Category: News & Notes

Texas A&M fall camp begins August 3rd

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

It’s almost here! we’re now only a few days away from the start of a brand new season as fall camp for the Texas A&M Football team is set to begin next week, first reported by Alex Miller of The Eagle. He stated that the team will report for fall camp on August 2nd, with the first practice slated for the following day on August 3rd.

It’s officially a clean slate with the 2021 season in the rearview mirror, and with a roster filled with new and talented young athletes who chose Texas A&M over practically every other Power 5 school in the country, the time is now to achieve the goals they have yet to conquer under head coach Jimbo Fisher.

After enduring an 8-4 season due to erratic QB play, injuries, and a Covid plague bowl game appearance, the 2022 Aggies are deep at nearly every position, including Quarterback, as Max Johnson, Haynes King, and Conner Weigman will be battling it out for the starting spot starting next week.

Leading up to the start of fall camp, this coming weekend is a big one for the Aggies coaching staff, as the annual recruiting pool party is set for Saturday afternoon, hosting over 20 2023 prospects and current commits, more than a dozen 2024 prospects, and a handful of 2025 recruits. Out of the attendees,  premier priority 2023 prospects attending the party include 5-Star Linebacker and Aggie commit Anthony Hill, 4-Star Quarterback Austin Novosad, 4-Star OL T.J. Shanahan, and 5-Star Safety and current Notre Dame commit, Peyton Bowens.

Get excited Ags, things are about to get very, very interesting!

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Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty

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Top 2023 Linebacker Anthony Hill commits to Texas A&M!

Pool Party Magic? LET’S RIDE

Texas A&M has just received the news that priority 2023 defensive prospect, 5-Star Linebacker Anthony Hill has committed to Texas A&M! In late June, Hill released his Final Two school list, which included Texas A&M and Texas, as the in-state rivals knew that battling for the ultra-talented prospect would not be easy, as both have been in close contention within the last month. With Hill attending the annual recruiting pool party today, it didn’t take too long for the future superstar to ultimately make his final decision, choosing the Aggies early this afternoon.

Anthony Hill is heading into his senior season at Ryan High School in Denton, Texas, and is coming off of a 2021 season where he accumulated 131 tackles, 8 sacks, 18 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, and 3 pass breakups, Hill isn’t slowing down one bit. Now commited, Hill can narrow his focus on having his best season yet, and solidifying himself as not only the most dominant linebacker in the 2023 class, but perhaps the best overall player in the country.

In a scouting summary provided by On3, Hill’s unique skill set displayed during his high school playing career is described in detail:

Downhill linebacker with good size and straight-line speed. Has starred for one of the top defenses in Texas high school football since his sophomore season. Combines his speed with a high effort level, resulting in a highly productive player at the high school level. At his best when he can use his closing speed as a blitzer or in pursuit sideline-to-sideline. Shows some physicality as a striker. Has one of the longer wing-spans of top linebackers in the 2023 cycle. Provides added value as a pass rusher and may eventually grow into an EDGE prospect down the line. Has a penchant for forcing turnovers and looks to strip the football often. Will need to continue improving his skills playing in space and in coverage.

Texas A&M has begun to finally heat up on the recruiting trail, and the commitment of Anthony Hill could just be the start of one of the most monumental recruiting weekends we’ve witnessed in Texas A&M history.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions.
Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty

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Aggies OG Layden Robinson named to Wuerffel Trophy Watchlist

Layden Robinson: Mauler on the field, fantastic human being all around

Texas A&M’s star offensive guard Layden Robinson has been raking in the preseason nominations as of late, recently being named to the Outland Trophy Watch list earlier in the week, and just named to the Wuerffel Trophy Watchlist, as the award is ‘annually presented to the FBS player who best combines exemplary community service with leadership achievement on and off the field.”

Robinson has dedicated much of his time off the field participating in the local Boys & Girls club with other fellow student-athletes, teaching children a multitude of different sports and games, while creating football-based activities to teach the children the fundamentals of the game we all love. Robinson has also heavily participated as a volunteer at Twin City Missions in the Brazos County community, helping wipe down windows and walls, clean up trash, clean flower beds, mop floors, etc.

On the field, Robinson is going into the 2022 season as one of the top run blockers and overall offensive linemen in the country, looking to lead as the veteran member of a young but talented unit with its sights set on paving the way to a career year for junior starting running back, Devon Achane.

Congratulations to Layden on being nominated for one of the most meaningful awards there is, and we all can’t wait to watch him and the other maroon goons do their thing as soon as the opener on September 3rd.

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Devon Achane named to Paul Horning award preseason watch list

Aggies RB Devon Achane is set for a monster 2022 season.

Star running back, Devon Achane, has been added to the Paul Hornung Award preseason watch list – an award given annually to the most versatile player in major college football. This is Achane’s third selection to a major award preseason watch list for the 2022 College Football season (see Doak Walker Award and Maxwell Award).

This will be the Paul Hornung Award’s thirteenth recipient, created and successfully launched in 2010 by the Louisville Sports Commission to honor its namesake and native son, in addition to promoting game-changing performances by versatile players who may remain “under the radar.” The award’s watch list was constructed by a panel of college football experts based on statistics, career performances, 2022 expectations and SID recommendations. In addition to preseason watch list selections, Paul Hornung Award Weekly Honor Roll winners – regular-season recognition for game-changing, versatile performances – will also be eligible to win the award.

The Aggies are nearing one month until their season-opener, on Saturday, September 3rd, versus Sam Houston at Kyle Field.

Report: Charges against Aggies WR Ainias Smith have been dropped

On to the 2022 season!

It has been reported that the charges against Texas A&M Wide receiver Ainias Smith have officially been dropped according to his attorney on the case, Craig Greening, after speaking to Mark Berman of FOX26 earlier this afternoon.

I received word from the Brazos County Attorney’s office that they are refusing to prosecute all charges filed by the University Police Department.. Essectially means all the charges are dismissed.

Im just happy that the Brazos County Attorneys office looked at this quickly and took swift action to exoncerate Ainias smith off all charges.

For background, Ainias Smith was suspended by both the school and the athletic department after his July 20th arrest, as the University Police charged him with possession of fewer than two grams of marijuana, DWI, and the unlawful carrying of a weapon stored in one of the vehicle departments. However, after more evidence came out that Smith had actually blown under the legal limit in regards to his DWI charge, while the marijuana actually belonged to the passenger as Smith claimed from the beginning, the suspension was lifted by the university after the appropriate amount of information was gathered and processed to come to an accurate conclusion.

The fact that the Brazos County Attorney’s office came to such a quick decision in dropping the charges shows that our justice system is still in good hands at the local level, but the fact that this cost Smith the opportunity to represent Texas A&M at SEC media days last Thursday can never be undone.

On the field, this is fantastic news for the offense moving forward, and Smith can get right back to focusing on fall camp and the 2022 season, looking to help lead the Aggies towards new heights in what looks to be his final year with the squad.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions.
Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty

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Aggies Defensive end Jahzion Harris enters the transfer portal

Aggies Defensive end Jahzion Harris enters the transfer portal

Texas A&M received the news that projected sophomore rotational defensive end Jahzion Harris has officially entered the transfer portal. The Athletic’s Max Olson broke the news on Thursday afternoon. Out of the 2021 recruiting class, Harris was the 15th ranked EDGE prospect in the class and ranked as the No.2 player in New York, according to 247Sports. In his first and only season with the Aggies, Harris recorded 4 tackles, and 1 sack on the year, while showing promise as a dependable pass rusher if given time to develop in the defensive system.

Coming out of Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn, New York, 247Sports’ National Recruiting Analyst Brian Dohn described Harris’s ability on the field:

Long, lean frame can easily carry another 25 pounds. Defensive end/outside linebacker ability. Fires off low and fast at snap. Has flexibility to dip shoulder and explode around edge. Athletic and uses speed well. Disengages and re-directs down line of scrimmage. Plus body control. Can chase down play from behind. Improved strength and mass vital. Must develop moves and not rely so much on speed and quickness. Increased hand speed and usage is important. Multi-year starter at Top 20 program. Should develop into a Day 3 NFL draft pick.

With all the talent on the defensive line coming from the historic 2022 recruiting class which included seven top 100 ranked defensive line prospects, losing depth pieces like Harris is just a part of the process in the modern age of college football, with the intent in attempting to give every highly touted prospect as many snaps as possible in their first season with a program.

We wish Jahzion Harris the best of luck on his journey to find a new home and compete for a starting position on the defensive line.

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Nik Constantinou makes the Ray Guy Award Watch List

Nik Constantinou makes the Ray Guy Award Watch List

Texas A&M University, also known as Punter U to those who bask in Aggie lore has produced yet another star at the position in redshirt junior Nik Constantinou, who was recently named to the Ray Guy Award Watch List, awarded to the top collegiate punter annually at seasons end.

The Aggies produced possibly the greatest punter in NFL history not named Ray Guy in future NFL Hall of Famer Shane Lechler, while former Aggie punter and 2018 Ray Guy Award winner Braden Mann (2016-2019), now current New York Jet is on his own path to greatness.

Constantinou’s impressive statistical history was laid out in my scouting report for him from late June:

In his first year as the starter during the 2020 Covid shortened season, he played in all 10 games, averaging 40.5 yards per punt, with 13 punts landing inside the 20-yard line, and 3 punts in the 50-plus territory, and was named a semifinalist for the 2020 Ray Guy Award. Constantinou had his best year yet during the 2021 season, leading the SEC with a 46.6 yar punting average, with 22 landing inside the 20-yard line, and 19 50-plus yard punts on the year. Combined with starting kicker, Caden Davis, the two are deemed to lead a lethal special teams unit going into the 2022 season.

In Texas A&M punting history, Constantinou currently sits in 15th place with  88 punts for 3,893 yards and a 44.2 punt yard average. After becoming a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award after the 2020 season, his goal is to finally capture the award and solidify the Aggies at the greatest collegiate punting institute in the country once and for all.

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Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions.
Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty

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Texas A&M’s Joni Taylor tabbed assistant coach of the 2022 USA women’s basketball national team

Aggie women’s basketball coach Joni Taylor named to Team USA coaching staff

USA Women’s Basketball recently announced the selection of Joni Taylor as a member of their staff, serving as an assistant coach for the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup. Taylor will coach under head coach, Cheryl Reeve, head coach of the Minnesota Lynx, and work with two other assistant coaches – Mike Thibault, head coach of the Washington Mystics, and Kara Lawson, head coach of Duke University.

This will be coach Taylor’s fifth Team USA assignment to date, serving most recently as the head coach of the 2022 USA Women’s U18 National Team that won gold at the 2022 FIBA U18 Women’s Americas Championship. Taylor will look to earn a second gold medal within a four-month span.

The 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup will take place in Sydney, Australia from September 22nd to October 1st. For Team USA’s full schedule, click here.

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Outland Trophy Preseason Watch List features two Aggies

Outland Trophy Preseason Watch List features two Aggies

The college football off-season is swiftly coming to an end, as the season officially starts exactly one month from now on August 27th, with the Aggies kicking their season off on September 3rd. With that, preseason award watch lists have been rapidly announced over the last couple of days, and one of the more prestigious awards, The Outland Trophy, recently presented its watch list which happened to include two Aggies, offensive lineman Layden Robinson, and defensive lineman McKinnley Jackson.

Voted on by The Football Writers Association of America, the award recognized 89 returned interior linemen and is presented annually to the interior lineman, offensive or defense, who showed exceptional play during the season. Here is how the FWAA explained the award ceremony process:

The recipient of the 2022 Outland Trophy will be announced on The Home Depot College Football Awards, live on ESPN on Thurs., Dec. 8. The official presentation to the winner will be made at the Outland Trophy Awards Dinner sponsored by Werner Enterprises and produced by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee in Omaha, Neb., on Jan. 11, 2023.

Layden Robinson is returning for his third season after an injury-plagued sophomore campaign, looking to continue his dominant play as one of the best-run blockers in the country, with legitimate high-end potential as an early pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

McKinnley Jackson is also coming off of an injury/suspension based 2021 season, but was a solid contributor at nose tackle during his time on the field, accumulating 14 tackles and 1 sack in 4 starts with 10 games played. with a number of departures on the defensive line this season, Jackson will be looked to lead a group of highly talented, but inexperienced defensive linemen.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions.
Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty

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Reports: Ainias Smith’s suspension has been lifted

Great news for the the Aggies veteran receiver.

Craig Greening, the attorney who is representing Ainias Smith, has told Mark Berman of FOX26 in Houston that the school’s suspension of Smith, has been lifted.

Smith was suspended in accordance with school and athletic department policy, following his arrest on July 20th by University Police on charges of DWI, possession of less than two ounces of marijuana, and unlawfully carrying a weapon.  But as Greening told Berman in an earlier interview, the facts of the case seemed to color a different picture.

I’ve reviewed the police reports in the case. I’m board certified in criminal law and I’m designated as a lawyer/scientist certified by the American Chemical Society; I’ve done DWIs for years. I’ve prosecuted them and I’ve defended them. I’ve reviewed the reports in this case and it was obvious that Mr. Smith was not intoxicated.

Now that we have the passenger’s statements stating that the marijuana was his and that Mr. Smith didn’t know about it, never possessed it and also never smoked marijuana that day, there was no crime committed by Mr. Smith from what I’ve reviewed and all the reports that I’ve been able to see up to this point.

It appears that the university has gathered the information necessary and feels that they are in a position to be comfortable removing Smith’s suspension, and according to Greening, Smith can now take part in practices when they get rolling for fall camp.