Tag: amari daniels

‘Nobody wants to see that’ Texas A&M HC Mike Elko reflects on Le’Veon Moss’s injury

Texas A&M HC Mike Elko recently reflected on star running back Le’Veon Moss’s season-ending injury

Texas A&M (7-2, 5-1 SEC) will host New Mexico State on Saturday night after the Aggies’ Week 11 bye week, knowing that their path to the College Football Playoff hinges on winning their final three regular-season games.

After facing the Aggies, which looks like a blowout win on paper, A&M will head to Auburn for a tough road test next weekend. The regular season finale vs. Texas looks like the toughest game on the schedule for both teams.

However, starting on Saturday, the Aggies will be without star running back Le’Veon Moss for the rest of the year.

On Wednesday, during the weekly Aggie Football Hour, head coach Mike Elko discussed Moss’s injury and the impact it’s already had on A&M’s now thin running back room, with Amari Daniels and EJ Smith being the only scholarship back on the roster:

“Nobody wants to see that. When you see a kid who has worked as hard as he’s worked, put in everything he’s done, to have the season that he was having, and now to have to deal with the adversity of coming back from that injury, you hate it for him.”

Before his injury, Moss had an All-SEC-level season, finishing with 765 yards and ten touchdowns on the ground, averaging 6.3 yards per carry.

According to Elko, Moss completed his unspecified lower leg procedure as of Wednesday morning.

No. 15 Texas A&M will host New Mexico State on Saturday, Nov. 16. The game will air on SEC Network at 6:45 p.m. CT.

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Can Texas A&M overcome RB Le’Veon Moss’s season ending injury?

Amari Daniels and EJ Smith will need to step up over the next three games

Texas A&M’s perfect record in the SEC standings evaporated in the second half of Saturday’s 44-20 loss to South Carolina, as the Aggies were outscored and outplayed on the road in the most lopsided SEC matchup under first-year head coach Mike Elko.

Things got worse two days after the loss, as it was revealed that star running back Le’Veon Moss would miss the remainder of the season after sustaining a knee injury in the first half of Saturday’s game. On Monday, Elko spoke to the media, revealing Moss’s diagnosis while noting just how well the junior had performed before the news:

“Same thing happened with Tyreek (Chappell). When you see young people turn a corner… You hate for anyone to see adversity, but you hate to see it for those kids. You would like to reward them with a clean path.”

“It’s extremely unfortunate for him. He was having a great year.”

The Aggies still have everything in front of them, tied for first place in the SEC standings at 5-1 entering the bye week, knowing that wins against New Mexico State and Auburn (on the road) will set up a likely play-in scenario vs. Texas for a spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff.

Texas A&M’s RB room suffered a significant blow due to its paper-thin depth. Junior Amari Daniels and senior EJ Smith are the only scholarship backs on the roster, with Moss now shelved.

“I think we will try to look at everything on the table. We are confident in Amari (Daniels). EJ (Smith) will be the primary backup. At this point, everything is on the table.”

While Daniels, who has already run for 466 yards and six touchdowns, is more than skilled enough to take over, saving his touches is key down the stretch, meaning freshman athlete Terry Bussey could see snaps at running back, as Elko alluded to during the Monday presser:

“Terry (Bussey) is talented… Understanding he is still a freshman, that is maybe lost a little bit.”

“He is effective in the role he’s in, and we are trying to expand that role.”

Realistically, after the bye week, Daniels and Smith will take most of the running back snaps vs. New Mexico State in what is hopefully a short day for both players. At the same time, walk-on RB Anthony DiNota should also see time against the Aggies before Daniels and Smith play nearly every running back snap vs. Auburn and Texas.

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Texas A&M HC Mike Elko gives injury update on running back Le’Veon Moss

Texas A&M junior running back Le’Veon Moss will miss the remainder of the season

Texas A&M football coach Mike Elko opened his weekly press conference by taking responsibility for the loss and breaking the news that junior running back Le’Veon Moss will be out for the rest of the season.

“… so you guys are aware Le’Veon will be out for the year. That will be something we deal with”

This is devastating for Moss, who was on pace to make an All-SEC team. He is the engine that makes the running game so dynamic. He earned the starting spot when Rueben Owens was lost for the year before the season began, and he has been the workhorse for 10 weeks.

Amari Daniels will carry the load with EJ Smith, but the Aggies will have to rethink their play calling now that they are missing their offensive MVP.

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Texas A&M star RB carted off with injury vs. South Carolina

With a reported knee injury, Texas A&M star RB Le’Veon Moss was carted off the field in the first half against South Carolina

Texas A&M’s Week 10 road test vs. South Carolina has been all Gamecocks thus far, as the Aggies quickly fell behind 14-0 before two Randy Bond Field goals cut the lead to 17-6 with just over eight minutes remaining in the first half.

However, the Aggies are now dealing with a possibly serious injury to star junior running back Le’Veon Moss, who, after catching a pass from quarterback Marcel Reed, was hit low out of bounds and stayed on the ground for a sustained period of time.

After being helped off the field without putting any pressure on what looked to be his right knee, Moss stayed in the injury tent for the rest of the first quarter while the training staff requested a cart. While any speculation is inappropriate now, it does not look good for the star back.

Through eight games this season, Moss has run for 757 yards and ten touchdowns, averaging 6.4 yards per rush.

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Texas A&M’s running game has vastly improved compared to last season

Texas A&M’s running game has been borderline elite in the last two weeks

Texas A&M’s 33-20 SEC road win over the Florida Gators was critical for many reasons, starting with the fact that the Aggies had not won a conference road game in over three seasons, while head coach Mike Elko earned his first SEC win.

In a game dominated by the Aggie offense, the quarterback drama regarding starter Conner Weigman’s shoulder injury led to backup Marcel Reed making his first career start. The redshirt freshman’s poise and athleticism helped open up the playbook for OC Collin Klein.

While Reed was excellent from the pocket, A&M’s running game dominated the day, rushing for 310 yards, including 84 from Reed. In comparison, junior running backs Le’Veon Moss and Amari Daniels accounted for 178 yards on 31 carries.

The Aggies eclipsed 300-plus yards rushing for the second straight weekend, mainly due to better run blocking and Klein’s scheme. After three weeks of play, Texas A&M’s rushing attack is ranked 9th nationally with 263 yards per game, ranked as the second SEC team behind Tennessee, ranked 3rd with 333 per contest.

Three weeks of play isn’t a large enough sample size to say that this group is elite, but compared to last season’s 90th-ranked unit, only averaging 136 yards per game, this is a huge improvement under Klein and O-line coach Adam Cushing.

So far this season, Texas A&M has run for 787 yards for 6.02 yards per rush, and seven rushing touchdowns.

Texas A&M will host Bowling Green on Saturday, Sept. 21. The game will be available to stream on ESPN+ and SEC Network+.

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Junior RB Le’Veon Moss featured in our Texas A&M Countdown to Kickoff

Junior RB Le’Veon Moss starts as the player to watch in our countdown to the 2024 season opener vs. Notre Dame

The countdown to Texas A&M’s 2024 season opener against Notre Dame is nearing single digits.

Ten days remain before the 7th-ranked Fighting Irish head to College Station for a primetime showdown. New Aggies head coach Mike Elko has completed the long journey to accepting the position, going through his first offseason, and finishing his first fall practice period with the team this month.

Progress has been made on both sides of the ball, as starting quarterback Conner Weigman looks bigger, stronger, and more confident. At the same time, A&M’s stacked defensive line possesses elite talent and depth, as Elko and defensive coordinator Jay Bateman can rotate players throughout the season.

Aggies Wire will focus on one player daily for the next ten days, ranking the Top 10 players on the 2024 roster. Today, junior running back Le’Veon Moss takes center stage.

Entering his third season with the program, sophomore running back Rueben Owen’s season-ending injury immediately placed Moss in the starting role. Fellow junior back Amari Daniels and veteran EJ Smith will rotate in when needed.

At 6-0 and 215 pounds, Moss’s vision, strength, and 2nd level burst set him apart as an every-down back when healthy, as the junior missed several games last season due to various injuries, while the Aggie offensive line failed to open holes once SEC play began.

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Still, Moss still ran for nearly 500 yards and five touchdowns on 96 carries. Suppose A&M’s O-line can steadily improve after an infusion of talent from the transfer portal. In that case, Moss has a chance to consistently bully second-level defenders and set the offensive tone early, often to achieve a balanced offense in OC Collin Klein’s innovative scheme.

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Texas A&M HC Mike Elko provides update on RB Rueben Owen’s injury status

Mike Elko’s confirms that RB Rueben Owens will likely miss the entire 2024 season

Minutes after the conclusion of Texas A&M’s 14th fall football practice before the 2024 season, head coach Mike Elko, along with offensive coordinator Collin Klein and defensive coordinator Jay Bateman, spoke to the local media to provide a conclusive overview of how his 2024 roster performed this month.

With the season opener vs. Notre Dame just two weeks away, Elko provided an update regarding the injury status of sophomore running back Rueben Owens. Owens sustained a lower-body injury during last Saturday’s scrimmage that several reporters deemed season-ending.

Well, for those who were waiting for confirmation from the man in charge, Elko has confirmed that Owens is expected to miss the entire 2024 season but may have a chance to come back if the Aggies make it to the postseason, which could possibly include a berth to the college football playoffs.

“Unfortunately, he suffered a foot injury. He will be out for an extended period of time, most likely the season.”

“That was an unfortunate thing that happened last weekend.”

During the 2023 season, Owens was selected to the SEC All-Freshman team while leading the conference in all-purpose yards (743), rushing yards (385), and kick return yards (249) among true freshman backs.

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Will freshman ATH Terry Bussey play a key role in Texas A&M’s offense this season?

Terry Bussey could be a candidate to make the switch to running back this season

On Sunday, it was announced that Texas A&M sophomore running back Rueben Owens is expected to miss the 2024 regular season after sustaining a lower-body injury during the Aggie’s Saturday scrimmage.

However, his official injury timetable is still unclear before head coach Mike Elko speaks this weekend during the next media availability.

Suppose Owens indeed misses the entire 2024 campaign. In that case, one name has emerged as a possible candidate to move over to the running back room this fall, as juniors Le’Veon Moss and Amari Daniels join former Stanford senior back EJ Smith as the three scholarship running backs on the roster.

As the top-ranked commitment in A&M’s 2024 recruiting class, former 5-star athlete Terry Bussey has continued to impress the coaching staff and present media this week during the 10th fall practice. Due to his elite versatility, could a switch to running back if depth becomes an issue be in the works?

Standing at 6-0 and 195 pounds, Bussey’s speed, footwork, and instincts as a dual-threat quarterback and cornerback during his historic high school career make him a viable candidate to potentially juke defenders this season in the backfield this season.

While this is pure speculation at this time, it’s fair to note that his skillset to make the move shouldn’t come into question. Bussey rushed for 5,361 yards while accumulating 169 touchdowns during his Tipson career.

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Texas A&M HC Mike Elko releases statment regarding Rueben Owen’s reported injury

Mike Elko will provide a more concise answer during the next media availability

As reported by ESPN’s Max Olson on Sunday afternoon, Texas A&M sophomore running back Rueben Owens is expected to miss the 2024 regular season after sustaining a lower-body injury during Saturday’s closed scrimmage.

This resulted in an immediate reaction from the Aggie fan base, and hearing from the head coach about the manner is all that matters going forward. GigEm247’s Carter Karels also noted that no official timetable regarding Owen’s injury has been set outside the season-ending expectation.

However, just hours after the news broke, Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko released a brief statement about the reported injury. The next team press conference is set for Saturday, August 17.

“Rueben Owens suffered a lower leg injury in our scrimmage on Saturday (Aug. 10). I will address his injury at my next media availability.”

Without speculating, Olson’s reporting on the situation should be trusted. If Owen’s is truly lost for the entire season, Texas A&M is now down to three scholarship running backs, including Amari Daniels and Le’Veon Moss, while former Stanford versatile running back EJ Smith.

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Texas A&M’s running back room after Rueben Owens’s season ending injury

With Rueben Owens now sidelined, Texas A&M will rely on three scholarship running backs

Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko was dealt a significant blow this weekend. ESPN’s Max Olson reported that sophomore running back Rueben Owens, who was slated to earn a starting spot this fall, is expected to miss the season after suffering a lower-body injury. However, an official timetable has yet to be revealed.

Suddenly thin in the backfield, Elko and new offensive coordinator Collin Klein will have to rely on three scholarship backs, including juniors Le’Veon Moss, Amari Daniels, and former Stanford RB and son of Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith, EJ Smith, who now looks like one of the more important offseason acquisitions.

Owens, who was the No. 2-ranked running back prospect in the 2023 recruiting class, is by far one of the best athletes on the roster, as his versatility as a pass catcher will likely create a major hole in Klein’s scheme if one of the three backs listed can’t replicate his production.

Here is what each back offers from a skill perspective:

Amari Daniels

Daniels is a downhill runner with excellent balance and impressive second-level agility. After recording 105 carries for 532 yards and six touchdowns, Daniels possesses a workhorse mentality and will be relied on more than ever to move the chains in the rotation.

Le’Veon Moss

Moss’s recent injury issues cause some concern for the fan base, but let’s be clear: this young man is talented enough to carry the load if asked. Size, toughness, and impressive second-level acceleration likely make him the next man in Owen’s absence. In nine games last season, Moss recorded 484 rushing yards and five touchdowns in 96 carries.

EJ Smith 

The son of former Dallas Cowboys legend Emmitt Smith, EJ Smith’s injury-riddled career at Stanford resulted in just 557 rushing yards and five touchdowns during his last four seasons. However, one intriguing stat during the 2023 campaign was in the passing game, as Smith hauled in 33 receptions and 242 receiving yards. Smith’s soft hands and route-running prowess will likely result in a large snap uptick as a versatile receiving back in certain packages.

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