Texas A&M’s 2024 roster is stacked with talent, but getting the best out of each and every player is the biggest challenge for the new coaching staff, as first-year head coach Mike Elko will lead his new squad against Notre Dame to open the season on Saturday, August 31.
For every team, a quarterback, left tackle, and a reliable pass rusher are vital for consistent success, as starting quarterback Conner Weigman joins former Purdue defensive end Nic Scourton as the two Aggie starters who have made ESPN’s Top 100 player rankings ahead of the 2024 college football season, which officially begins next weekend.
Weigman, who missed most of the 2023 regular season due to injury, still finished with 979 passing yards and eight touchdowns in just four starts, while Scourton finished his final sophomore campaign with the Boilermakers with 50 tackles and a Big Ten-leading ten sacks.
Completely healthy, Weigman has all but mastered new OC Collin Klein’s offense, hitting tight windows while his arm strength has steadily increased. In the rankings, the redshirt sophomore came in as the 81st-ranked player, as ESPN writers hit the nail on the head concerning his overall importance to Texas A&M’s success this season:
“Weigman’s sample size in 3½ games last season was small, but he looked like a quarterback who could lift the Aggies out of their doldrums before he went down with a foot injury against Auburn. In a 52-10 rout of New Mexico, he threw five touchdowns, the most in regulation by an A&M passer since Johnny Manziel in 2013. In a 47-3 win against Louisiana-Monroe, Weigman completed 25 of 29 attempts (86.2%), the highest completion percentage (minimum 20 attempts) in school history.”
Scourton, who already looks like a top-5 NFL draft prospect based on size and 2023 production alone, came in much higher at No. 29 after not making last year’s rankings:
“A Purdue transfer, Scourton had 72 tackles, 48 solo tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and 3 passes defended in two seasons with the Boilermakers. Last season, he led the Big Ten in sacks with 10, earning second-team All-Big Ten honors.”
No. 20-ranked Texas A&M will host No. 7-ranked Notre Dame on Saturday, August 31 at 6:30 p.m. CT. The game will air on ABC.
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