Texas A&M Head Coach Jimbo Fisher proclaimed that the unit in the trenches would be the team’s strength in 2023, and at least one outlet is singing the same tune.
Dave Campbell’s Texas Football recently ranked the best offensive line groups in the state for the 2023 season, and the Maroon and White landed in second place within the Lone Star State. The top five played out as follows:
1. Texas Longhorns
2. Texas A&M Aggies
3. Baylor Bears
4. TCU Horned Frogs
5. Texas Tech Raiders
The following teams rounded out the best of the rest in the Lone Star State:
6. SMU Mustangs
7. UTSA Road Runners
8. Houston Cougars
9. North Texas Mean Green
10. UTEP Miners
11. Rice Owls
12. Texas State Bobcats
13. Sam Houston Bearkats
DCTF placed the Aggies just behind the Longhorns when it came to their recruiting prowess, although it’s been well-noted that few can compete with Texas A&M when it comes to recruiting in the trenches. With a unit that includes C Bryce Foster, OG Layden Robinson, OG Kam Dewberry, and OT Reuben Fatheree II, the key will be remaining healthy for the 2023 campaign according to Mike Craven:
No team in the Lone Star State outside of the Longhorns recruit the offensive line better than the Aggies. The interior of the offensive line should be stout, especially if Foster stays healthy. The Aggies were a different unit with him struggling with injuries and illness throughout 2022.
He’ll be flanked by two potential NFL players at guard in Robinson and Dewberry. The only real question marks are on the outside, but Fatheree was solid as a freshman two years ago and Zuhn has plenty of potential. Expect a step forward from this group in 2023.
The O-line boasts tremendous upside so long as they remain healthy, but let’s be clear in reiterating that the unit has their work cut out for them if they truly want to become elite. If you turn back the clock to 2022, you’ll recall that this group finished with a dull 50.0 pass-blocking grade per Pro Football Focus, while allowing an average of 2.3 sacks per contest.
Many of those hurdles were a result of injuries, but inexperience was also a key culprit. Having Foster back in the fold should provide a huge boon, as he looks to return to his freshman-year caliber of play when he led all true freshman centers with a 73.0 run-blocking grade per PFF. Added depth in the form of transfers Finn Dirstine and Derek Ferraro, as well as the arrival of incoming freshman Chase Bisontis, should help on the depth front.
With this group among the country’s leaders in returning production, the Aggies must see the experience and rapport within this group translate to strong production on the field. Only then can they stake the claim of being not only among the best in the Lone Star State but potentially in all of college football.
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