Tag: 2023 Spring Football

Texas A&M lands in 247Sports’ post-spring Top 25 poll ahead of the 2023 season

Texas A&M has landed in at least one outlet’s preseason rankings, as 247Sports places the Aggies in their post-sping Top 25 ahead of 2023

Texas A&M has lost its pre-season “darling” status after ranking 6th in the country before the 2022 campaign, slowly resulting in one of the worst seasons in program history, finishing 5-7, and 2-4 in the SEC while missing bowl eligibility for the first time in 14 years.

Entering head coach Jimbo Fisher’s 6th season, pressure is mounting, and while his seat is nearly on fire, his $95 million buyout has taken the form of an extinguisher that contains unlimited fills under the powers that be take control of the situation, if desperately warranted.

Going away from the negative aspects of Fishers’ challenges ahead, the Aggies are loaded at nearly every position going into 2023, and after a steady spring season filled with positive storylines aided by a litany of returning players taking the next step in their development, while members of the 2023 recruiting class are looking to make an instant impact.

However, the general media consensus regarding Texas A&M’s pre-season outlook is bleak, as the Aggies have been excluded in multiple pre-season Top 25 polls, but give credit to 247Sports post-spring rankings, who placed the Aggies at No.16. Here’s what writer Brad Crawford had to say about the Maroon and White:

“After debuting inside the preseason top 10 in last year’s way-too-early polls, Texas A&M lost the benefit of the doubt after a disappointing 2022 campaign. This 2023 season is vital for Jimbo Fisher and his future in College Station, and his new-look coaching staff should assist in turning things around. This team’s SEC West hopes could depend on the development of quarterback Conner Weigman and if he’s able to take this offense by the horns as a sophomore. The arrival of Bobby Petrino to fix the playbook may help.”

While the weight of the world may squarely stay on Fisher’s shoulders, new offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino’s coaching future also depends on how successful A&M’s offense remains throughout the 12-game schedule, as offensive consistency is the most vital ingredient to rebounding from 2022, especially after averaging 22.8 PPG last season, bad enough for 101st in the country.

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 Aggies cornerback unit shows promise, but questions still remain following spring football

Plenty of questions surrounded the Aggies cornerback group heading into spring. But with a key transfer addition, is there clarity with the 2023 season just months away?

Heading into their spring football program there were plenty of questions surrounding Texas A&M‘s cornerback unit, following a handful of key departures. But now with the Aggies’ Maroon and White game in the books and the transfer portal nearly closing, did the unit provide some clarity heading into next season?

Let’s quickly recap how much of an overhaul this unit has dealt with since the close of the 2022 season. First off, the Maroon and White lost five corners to either the NCAA transfer portal or via the NFL Draft heading into the spring. To remedy those losses, the Aggies added Tony Grimes from North Carolina and Sam McCall from Florida State, along with early enrollee Jayvon Thomas.

The aforementioned three joined the reliable Tyreek Chapell, who appeared in 11 games for A&M last season and recorded 44 tackles (31 solo) with eight pass breakups and one fumble recovery.

Still, those additions alone couldn’t soften the blow of losing reliable talents like Antonio Johnson and Jaylon Jones. More reinforcements would have to be on the way, and the fact that many of the new faces were sidelined through spring football only heightens the ambiguity at the position.

Chappell, Grimes, and Thomas all missed large parts of the Aggies’ spring football program, and all three, coincidentally, missed the spring game as well. From what has been observed in practice, Chappell remains the best cover option due to his physicality and refined form in tracking the ball. Grimes has quick feet and a nice recovery speed that should help in defending against wideouts over the top, while McCall possesses even better speed and length.

Yet the biggest x-factor could be the addition of Boston College transfer Josh DeBerry, who committed to the Aggies back on April 18. The former Eagle saw playing time as both a slot corner (286 snaps) as well as on the outside (364) according to PFF, although he graded better at the nickel position during the 2021 season versus last year.

DeBerry’s veteran experience and ability to slide into the slot could prove huge dividends for a backend unit that, while not inexperienced based on age, still boasts a handful of unknowns given the new faces on the roster.

Additionally, there remains an opportunity for some of the younger talents to see playing time like Class of 2022 four-star prospect Bobby Taylor, who recently opted to stay with the Aggies after removing his name from the transfer portal.

Ultimately, this backend unit has plenty of promise heading into next season, but questions still linger given the lack of time on the field through spring. At the of the day, those questions will only be answered once the 2023 season officially kicks off, which makes it a reality that the Aggies will have to swallow for now.

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 Pete on Twitter: @PeteThreee

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Kyler Murray appears to throw shade at Texas A&M during ceremony, but was it out of spite or misinterpreted?

While speaking at halftime of Oklahoma’s spring game, Kyler Murray appeared to throw shade at his former school Texas A&M. But were his comments out of spite, or misconstrued?

Do you want to spark some media attention and generate easy clicks? Look no further than the winning recipe: throw shade at Texas A&M football! Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin is notoriously addicted to doing so, and after Saturday afternoon it appears as if an NFL quarterback is joining in on the trend.

While attending Oklahoma’s 2023 spring game on Saturday, Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray was honored with a statue to celebrate his Heisman-winning season in 2018.

When taking the mic to speak at the ceremony, Murray, who played for the Sooners from 2017 to 2018, appeared to take a dig at the school he began his collegiate career with, which was none other than Texas A&M. Murray’s comments were shared by Max Olson of The Athletic on Twitter:

Murray was a five-star prospect in the Class of 2015 and committed to Texas A&M, but the one-year partnership between the two was an interesting sample size, to put it gently. As the Cardinals signal-caller alluded to himself, it was a rocky year by all indications.

In eight games with the Aggies, Murray threw for 686 yards with a 59.5 completion percentage and five touchdowns with seven interceptions. His 3.9 adjusted passing yards per attempt were a clear step below what he would average with the Sooners (13.3) during his sophomore and junior seasons.

Murray reportedly had some uncertainty with A&M’s offense and concerns with how he was being utilized, and it’s safe to say his freshman-year numbers back up that claim. But were his comments on Saturday a true dig at Texas A&M, or were they rather an appreciation for turning around his collegiate career at Oklahoma?

Murray is by no means the lone signal-caller to see his collegiate game see a boost from playing under Lincoln Riley, you can throw Baker Mayfield and Caleb Williams in that group as well. Mayfield, just like Murray, would go on to win the Heisman trophy and hear his name called in the NFL Draft. Williams is coming off a Heisman-winning season, and it feels likely that he’ll be selected first overall in the 2024 draft.

So while words can be taken very literally, they can also be misconstrued just as easily. If anything, Murray was likely showing appreciation for the second chance he got with the Sooners as it was clear he needed a change of scenery. You can’t fault him for thriving and making the most of it, whether you’re a Sooners fan or an Aggies fan.

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 Pete on Twitter: @PeteThreee

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Evan Stewart and Micah Tease headline Texas A&M’s wide receiver depth in Maroon and White game

Evan Stewart’s over-the-shoulder catch and Micah Tease’s 52-yard touchdown grab spotlight a promising Aggies receiver corps following Saturday’s Maroon and White game.

Team White may have fended off Team Maroon in a 33-19 win during Texas A&M‘s 2023 spring game, but everyone should walk away optimistic after seeing the receiving corps on display at Kyle Field on Saturday.

Evan Stewart (7 receptions, 97 yards, 1 lost fumble) and Micah Tease (3 receptions, 72 yards, 1 receiving touchdown) were by far the top performers of the day with each putting up respective highlight-worthy catches in the opening quarter. Stewart received a nice over-the-shoulder pass from quarterback Conner Weigman, while Tease had a catch of 52 yards from Max Johnson that put the White Team in the end zone first.

Ainias Smith (4 receptions, 67 yards, 1 touchdown) had a long reception in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter, which illustrates how an already talented receiving corps can only become more potent with the redshirt senior’s return. Raymond Cottrell (2 receptions, 22 yards) looked solid in the offensive scheme while Noah Thomas, unfortunately, saw his day cut short after leaving from a scary hit in the opening minutes.

The spring game is still an exhibition, so you never want to see those types of injuries at this time of year. It’s also key to note that Moose Muhammad III did not dress for Saturday’s game after managing to practice in just a limited capacity on Wednesday.

You can bet that Jimbo Fisher and Bobby Petrino have more than a few cards up their sleeves when it comes to the playbook, but it was still promising to see the offense line up in various formations that featured a handful of wideouts in motion.

This offense ranked just 101st in the country in scoring last season (22.8 PPG), so witnessing an injection of creativity will always be a welcome sight, even during spring ball.

Petrino has a track record of tailoring his offenses to his best players and with Stewart flashing his upside on Saturday, you can be sure that this offense will open up space for him to do damage against the second and third levels of the defense.

Seeing this receiving corps in action on Saturday should have Aggies fans eager for the 2023 campaign, but it doesn’t mean Fisher and this staff should stand pat during the transfer portal window that re-opened, coincidentally, on Saturday. With the likes of former USC receiver Gary Bryant potentially in the mix, A&M could add even more depth to this unit should they be aggressive in the coming weeks.

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 Pete on Twitter: @PeteThreee

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Texas A&M 2023 Maroon and White Spring Game recap, highlights, and analysis

Spring football is a small sample size, but Texas A&M displayed their promising potential in the 2023 Maroon and White game, with a handful of playmakers showing out at Kyle Field.

Before the summer lull descends upon us in a matter of weeks the Texas A&M football team partook in the annual Maroon and White Spring Game on Saturday afternoon, with the Aggie faithful cheering on from Kyle Field.

This year’s exhibition offered a preview of what’s to come in a significant 2023 college football season. Barring injuries and an abundance of inexperience like last season, the Aggies have the potential to be one of the most daunting teams in the SEC thanks to the bevy of talent they welcome back.

Fans saw that on full display in the opening moments of Saturday’s intramural game as both Conner Weigman and Max Johnson flexed their arm strength with a couple of highlight-worthy plays. Weigman, who began with the Maroon Team, connected with star receiver Evan Stewart on a beautiful over-the-shoulder throw that should have fans eager for the coming season. Expect to see that happen much more often in the fall!

Johnson, who started with the White Team, looked just as comfortable helming Bobby Petrino’s offense as he was the first to find the endzone on a perfectly thrown deep ball to Micah Tease. The pass was nice, but the pass protection from the offensive line was just as pretty as the unit looks to rebound mightily in 2023.

The game proved to be low-scoring for much of the first half and into the third quarter, as the highly talented defense was on full display early on. Walter Nolen, who figures to be a vital component of an Aggies’ talented front-seven, had a great start that was highlighted with a pass deflection and a tackle for loss in the opening half.

FINAL SCORE: Maroon Team: 19, White Team: 33

Spring ball is of course a small sample size, but Aggie fans should be encouraged by what was on display Saturday afternoon. Both QBs looked comfortable in the pocket and despite a few interceptions thrown by both Weigman and Johnson, this is the time for them to iron out the kinks.

The backfield group looks promising with Amari Daniels finding the endzone on Saturday and freshman Reuben Owens picking up a couple of first downs, a true unicorn on display. Ainias Smith put a bow on the exhibition with an incredible catch in the closing minute, proving that the rich can get richer with his return to an already scary-looking offensive unit.

Perhaps most refreshing is that this team, in particular on offense, already looks different compared to what was on display in last season’s 5-7 campaign. From utilizing two back sets to having playmakers constantly in motion, the creativity and ingenuity on offense shows how much potential this unit has in 2023. And that’s all said even with Jimbo Fisher and Bobby Petrino holding more than a few cards up their sleeve.

We won’t get ahead of ourselves, but so long as this roster stays healthy and builds on their ‘baptism by fire’ experience a year ago, it’s looking very promising over in Aggieland.

HIGHLIGHTS

The White Team finds the endzone first thanks to a beautiful connection between Max Johnson and Micah Tease:

The White Team regains the lead after Johnson finds the endzone once again, this time connecting with Fernando Garza:

Not to be outdone by the signal callers, Amari Daniels tied the score at 13 apiece thanks to a 15-yard score just before the end of the first half:

Earnest Crownover caps off the drive with a goal-line score as The White Team puts another six points on the board:

Team White cannot be stopped as Weigman connects with Pierce Turner for six:

 

And with that, the Aggies 2023 spring football program draws to a close. The next time we’ll see the Maroon and White on the field will be on September 2 when they face New Mexico to open the 2023 college football season!

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 Pete on Twitter: @PeteThreee

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Texas A&M 2023 Maroon and White Spring Game: First half highlights and reaction

The first half of Texas A&M’s 2023 Maroon and White game is in the books as both signal-callers flashed their arm strength, with a couple of highlight-worthy plays made by the defense.

Texas A&M is putting a bow on its spring football program with the 2023 Maroon and White Game, with all the action taking place at Kyle Field.

With Conner Weigman leading the Maroon Team and Max Johnson helming the White Team, both signal-callers looked comfortable in Bobby Petrino’s new offensive scheme. We even saw some beautiful ball placement in a highlight-worthy over-the-shoulder throw from Weigman to Evan Stewart early in the first quarter.

As for Johnson, it was the White Team that managed to find the endzone first thanks to a deep ball throw to Micah Tease after the senior signal-caller took advantage of excellent pass protection. Even in the spring, it’s always a welcome sight for a quarterback to air it out. Just before the end of the first half, Johnson would connect with tight end Fernando Garza for the White Team’s second touchdown of the half.

HALFTIME SCORE: Maroon Team: 13, White Team: 16

In a low-scoring first half, it was the defense that was on display with sophomore Walter Nolen, sporting a brand new #0 jersey number, coming up with a couple of big stops. The sophomore recorded both a pass-breakup and a tackle for loss through the first two quarters.

HIGHLIGHTS

The White Team finds the endzone first thanks to a beautiful connection between Max Johnson and Micah Tease:

The White Team regains the lead after Johnson finds the endzone once again, this time connecting with Fernando Garza:

Not to be outdone by the signal callers, Amari Daniels tied the score at 13 apiece thanks to a 15-yard score just before the end of the first half:

Be on the lookout for more Aggies Wire coverage once the 2023 Maroon and White game wraps up later today!

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 Pete on Twitter: @PeteThreee

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Texas A&M 2023 Maroon and White Spring Game Preview: Inactives, storylines, and more

As the Aggies prepare to kick off the 2023 Maroon and White Spring Game, we break down the latest on which players are likely to be inactive as well as storylines to follow before Saturday afternoon.

Texas A&M‘s 2023 Maroon and White Spring Game will kick off at 3:00 p.m. CT from Kyle Field in College Station, but don’t be surprised if you see the annual exhibition running a bit differently than usual. According to the latest updates, the Aggies could be without a handful of participants, in addition to playing ball with some last-minute adjustments.

Among the players that are not expected to suit up for Saturday’s exhibition include:

LT Trey Zuhn III (torn labrum surgery), C Bryce Foster (torn ACL/with A&M track team), RT Hunter Erb (shoulder surgery), OL TJ Shanahan (torn ACL), and TE Max Wright (unspecified reasons). All these players were previously ruled out for the spring.

TE Donovan Green and S Jacoby Mathews will likely be unavailable as well. Head coach Jimbo Fisher told the media earlier this week that Green, who suffered an ankle injury recently in practice, may not participate. Mathews received an indefinite suspension after university police arrested him for possession of marijuana Tuesday.

Seven other players, including offensive linemen Josh Bankhead, Jordan Spasojevic-Moko, and Aki Ogunbiyi, did not practice on Wednesday. The same goes for defensive linemen McKinnley Jackson and Fadil Diggs, WR Moose Muhammad III, and DB Bobby Taylor. Early-enrolled freshman CB Jayvon Thomas managed to only participate in a limited capacity.

All of those potential absences could leave the Aggies with fewer than 50 scholarship players for the spring game.

Additionally, there remains the small, but noteworthy, storyline regarding the condition of Kyle Field.

The ongoing construction on the south end, which is being done to add 23 new suites, will not be completed until before the upcoming football season. So for today’s game, A&M will have only 85 out of 120 possible yards on the field to use, which will be between the edge of the north end zone and the opposite 25-yard line.

As a short-term solution, head coach Jimbo Fisher noted that the Aggies will simply flip the field after each possession, which means the offense will always be moving from south to north. As a result, they will always be able to simulate kickoffs, punts, and field goals when applicable.

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 Pete on Twitter: @PeteThreee

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How to watch Texas A&M’s 2023 Maroon and White Spring Game, Date, Time, and TV Channel

The Aggies give a preview of what’s to come in 2023 with their annual Maroon and White Spring Game. We have the rundown of how you can catch the action this weekend.

Block off your calendars, tell your friends you suddenly have a ‘conflict’, and bring yourself in front of a screen this weekend because Saturday, April 15 marks Texas A&M‘s annual spring game, aka the Maroon and White game!

With still plenty of months ahead before meaningful college football arrives on our doorsteps, Saturday’s exhibition will mark the last chance to see the Aggies on the gridiron before the summer lull.

Whether you’ve been parsing every Aggies storyline through the spring or are just in need of any semblance of football to keep your day going, you’ll be in for a treat as there is no shortage of headlines taking center stage for this year’s Maroon and White game. From the quarterback battle between Conner Weigman and Max Johnson to the promising upside of the offensive line, Saturday’s action should provide some answers on who will be early impact players.

Feel free to brush up on all the latest coverage we’ve put together here at Aggies Wire throughout spring practice, and in the meantime, we have the breakdown on when and where you can catch Saturday’s exhibition:

2023 Maroon and White Spring Game

Date: Saturday, April 15

Tee time: 3:00 p.m. CT

Location: Kyle Field, College Station, TX

TV Channel / Live Stream: ESPN+, SEC Network+ (on the ESPN app)

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 Pete on Twitter: @PeteThreee

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Everything Texas A&M TE Max Wright had to say before the Aggies’ 13th spring football practice

Ahead of Texas A&M’s spring practice, the Aggies tight end spoke on a number of topics including the Maroon and White game, the QB battle, and the upside of the offensive line going forward.

As spring football begins to wind down for Texas A&M a few key members of the football program took a few minutes to sit down with the media ahead of the team’s 13th practice.

In addition to head coach Jimbo Fisher and safety Demani Richardson, tight end Max Wright answered questions for roughly 11 minutes on Tuesday. With the Aggies entering a pivotal 2023 season in a matter of months, Wright had plenty of topics to touch on from how Bobby Petrino utilizes tight ends, how Conner Weigman and Max Johnson make each other better, to the promising upside of the offensive line and its depth.

The full video of Max Wright’s press conference can be found below, as well as our breakdown of each key topic covered during his session with the media.

Everything Texas A&M safety Demani Richardson had to say before the Aggies’ 13th spring football practice

The Aggies safety spoke on topics including the Maroon and White game, QB Conner Weigman, and what factored into his decision to return to College Station.

As spring football begins to wind down for Texas A&M a few key members of the football program took a few minutes to sit down with the media ahead of the team’s 13th practice.

In addition to head coach Jimbo Fisher and tight end Max Wright, safety Demani Richardson answered questions for roughly five minutes on Tuesday. With the Aggies entering a pivotal 2023 season in a matter of months, Richardson chimed in on a variety of topics to touch on from the factors that went into his decision to return to College Station, to how his fellow teammates inspire him to perform at a high level.

The full video of Demani Richardson’s press conference can be found below, as well as our breakdown of each key topic covered during his session with the media.