Head coach Jimbo Fisher and the Texas A&M Aggies are set to kick off their 2022 college football season this Saturday, set to host the Sam Houston State Bearkats at 11:AM Central in what is set to be a packed Kyle Field and an always raucous environment.
With Sam Houston State kicking off its season this weekend as well, the Bearkats come into 2022 dripping with the potential to repeat their appearance in the FCS quarterfinals and beyond, as it’s their last season at the FCS level as the rising program is scheduled to enter the FBS ranks before the start of the 2023 season. To provide some background, the Sam Houston State football program has seen great success since entering the FCS ranks after the 1985 season, making three national championship game appearances, and capturing the title against South Dakota State at the end of the 2020 campaign.
The Bearkats have also seen over 37 former players participate in the NFL, while 19 have been drafted in their history, with some notable players including quarterback Rhett Bomar, defensive back Keith Davis, quarterback Josh McCown, and the recent 2022 5th round draft pick to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Zyon McCollum.
This season, the men in bright orange are led by longtime head coach K.C. Keeler, who is set to start Georgia Tech transfer, Jordan Yates at quarterback, along with 9 FBS level players from the transfer portal, including former 5-Star safety B.J. Foster, and 2018 recruiting class member, wide receiver Al’vonte Woodard.
For the Aggies, Haynes King is back in the saddle as the starting quarterback, the wide receiver and tight end rotation is stacked with a mixture of experienced/young talent, while the defense is set to unveil what they have learned from the new defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin this fall, which is sure to to turn some heads right off the bat.
Now, before kickoff, here are 5 observations leading into Saturday’s afternoon tilt with Sam Houston State.