. Both are exceptional defensive linemen off the edge, and on any other team would be “the guys.” Clemons only played in five games last year due to injury but still finished the season with four sacks.
Defensive tackle McKinnley Jackson (6-2, 335) was lined up to replace Bobby Brown, but after Jackson was arrested on drug charges, Jimbo Fisher suspended him indefinitely. Fortunately for A&M, Jayden Peevy (6-6, 310) took advantage of the NCAA’s COVID-19 rule allowing for super seniors and will man the interior for the Aggies. Adarious Jones (6-4, 315) will also play a lot of snaps at defensive tackle. Jones isn’t known for his pass-rushing abilities, but with his size and strength, he will demand double teams in run defense. Five-star recruit Shemar Turner (6-4, 285) could slide inside for A&M to add depth at defensive tackle. Turner has the size and athleticism to contribute immediately but was probably hoping to start his career on the edge. Marcus Burris, Jr. (6-4, 290) from Texarkana is another true freshman who could play early at defensive tackle.
Linebacker
Buddy Johnson led A&M in tackles last season and had a nose for the football, forcing fumbles and making tackles for loss. With Johnson’s departure for the NFL, Junior Andre White Jr. (6-3, 225) will try to fill his shoes at linebacker. According to GigEm247, “White was a tackling machine in high school as he finished his senior campaign with 132 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, three sacks and one pass break up.” I agree White has great high school tape, but that was high school. It still remains to be seen whether he can do that in the SEC, even with his strong performance (eight tackles) in the Orange Bowl.
Senior Aaron Hansford (6-3, 240) returns opposite White and should build on a solid season last year. A&M didn’t sign a single linebacker last season, which shows Elko is focusing first on building his talent level on the line and in the secondary. If A&M can’t replicate the performance Buddy Johnson had last season, though, linebacker play could be the Achilles heel of this defense.
Secondary
Most of the defensive backfield returns from last season. The hope is that a solid pass defense in 2020 will become a great pass defense in 2021. At cornerback, Myles Jones (6-4, 185) is prepared for his senior season. In a recent press conference, Jones said that between his play and the play of fellow cornerback Jaylon Jones (6-2, 205), opponents should prepare to be stranded on “Jones Island.” If both cornerbacks are good enough to be “islands” this season, this pass defense will be elite.
In the same press conference, Myles Jones said the key for both Myles and Jaylon was to not have any “eye violations.” While I am not a defensive backs coach, it sounds like A&M coaches are emphasizing to their cornerbacks that they should not be peaking into the offensive backfield or watching the quarterback. In other words, it sounds like A&M is going to play a lot of man-to-man coverage this season, which speaks volumes about the staff’s confidence in their cornerback play.
The corollary is that if A&M can pull off “Jones Island,” Aggie safeties should be freed-up to make plays. Leon O’Neal (6-1, 210) returns for his senior season after finishing last year with two interceptions. Demani Richardson (6-1, 210) is also back after missing significant portions of last season due to injury. Richardson and O’Neal are both known to be ball hawks who can make big plays in not only pass defense, but also run defense. Antonio Johnson (6-3, 195) can play safety as well as nickelback and could explode onto the scene in his sophomore season. The former high school Army All-American is fast and long. Senior Brian George (6-2, 190) provides depth at cornerback.
Special Teams
Seth Small returns for his senior season after 11-for-13 field goals last season; his long was 42 yards, but his career long is 52. Punter Nick Constantinou, a Ray Guy Award semifinalist, has a big leg, averaging over 40 yards per punt last season. RB Devon Achane and WR Ainias Smith could compete for return duties.
Impact Players
- Kenyon Green – OT – Green is quite possibly the most talented and valuable player in the SEC this season. If he can continue playing at an All-American level as the blindside tackle, A&M will continue to progress as an offense as the season goes on. This offensive line is talented, but its success is predicated on Green having a big season.
- Isaiah Spiller – RB – With Devon Achane coming onto the scene to end last season, Spiller won’t have to shoulder the entire load of running the football in 2021. Either way, expect Spiller to hit the 1,500 rushing yards mark and wind up with postseason awards. Our friend Harris Oates with DraftID currently has Spiller as his No. 2 running back in the 2022 NFL Draft.
- DeMarvin Leal – DE – With Aggie defensive tackles maybe not being as salty this season as in years past, Leal needs to not only have a big season rushing the passer, but also in run defense. Demanding double teams as a defensive end could help the linebackers and safeties get downfield quickly in run defense.
Schedule
September 4 – Kent State
September 11 – Colorado (Denver)
September 18 – New Mexico
September 25 – Arkansas (Arlington)
October 2 – Mississippi State
October 9 – Alabama
October 16 – at Missouri
October 23 – South Carolina
November 6 – Auburn
November 13 – at Ole Miss
November 20 – Prairie View A&M
November 27 – at LSU
Conclusion
This roster is good enough to beat Alabama. The question marks on the line of scrimmage are most likely going to be answered the way they are answered at Alabama: “we recruit better than you.” When you look at the departed starters, only to see name after name of elite recruits or game-proven backups waiting to take their place, this situation truly starts to look like an Alabama or a Georgia.
The biggest question mark is quarterback. Whoever wins the job, are they ready for a four-week stretch in November that includes a home game against Auburn, followed by road trips to Ole Miss and LSU? Are they ready for a road trip to Missouri after the Alabama game? Are they ready for Alabama? Are they ready for the rivalry game against Arkansas in “Jerry World?” When you start looking at what this schedule entails, you realize simply predicting A&M to lose to Alabama but then beat everyone else sounds a little foolish. This Aggie team could beat Alabama, but just because you can, doesn’t mean you will. I have A&M losing to Alabama and dropping one other game. (Best guess is LSU.) But circle Missouri as a trap game following A&M’s showdown with Alabama.
