Tag: Ainias Smith

Texas A&M WR Ainias Smith will enter the 2024 NFL Draft

Ainias Smith’s college career will come to an end as he declares for the 2024 NFL draft.

Today officially marks the end of an exciting era in Texas A&M football. Senior wide receiver Ainias Smith announced via social media that he will be entering the NFL draft.

There was some question after his season-ending injury if Smith would rehab and, in the draft, or return for another season. Thankfully, for the team and staff the one we call Sub-0 returned and had a stellar season during a trying time period. His leadership and toughness were qualities they will miss in the receiver room next year as the staff will look to fill that void.

Leading the Aggies in receiving during the 2023 season with 53 receptions, 795 yards, and two touchdowns, Smith still possessed one more year of collegiate eligibility due to his 2020 injury coupled with the 2020 Covid-inflicted season, but decided that his NFL future was imminent.

Smith finishes his incredible Aggie career with 2,812 yards and 23 touchdowns from scrimmage, and is ranked seventh in Texas A&M history in receiving yards (2,407).

We wish Ainias the best, and we can’t wait to watch him take the NFL by storm.

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4 Texas A&M football players chosen for All-SEC teams, highlighted by 2 first team selections

The All-SEC teams were revealed Tuesday afternoon and four Aggies were recognized for their play during the 2023 season.

The All-Southeastern Conference teams were revealed Tuesday afternoon and four Texas A&M Aggies were recognized for their play during the 2023 season.

Graduate student wide receiver Ainias Smith and junior linebacker Edgerrin Cooper were chosen for the All-SEC first team. Graduate right tackle Layden Robinson and junior defensive lineman Shemar Turner were selected for the conference’s second team.

 

Smith was a first-team selection in two separate categories: all-purpose and as a return specialist. He has hauled in at least one catch in 39 consecutive games. The versatile playmaker racked up 1,204 all-purpose yards this season with 53 receptions for 795 yards and two touchdowns.

He added 285 punt return yards and 103 kick return yards, including a career-high 131 punt return yards against Arkansas on Sept. 30. During the 34-22 win against the Razorbacks at “Jerry’s World,” he returned a punt 82 yards for a touchdown.

In 2021, Cooper was chosen for the SEC All-Freshman team. Two years later, he started at linebacker in every game for the Aggies to earn an All-SEC first-team selection. With 17 tackles for loss in 2023, Cooper ranked fifth among Power Five players. He recorded team highs of 84 total tackles and eight sacks to rank sixth and fourth in the SEC, respectively.

Robinson, who is no stranger to accolades, was picked for the conference’s second team. The 6-foot-4, 315-pound graduate student was also chosen for the SEC Community Service Team in 2023. In 2021, Robinson was picked for the Pro Football Focus All-SEC first team and the Associate Press All-SEC second team. He started in 31 consecutive games, including the first 11 contests in 2023, til he missed the regular season finale at LSU.

Turner was chosen by coaches for the Freshman All-SEC team in 2021.  This season, he earned a second-team selection by racking up 33 tackles, including 10.5 for a loss of yards, six sacks, and two forced fumbles. Among his SEC peers, Turner ranked fifth in sacks and eighth in tackles for loss.

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Aggies WR Ainias Smith will miss upcoming bowl due to injury

It has been reported that Texas A&M senior wide receiver Ainias Smith will not play in the upcoming bowl game due to a broken finger.

Texas A&M senior wide receiver Ainias Smith is already a program legend, cementing himself in the A&M record books with 2,407 career receiving yards and 23 total touchdowns, good for 7th in Aggie history.

Leading the Aggies in receiving during the 2023 season with 53 receptions, 795 yards, and two touchdowns, Smith still possesses one more year of collegiate eligibility due to his 2020 injury coupled with the 2020 Covid-inflicted season.

With all the chaos surrounding the program after Jimbo Fisher’s firing, followed by the recent hiring of Mike Elko, a very familiar face to every veteran on the roster due to his time as the Aggies defensive coordinator (2018-2021), making his upcoming decision that much more intriguing.

However, it was reported by The Eagle reporter Travis Brown that Smith reportedly sustained a broken finger in the Aggies’s loss to LSU and will not play in A&M’s upcoming bowl game, which could have been his final game in his collegiate playing career.

Nonetheless, every Aggie will be on their toes regarding Smith’s playing future in the coming weeks. If he does indeed declare for the 2024 NFL Draft, any team lucky enough to grab him is getting one of the hardest-working individuals this game has to offer.

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Post Game Recap: Texas A&M falls 42-30 to No. 14 LSU in the 2023 regular season finale

The Aggies fought hard, but couldn’t tame the Tigers in the Bayou falling for their 5th loss of the season, and 10th consecutive SEC road loss.

Texas A&M (7-5, 4-4 SEC) falls after a valiant effort to the No. 14 LSU Tigers (9-3, 6-2 SEC) at Tiger Field in Baton Rouge on Saturday morning.

It was a pretty evenly matched contest early on, with both teams getting early stops. LSU would strike first after an Aggies failed fourth down attempt, resulting in a short field for the Tigers and a 7-0 lead. Texas A&M responded with their longest drive in 9 years with a 17-play 67 touchdown drive to tie it up early in the 2nd quarter.

Randy Bond would add another three points midway through the second quarter for the Aggies 10-7 lead. With both teams heating up, Heisman hopeful Jayden Daniels marched his team downfield after a kick out of bounds that gave the Tigers a great field position. A short pass from Daniels to Nabers put the Tigers back on top 14-10.

The Aggies, wanting to double-dip, had another impressive and efficient drive closing in on halftime. With under 30 seconds left and counting, in his 1st road start, Jaylen Henderson hit Jake Johnson for a 14-yard touchdown pass for the final score of the half to go up 17-14.

Bobby Petrino was in his bag to start the second half, giving Jaylen Henderson a little more freedom, and it paid off immediately, carving up the LSU defense down to the one-yard line. To cap off the Aggies’ drive, they brought in an additional blocker for 3rd and goal. Instead of pitching it to the running back, they handed it to the big man, offensive lineman Mark Nabou, for an exciting rushing touchdown to take a 24-14 lead.

LSU answered in a big way with their own touchdown to cut the Aggie lead to 24-21. The defenses for both teams finally tightened up after the Aggie defense forced a punt. However, LSU would stop an A&M drive with an interception near midfield that led to a Tigers touchdown, and that’s when Daniels began to carve up the Aggie’s secondary like a Thanksgiving turkey.

Texas A&M would be outscored 21-6 from that point as one of the top offenses in the nation started to heat up. Late in the fourth quarter, after an A&M turnover on downs, Daniels got the sign from Brian Kelly to take a knee, which sealed the final score at 42-30 for an LSU victory.

Essentially solidifying his Heisman campaign, Jayden Daniels is one heck of a player with a bright NFL future. For the Aggies, Texas A&M Athletic Director Ross Bjork is hard at work searching for the program’s new head football coach, as the impending announcement could come at any time soon.

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Five players to watch ahead of Texas A&M vs. No. 14 LSU

Can QB Jaylen Henderson shine? Here are five players to watch ahead of Texas A&M’s season finale vs. No. 14 LSU.

We’ve sadly reached the end of the 2023 college football regular season.

Texas A&M, despite the recent turmoil stemming from former head coach Jimbo Fisher’s firing, is 7-4 and 4-3 in the SEC. It heads to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to take on the 14th-ranked LSU Tigers for an early Saturday kickoff.

In interim head coach Elijah Robinson’s first game at the helm, the longtime assistant earned his first win. The Aggies defeated Abilene Christian, 38-10, behind a solid second-half performance, which included seldom utilized wide receiver Moose Muhammad II’s 104 receiving yard performance that galvanized A&M’s offense.

This Aggie team is playing free and loose, knowing Texas A&M’s new head football coach could be announced anytime.

The Aggies are facing the best offense in college football this season. LSU’s Jayden Daniels has been lights out in SEC play, producing 4,591 total yards and 46 total touchdowns in 11 games. He deserves the Heisman Trophy. To keep him contained in the pocket, the Aggies’ competent defense will need to play its best game of the season. The offense will likely need to score 30 to 35 points to have a chance.

Who will need to step up for the Maroon & White? Here are five players to watch before Saturday’s matchup vs. No. 14 LSU.

Texas A&M WR Ainias Smith is still undecided regarding his NFL decision

On Monday, Texas A&M senior wide receiver Ainias Smith, who still has a year of eligibility remaining, revealed that he has yet to make a decision regarding his NFL future.

On Monday, Texas A&M senior wide receiver Ainias Smith was the lone player to speak to the media just two days after the Aggie’s 38-10 win over Abilene Christian on Saturday afternoon, as the 12th Man was honored during the final game in Kyle Field this season.

Joining interim head coach Elijah Robinson, Smith focused on the task at hand this week, as A&M will now travel to Baton Rouge (LA) to take on the 14th-ranked LSU Tigers to cap off the regular season, knowing that this will undoubtedly be the toughest matchup of the season facing quarterback and Heisman candidate Jayden Daniels, who has accounted for 4,000-plus yards through the air and on the ground. But don’t tell Ainias that this is a rivalry just yet!

“In a way, the media and fans have made it a rivalry.”

“It’s always going to be a tough, physical game. I wouldn’t necessarily call it a rivalry game. It’s just a hard-hitting game. It will be very intense.”

Outside of the usual preparation speak, Smith surprisingly revealed that entering the 2024 NFL Draft is not a foregone conclusion after all.

I have not made a decision yet. I will make it when I make that decision.”

With one more year of eligibility remaining, Smith did reveal after the ACU win that he had not decided if he would play in the Aggies’ bowl game, a decision primarily based on the NFL Draft.

However, the veteran receiver may be waiting to see who will succeed Jimbo Fisher in a matter of weeks, as his tremendous skill set could benefit from a more competent offensive system if the right coach is hired. Depending on who you ask, Smith is projected as a 3rd, 4th, or even 5th-round pick in next year’s draft, and it’s hard to gauge if returning for a fifth season is more beneficial than not.

Texas A&M will take on 14th-ranked LSU on Saturday, Nov. 25 at 11:00 a.m. CT., and the game will air on ESPN.

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‘We’re looking forward to the challenge this week’ Elijah Robinson speaks on the preparation for LSU

Hear what Interim Head Coach Elijah Robinson had to say in Monday’s press conference

Elijah Robinson got his first win as the Texas A&M head coach on Saturday over the ACU Wildcats and he did it his way.

While it wasn’t an overly flashy win, they got the job done after a difficult week following Jimbo Fisher’s dismissal. Even though they put up over 35 points in consecutive games, Coach Robinson knows this week will be a much more arduous task.

He acknowledged how this year’s game will be different and that LSU’s passing game is one of the best in the country led by Heisman contender Tigers QB Jayden Daniels.

“He’s extremely talented. He does a really good job. He’s a problem. He’s a true weapon. We have to be on top of our game to give ourselves a chance.”

You listen to everything Coach Robinson had to say during the entire press conference below:

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‘We are coming in with a new game plan. The confidence is there’ Ainias Smith speaks on the preparation for LSU

Hear what wide receiver Ainias Smith had to say in Monday’s press conference

The Aggies took care of business in the last home game of the season last weekend and are traveling to Death Valley to take on SEC rival LSU.

This has been a back-and-forth series and has blossomed into an intriguing rivalry over the past few years. When the Aggies entered the SEC, Arkansas was the obvious choice for a rival going all the way back to the SWC days in the 80’s. However, over the past ten years, it’s been a one-sided contest in the Aggies’ favor.

LSU and Texas A&M on the other hand have traded victories over the past six games and are 3-3. Saturday, if the Aggies can pull off the upset over the No. 14 Tigers it will be the first back-to-back win over them since 1994-1995.

Ainias Smith speaks on the possibility of returning for his final season of eligibility:

“I have not made a decision yet. I will make it when I make that decision.”

You can watch the entire press conference:

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Everything the players had to say after Texas A&M’s 38-10 win over ACU

Hear what Ainias Smith, Sam Mathews (12th Man), and McKinnley Jackson had to say after Texas A&M’s 38-10 win over ACU.

Texas A&M (7-4, 5-3 SEC) finished off their 2023 home slate in style after defeating the visiting ACU Wildcats 38-10 on Saturday afternoon, as senior day in front of the 12th Man continues to be a special outing, especially on the anniversary of the 1999 Aggie Bonfire collapse, which occurred 24 years ago to the day on Nov. 18.

Honoring the 12 Aggies who tragically passed, a remembrance ribbon was added to the A&M logo at midfield. So, how would Texas A&M respond just a week after defeating Mississippi State 51-10? Well, it could have been a better start. In the offense’s first possession, quarterback Jaylen Henderson, who was making his second consecutive start, sustained a hit to his throwing arm, causing a pick-six the other way, resulting in an early 7-0 deficit.

Tying the game at seven all after a solid 75-yard drive touchdown drive, things stalled out as the Wildcats defense continued to pressure Henderson from all sides, and if it wasn’t for wide receivers Moose Muhammad (4 receptions, 104 yards, 1 TD) and Jahdae Walker’s (4 receptions, 88 yards) huge games through the air, who knows how things could have transpired.

Taking a 17-7 lead into halftime, a quick 49-yard dime to Muhammad early in the 3rd quarter sealed the game as the Aggie’s defense held ACU to just 149 passing yards and 93 yards on the ground, only allowing three points on offense.

In the first game after Jimbo Fisher’s firing, interim head coach Elijah Robinson, accompanied by Ainias Smith, the 12th Man Sam Mathews, and McKinnley Jackson, spoke to the media to reflect on the victory, as next Saturday’s early season finale on the road vs. LSU looms large. Here is what all three players had to say after the win.

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Post Game Recap: Texas A&M downs the ACU Wildcats 38-10 at Kyle Field

The Aggies tamed the Wildcats in the second half on Senior day in the final home game of the season

On Senior Day, Texas A&M (7-4, 4-3 SEC) ran away in a big victory over the Abilene Christian University Wildcats (5-6, 3-3 UAC) at Kyle Field in Bryan-College Station on Saturday morning.

After a significant offensive output last week against Mississippi State, the Aggie offensive started to sputter out, with the offensive line giving up too many QB hits and sacks in the 1st half. They started the game with a pick-six, falling to a 7-0 deficit early in the game. Things began to look up during a six-play 75-yard drive touchdown drive to tie the game at seven a piece.

That lasted one drive as the Aggie offensive would have three straight 3-and-outs before finally getting back on the board with a 34-yard Randy Bond field goal. The defense caused another punt, and Jaylen Henderson drove the Aggies down the field for the last half score for a 17-7 lead going into the locker room.

(Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)

The Aggie came out of the half strong, marching down the field, and it was capped off by a 49-yard touchdown throw to Moose Muhammad. Then, after a few punts by both teams, the Wildcats got back on the board, cutting the lead to 24-10 early in the fourth quarter.

Transfer running back David Bailey would punch in a three-yard touchdown with about five minutes left to extend the lead to 31-10. The Maroon & White closed out the scoring when true freshman Marcel Reed hooked up with fellow freshman Jadan Platt for a 13-yard touchdown, culminating in a final score of 38-10.

Jaylen Henderson was again the offensive player of the game, going 16/23 for 260 and two touchdowns, then adding 27 yards on the ground. Freshman running back Ruben Owens also crossed the century mark with 106 yards on 18 carries with one score. Edgerrin Cooper shared the led team with Bryce Anderson and Jarred Kerr in tackles (5), and the duo combined for six tackles for loss.

The Aggies can look forward to finishing strong as they face the LSU Tigers to earn their 8th win this season.

NOTE: A bonfire remembrance ribbon was added to Kyle Field’s 50-yard-line logo.

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