Texas A&M makes surprising decision for starting QB

Haynes King has reportedly won the highly competitive quarterback battle to lead Texas A&M football team out onto Kyle Field for Week 1.

Jimbo Fisher isn’t messing around, as the Texas A&M football coach has tabbed Haynes King to be his starting quarterback for Week 1 vs. the Sam Houston State Bearkats.

King was the starter entering last season before breaking his leg. This allowed Zach Calzada to take over for him. While Calzada was the signal-caller that helped the Aggies beat Alabama at home in overtime, he transferred to Auburn to not beat out TJ Finley for that starting job. Fate would have it, the LSU quarterback who beat Texas A&M last year probably feels similarly now…

By going with King, Fisher has decided Max Johnson is not the guy just yet. We are also going to have to wait a little longer to see all that Conner Weigman can do. Surely, this will turn out well for Texas A&M this season.

Texas A&M football: Jimbo Fisher names Haynes King starting quarterback

While Fisher could lean on Kellen Mond for his first few years in College Station, he is going with a quarterback with a far lower ceiling than Weigman, and perhaps a worse option over Johnson. Keep in mind who Johnson is as well. He is Super Bowl champion Brad Johnson’s son, former Georgia head coach Mark Richt’s nephew and Aggies tight end Jake Johnson’s older brother.

If King was truly better than him in fall camp, that is fine, but rolling with him throughout the year just screams 8-4 for the Aggies. They may be viewed as a top-tier team in the country, but Texas A&M could be at a major quarterbacking disadvantage if Fisher chooses to keep on going in this direction. While he may be right at the end of the day, we all know what Johnson is capable of.

With Georgia winning a national championship last year, one could argue the pressure is on Fisher’s program more than anyone in the Power Five. Ryan Day probably needs to win the College Football Playoff at some point, but Ohio State is the preeminent team in its conference. Lincoln Riley needs to win big too, but he is only entering his first year at USC since leaving OU.

If Texas A&M’s roster is as deep as Fisher says it is, then maybe the Aggies are the next Georgia?

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