Tag: arkansas razorbacks football

Breaking: 4-star DL Kendall Jackson commits to Texas A&M after flipping from Miami and Florida

Johnny Manziel isn’t walking through that door but Aggies coach Mike Elko has been making money moves since coming home to College Station.

Johnny Manziel isn’t walking through that door but new Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko has been making money moves since coming home to College Station.

Elko’s latest move is a big one. 4-star defensive lineman recruit Kendall “Hollywood” Jackson committed to the Aggies on Tuesday afternoon.

“I want to thank my coaches, coach Wade and coach Bell, all my coaches. I appreciate y’all for these last four years. Y’all have been an integral part of my life today,” Jackson said Tuesday at a news conference held at Buchholz High School. “With that being said, I did post that I won’t be signing with Miami today. For the next three to four years, I’m taking my talents to Texas A&M.”

On July 12, the Gainsville, Fla. native initially committed to stay home and attend the University of Florida. He decommitted from the Gators on Dec. 2. One week later, he committed to the University of Miami.

Five minutes before holding a news conference to announce his decision Tuesday, Jackson announced via X that he would not be signing with the Hurricanes after all. He is 6-foot-4, 250 pounds and has 19 total offers.

Jackson’s taken four visits so far to Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky and Miami. Elko hired Sean Spencer from Florida as the new Texas A&M defensive line coach on Dec. 3. The hiring appears to be already paying major dividends with the commitment of Jackson this week.

The college football early signing period begins Wednesday and ends Friday.

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Early Reaction: The 2024 Texas A&M football schedule provides a path to the College Football Playoff

The Aggies will have seven home games at Kyle Field, four road contests and one neutral site matchup, deep in the heart of Texas. What’s most encouraging about the schedule is that the most difficult games on paper, will all be played in College Station.

The 2024 Texas A&M football schedule was released on Wednesday evening and it may be extremely early, but the slate is simple yet encouraging.

The Aggies will have seven home games at Kyle Field, four road contests and one neutral site matchup, deep in the heart of Texas. What’s most encouraging about the schedule is that the most difficult games on paper, will all be played in College Station.

New head coach Mike Elko will see a familiar face on the opposing sideline to begin the new campaign. On Aug. 31, Texas A&M hosts Notre Dame, led by senior quarterback Riley Leonard, who recently transferred to South Bend in the portal following the departure of Elko from Durham.

The Aggies will remain at Kyle Field the following week and play McNeese State. Texas A&M begins SEC competition on Sept. 14 at Florida. The Aggies return home to battle Bowling Green in week four.

The Southwest Classic is back on Sept. 28. Texas A&M will travel three hours north to play Arkansas at AT&T Stadium. The Aggies defeated the Razorbacks 34-22 at Jerry’s World this season.

Texas A&M hosts Missouri on Oct. 5 in its SEC home opener then has its first bye week. The Aggies will play at Mississippi State on Oct. 19.

If Texas A&M defeats Notre Dame to begin the season, the Aggies could be undefeated entering a home game against LSU on Oct. 26. With Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels likely departing for the 2024 NFL Draft, Texas A&M may be betting favorites entering this SEC showdown.

The Aggies play at South Carolina on Nov. 2, have their second bye the following week, then host New Mexico State on Nov. 16. The final road game of the regular season is at Auburn on Nov. 23.

Days after giving thanks on Turkey Day, the Lone Star Showdown officially returns after a decade-plus, which is certainly something to be thankful for. Texas A&M hosts the University of Texas on Nov. 30 at Kyle Field. The Longhorns will be competing for a national championship to conclude 2023 as 1-of-4 teams to qualify for the College Football Playoff.

With the CFP expanding to 12 teams in 2024, the Aggies’ chances of making it have tripled. Therefore, if Texas A&M plays its cards right, the Texas Series could not only be for a berth to the SEC championship but perhaps an opportunity to bring home to College Station the first national title in nearly a century.

Without Alabama or Georgia on their 2024 regular season schedule, the Aggies have a clear path to competing for a national championship next season. Whether or not they capitalize on that opportunity is to be seen.

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SEC schedule dates to be released at 6 p.m. CT on Wednesday night

The Longhorns 2024 conference schedule dates are set to be revealed Wednesday night on the SEC Network.

The Texas Longhorns will play in a different conference next season. On Wednesday night we will learn what days they will play their scheduled 2024 opponents.

The Longhorns opponents were revealed prior to the team’s impressive 2023 season. We know the team’s home and away opponents. Famously, the SEC designated Texas A&M and Arkansas as home teams against Texas. The Longhorns are also set to face Vanderbilt, Oklahoma (Dallas) and Michigan away from Austin.

The bulk of Texas’ schedule will take place at home. The team will play host to Georgia, Florida, Mississippi State, Kentucky, Colorado State, Louisiana-Monroe and UTSA in 2024.

Schedule dates for the Georgia, Arkansas and Texas A&M games have been released. Texas will face Georgia on Oct. 19, Arkansas on Nov. 16 and Texas A&M in Nov. 30. Facing classic rivals Arkansas and Texas A&M within a two week span has to excite the fanbase heading into 2024.

The team’s first SEC schedule is more favorable than the team it enters the league with this season. Though, in fairness to Texas, the Longhorns have Michigan in their nonconference slate.

Oklahoma will have to face LSU, Ole Miss, Missouri and Auburn on the road with just three true home games against Alabama, Tennessee and South Carolina. Their neutral site game against Texas will count as their fourth home game.

Where Texas’ games land might determine how favorable the Longhorns’ schedule will be next season. The schedule reveal will take place at 6 p.m. CT on SEC Network and ESPN.

Former Texas A&M OC reveals Jimbo Fisher’s offensive flaws

After just one year as Texas A&M’s offensive coordinator, Bobby Petrino has spilled the beans regarding Jimbo Fisher’s need to control the offense.

It felt like just yesterday that Texas A&M made media waves after hiring controversial yet productive coach Bobby Petrino as the program’s new offensive coordinator, as then-head coach Jimbo Fisher was essentially forced to give up play-calling duties to save his Aggie Career.

With Jimbo Fisher out the door, new Aggies head coach Mike Elko has already made several staff changes, including the dismissal of Bobby Petrino after just one season. However, blaming Petrino for any issues that plagued the Aggies offense this season is unfair, as Fisher’s need to maintain complete control over the playbook hindered any significant progress.

After leaving the program, Petrino received an offer from Arkansas and head coach Sam Pittman to return to Fayetteville after over a decade. Yes, this transition is ironic, but it might be a perfect fit, as Pittman will surely hand over the offense to Petrino.

On Wednesday, in his first interview with Hogs Plus, Petrino finally revealed what many of us already suspected regarding Jimbo Fisher’s need to maintain offensive control in 2023:

“Jimbo wanted to keep his terminology, and I did not sleep for months. It was hard. It was studying every night, trying to figure this out ā€” why are we calling it this way?”

What’s becoming clearer day after day is that if Fisher were to hire an above-average offensive line coach and a special teams coordinator, coupled with turning the offense over to Petrino in its entirety, he might have just saved his Aggie coaching career.

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Source: Bobby Petrino has agreed to terms to become Arkansas’ new offensive coordinator

After not being retained under Mike Elko at Texas A&M, Bobby Petrino will reportedly return to Arkansas as the program’s new OC.

With the hiring of new Texas A&M Football head coach Mike Elko, swift changes would begin as soon as Tuesday, as several assistant coaches who served under then-head coach Jimbo Fisher will not be retained under Elko heading into the 2024 season.

After it was announced that Aggies wide receiver/quarterback coach Dameyune Craig would not be retained under Elko, veteran offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino, who was hired just one year ago after then-head coach Jimbo Fisher was pressured to turn over the offensive play-calling duties.

Despite minor improvements, in-season issues mounted, specifically quarterback Conner Weigman’s season-ending injury, which destroyed any consistency coupled with horrendous offensive line play. The fact that Petrino will not remain in College Station is no surprise, given Elko’s need to build the staff his image; Petrino’s future might lead him back to his old stomping grounds, the Arkansas Razorbacks.

According to ESPN insider Pete Thamel, Arkansas and current head coach Sam Pittman are vetting the situation and hiring Petrino for the same postion with the Razorbacks. As of Tuesday afternoon, ESPN’s Chris Low has confirmed that Petrino will, in fact, return to Arkansas as the program’s new offensive coordinator.

In four seasons as Arkansas’s head coach (2008-2011), including several controversial moments, Petrino noted as an offensive guru of his time, led the Razorbacks to a 34-17 overall record, including a Cotton Bowl win after an 11-2 finish in 2011.

With Bobby Petrino’s return to Arkansas, I can only say that the memes will be incredible, and he may save Sam Pittman’s head coaching career.

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With Arkansas HC Sam Pittman’s future hanging in the balance, he could, and should be the Aggies next O-line coach

It’s bad in Fayetteville, and with head coach Sam Pittman’s murky future at the helm, Texas A&M may require a new O-line coach.

Things are as bad as they can be down in Fayetteville (AR) as the Arkansas Razorbacks (2-6, 0-5 SEC) are experiencing what Texas A&M went through in 2022, as the Aggies memorably finished 5-7 and 2-6 in the SEC.

However, after falling to Mississippi State 7-3 in one of the ugliest games of the season, Arkansas and embattled head coach Sam Pittman have dropped five straight SEC matchups and will need to win out to reach bowl eligibility. Due to poor play on offense despite having senior quarterback K.J Jefferson at the helm, offensive coordinator Dan Enos has now been relieved of his duties. Pittman’s future may permanently tumble unless things change in the next four weeks.

Now, in relation to Texas A&M, who currently sits at 4-3 and 2-2 in the SEC, it’s not like the sun is shining bright in Aggieland, dropping two consecutive games in painfully close and winnable losses to Alabama and Tennessee before entering their bye week. Hosting South Carolina next Saturday, the Aggies’ 10th-ranked defense has been stellar. Still, the offense, specifically the porous offensive line play, has placed second-year O-line coach Steve Addazio in the coaching doghouse.

Here’s where Pittman comes into the picture: Before becoming Arkansas’s head coach at the start of the 2020 season, we’re talking about one of the greatest offensive line coaches in college football history, including nearly 40 years of O-line experience, including his recent successful three-year stint at Georgia under head coach Kirby Smart, as the Bulldogs consistently ranked as the best-rushing offenses, while multiple linemen were selected in the early round of the NFL Draft.

On top of his tremendous coaching in the trenches, Pittman’s recruiting prowess helped the Bulldogs secure several top-rated classes while becoming a favorite among players. Texas A&M’s core issues among the current O-line is based on development, as the talent level is top-tier compared to most SEC programs. For all five starters to reach their potential, coupled with a level of consistency, that takes coaching, something Pittman possesses in droves.

Again, we have yet to determine how things will unfold in the coming months regarding his future with the Razorbacks, but if things do indeed go south, Jimbo needs to pick up the phone.

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Kirk Herbstreit ranks Texas A&M as one of his top performing teams in Week 5

After an impressive performance in the win against Arkansas, CFB analyst Kirk Herbstreit ranked Texas A&M as one of the top teams in Week 5.

ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit, who, after years of doubting Texas A&M and head coach Jimbo Fisher year after year, has finally heaped some much-deserved praise on an Aggie team that currently sits at 4-1 and 2-0 in the SEC, fresh off their defining 34-22 win over Arkansas last weekend.

Led by new starting quarterback Max Johnson (17/28, 210 yards, 2 TD) and wide receiver/special teams superstar Ainias Smith (4 rec, 71 yards, 85-yard punt return TD), the Aggies offense had a respectable outing despite three turnovers. Still, the defense stole the show, recording seven sacks and 15 tackles for loss for the second straight game, holding the Razorbacks to 174 yards on the afternoon.

With the juggernaut that is the Alabama Crimson Tide coming to College Station this Saturday, the Aggies know that despite their recent success in the SEC play, this remains the matchup that could define the trajectory of their 2023 season. So, how impressed was Herbstreit after demolishing the Razorbacks? Only the Ole Miss Rebel’s 55-49 shootout victory over LSU deserved more praise, as the Aggies clocked in at No. 2 in his Top seven performers list.

Saturday’s outcome will ultimately tell us just how high Texas A&M’s ceiling is this season and who will likely reign supreme in the SEC West come late November.

Texas A&M will host No.10 Alabama on Saturday, Oct. 7, at 2:30 p.m. CT, inside Kyle Field (TV: CBS).

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Texas A&M wide receiver Ainias Smith is named SEC Special Teams Player of the Week

Ainias Smith returns to AT&T stadium and blows pass Arkansas earning SEC Special Teams Player of the Week

A year ago, Ainias Smith was having a productive season with the NFL Draft lingering in the back of his head until that came to a screeching halt. While trying to help block, Smith got caught in a little bit of traffic, resulting in a season-ending leg injury.

After some deliberation, Smith returned to Aggieland for his senior season to take care of some unfinished business. Stop one was redemption at Jerry’s World during the Southwest Classic against the Arkansas Razorbacks. Smith did not disappoint in his arrival back in Arlington.

The elusive wideout led the team in team in receptions and receiving yards, but he did most of his damage in the return game. Smith had four punt return opportunities and scored 131 yards and one touchdown. None was more electrifying than his 82 return that put the Aggies up 34-16, essentially putting the game out of reach.

For the effort, which is a blueprint of what’s to come for the rest of the 2023 season, Ainias “Sub-Zero” Smith ran away with the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week.

Congratulations, Ainias!

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For Ainias Smith, Texas A&M’s win over Arkansas was a moment of redemption

After his 2022 season ending injury, Ainias Smith vowed to “run it back.” The senior did so figuratively, and literally, in a huge redemption moment vs. Arkansas.

Roughly 365 days removed from a disheartening injury that ended his 2022 season, Texas A&M wide receiver Ainias Smith got a dose of redemption over the weekend.

The Aggies’ 34-22 win over Arkansas marked their 11th victory in the last 12 matchups of the Southwest Classic. It moved the Maroon and White to 2-0 in SEC play amid a pivotal turnaround season. And it aptly gave Sub Zero his “revenge back on that turf.”

When A&M last faced Arkansas in 2022, the Aggies walked away with a thrilling 23-21 victory that proved to be bittersweet. When blocking downfield, Smith was rolled up on before being helped off the field in the victory. After the game, it was revealed he suffered a fracture in his right leg, effectively ending his season and forcing the Aggies to be without their dynamic weapon.

Given the severity of the injury, as well as A&M’s eventual 5-7 finish, Smith’s future in Aggieland remained unclear. But with an extra year of eligibility at his disposal, Sub Zero made it clear that he was unsatisfied with how his season came to an end. The senior announced he would return in 2023, proclaiming, “Aggie nation, let’s run it back!”

On Saturday, Smith indeed ran it back, both figuratively and literally. In what was his breakout performance of the season, he finished with a team-high 71 receiving yards on four receptions. While he didn’t find the end zone as a receiver, he scored six points by none other than flexing his skillset on special teams.

With 7:40 left to go in the fourth quarter, Smith returned a punt for an 82-yard score, giving the Aggies a 34-16 lead that they would never surrender. In what proved to be the nail in the coffin for the Razorbacks, Smith exemplified why he’s one of Texas A&M’s greatest leaders, both on and off the field.

A&M has had no shortage of adversity this season, but overcoming those obstacles is much easier when you have a bonafide leader in tow. The Aggies saw that to the fullest on Saturday, as Smith dispelled any demons from last year’s injury. Sub-Zero noted that just walking into the stadium, he felt it would be a special game.

It takes not only physical work but mental fortitude to come back from such trials and tribulations. Given everything that he’s gone through in the last year, as well as all that he’s given to A&M, Smith deserves all the success that comes his way. The revenge tour in 2023 is real, and it’s not stopping anytime soon.

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Texas A&M left tackle Trey Zuhn is already an elite blind side protector

Starting left tackle Trey Zuhn has continued to improve week to week, grading out as one of the top pass protectors in his last three games.

Texas A&M (4-1, 2-0 SEC) defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks (2-3, 0-2 SEC) 34-22 on Saturday behind a prolific defensive effort, which included seven sacks and 15 tackles for loss for the second consecutive weeks, limiting the Razorbacks usually high-octane offense to 174 total yards.

Overall, Texas A&M’s offense, led by new signal caller Max Johnson (17/28, 210 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT) and ascending running back Le’Veon Moss (17 car, 107 yards), paved the way for a solid 414-yard day. At the same time, a clean pocket aided Johnson’s efficient play due to elite pass protection from redshirt sophomore left tackle Trey Zuhn.

As a sports journalist, PFF’s collegiate week-to-week pass protection grades are one of my go-to metrics for offensive line play, leading to the best outing for Zuhn in his current four-game span against the Razorbacks, recording a borderline elite 89.5 pass protection grade without allowing a sack or a pressure on the afternoon.

Even more impressive, Zuhn’s lowest grade (54.9) came in the Aggies’ loss to Miami in Week 2, a game that was a collective poor effort in the trenches. His current pass pro grading before this weekend includes 82.0 against New Mexico, 85.6 against Lousiana Monroe, and 79.4 against Auburn for a cumulative grade of 79.7. Oh, and through 104 pass-blocking reps, he hasn’t allowed a single sack.

No doubt about it: greatness is earned through hard work and repetition, and through all the trials and tribulations Trey Zuhn has been through in his short Aggie career, head coach Jimbo Fisher and O-line coach Steven Addazio have a consistent presence at one of the most critical positions in the game.

Texas A&M will host No.10 Alabama on Saturday, Oct. 7, at 2:30 p.m. CT, inside Kyle Field (TV: CBS).

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