Jimbo Fisher was hired to lead Texas A&M to a national championship, but how close will the Aggies get to that ultimate goal in 2018?
Texas A&M is entering a new era in College Station. On Dec. 1 after firing Kevin Sumlin, the Aggies managed to lure Jimbo Fisher away from Florida State with a 10-year, fully guaranteed $75 million deal. The hope in Aggieland is that this latest coaching change can get them over the hump and truly challenge for an SEC Conference title.
In 2017 A&M went 7-5 and 4-4 in SEC play, finishing fifth in the West Division. Despite a roller-coaster season which began with a second-half collapse against UCLA, the Aggies made a bowl game for the ninth consecutive year. In the Belk Bowl A&M faced a challenge in the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.
In one of the highest scoring bowl games ever, Wake Forest built a 10-point lead by halftime before the Aggies stormed back in the third quarter to take the lead. Both teams traded the lead in the fourth, but a touchdown run by Matt Colburn with just over two minutes to play sealed the win for Wake Forest.
Heading into 2018 Texas A&M will be looking to replace some offensive and defensive firepower. Their most notable loss from last year is receiver Christian Kirk, who was drafted in the second round by the Arizona Cardinals. Kirk led the team in every major receiving category: receptions (71), yards (919), and touchdowns (10).
The team also lost safety Armani Watts, who was taken by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fourth round. Watts led the Aggies in interceptions with four and was second on the team in tackles with 87. A&M also lost their second-leading receiver in Damion Ratley, a sixth round pick by the Cleveland Browns. Ratley had 30 catches for 694 yards and six touchdowns.
The good news is A&M has players waiting in the wings to replace these losses. Sophomore receiver Jhamon Ausborn was the team’s fourth best receiver last year with 571 yards and three touchdowns. Also expect fellow sophomores Camron Buckley and Roshauud Paul to contribute, coming off 282-yard and 187-yard freshmen campaigns. With their best defensive back now gone, Sophomore Derrick Tucker is expected to lead the secondary. Tucker was tied for fourth on the team in tackles with 55, had four pass breakups, and returned an interception for a touchdown last season.
While all three of these players are expected to fill in the shoes of guys lost to the NFL, this team may very well be led this season by their running game and a strong group of linebackers. Junior running back Trayveon Williams led the team in rushing last season and was named to the Maxwell Award and Doak Walker Award watch lists. With Keith Ford also gone and new primary receivers in the fold, the offense is expected to rely on Williams and the ground game.
Starting linebackers Tyrel Dodson and Otaro Alaka will return next season as well. Dodson led the team in tackles with 104 and had three interceptions in 2017. Alaka chipped in with 78 tackles, good for third on the team and snagged one interception. Both were tied for second on the team in sacks with 5.5. Arguably the biggest defensive returner is defensive lineman Landis Durham. Durham led the team in sacks with 10.5, had 11 tackles for loss and forced three fumbles.
With a solid returning running back in Williams and offensive linemen Keaton Sutherland and Connor Lanfear coming back for their senior years as well, A&M’s offensive strength this upcoming season may very well be their running game.
Nick Starkel and Kellen Mond are expected to compete for the starting quarterback job after splitting time last season. Neither separated themselves and the battle is expected to continue in fall camp. If it takes several weeks into the season for Fisher to find his guy and both show inconsistency throughout the year once again, it could be a long year.
With starting linebackers Dodson and Alaka returning as well as Durham on the defensive line, the Aggies biggest strength on defense could be their front seven. The Aggies allowed 171.3 yards per game last year in a run-heavy conference. If the front seven can be pick up where they left off last year, A&M can make some serious strides on improving their defense.
The back end of the defense is what needs the most improvement. Returning defensive backs DeShawn Capers-Smith, Larry Pryor and Myles Jones need to show more consistency after being a part of a defense that allowed 251.2 passing yards per game last year. With talent around the conference such as Ole Miss’s A.J. Brown, Missouri’s Emanuel Hall and Georgia’s Terry Godwin, A&m’s secondary will have to improve if they want to take next step and truly compete in the SEC.
Best-Case Scenario
Starkel or Mond wins the starting quarterback job outright, show improvement and the defense is better.
- Aug. 30 vs. Northwestern State – W
- Sept. 8 vs. Clemson – L
- Sept. 15 vs. Louisiana Monroe – W
- Sept. 22 at Alabama – L
- Sept.29 vs. Arkansas (AT&T Stadium) – W
- Oct. 6 vs. Kentucky – W
- Oct.13 at South Carolina – W
- Oct.27 at Mississippi State – W
- Nov. 3 at Auburn – L
- Nov.10 vs. Ole Miss – W
- Nov.17 vs. UAB – W
- Nov. 24 vs. LSU – W
Final Record: 9-3, 6-2 in SEC play, middle to a high-tier bowl game
Worst-Case Scenario
Starkel and/or Mond struggle once again, Williams regresses and the defense shows little to no improvement
- Aug. 30 vs. Northwestern State – W
- Sept. 8 vs. Clemson – L
- Sept. 15 vs. Louisiana Monroe – W
- Sept. 22 at Alabama – L
- Sept.29 vs. Arkansas (AT&T Stadium) – W
- Oct. 6 vs. Kentucky – W
- Oct.13 at South Carolina – L
- Oct.27 at Mississippi State – L
- Nov. 3 at Auburn – L
- Nov.10 vs. Ole Miss – W
- Nov.17 vs. UAB – W
- Nov. 24 vs. LSU – L
6-6, 3-5 in SEC play, low-tier bowl game