Tag: Conner Weigman

ESPN identifies Texas A&M’s quarterback room as its biggest strength entering 2024 season

“The upside of all those quarterbacks getting thrown into the fire due to injuries is that there’s now a solid QB room full of confidence.”

ESPN college football reporters identified the biggest strengths of college football’s top 25 teams on Wednesday.

Coming in at No. 25, Texas A&M‘s biggest strength entering the 2024 season is its quarterbacks, according to Dave Wilson.

“The Aggies have been trying to find the right man for the job since the departure of Kellen Mond in 2020, and Jimbo Fisher‘s complex offense — combined with a struggling offensive line — did them no favors,” Wilson wrote. “But the upside of all those quarterbacks getting thrown into the fire due to injuries is that there’s now a solid QB room full of confidence.

“Starter Conner Weigman threw for 979 yards, 8 TDs and 2 INTs in four starts with a 68.9 completion percentage. Unheralded Fresno State transfer Jaylen Henderson got the job after an injury to backup Max Johnson, and Henderson completed 67.9 percent for 715 yards and 6 TDs to 2 INTs. When Henderson was hurt on the first play of the Texas Bowl against Oklahoma State, true freshman Marcel Reed completed 20-of-33 passes for 361 yards and added a 20-yard TD run.

“New offensive coordinator Collin Klein molded Will Howard and Avery Johnson before departing for College Station and Weigman could be the best Aggies quarterback since Johnny Manziel if he lives up to his potential.”

Johnny Football didn’t quite live up to the hype in the NFL, but will Weigman do so at the college level, led by new head coach Mike Elko? We’ll all find out together beginning on Aug. 31.

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

Opinion: Should Texas A&M players opt-in their NIL to appear in EA Sports College Football 25?

Starting on Thursday, athletes around the nation can opt-in to their NIL rights to appear in the upcoming game per On3 reporter Pete Nakos.

After 11 long years, EA Sports will finally be releasing a brand new NCAA college football video game later this year.

It will reportedly be renamed from “NCAA College Football 25” to “EA Sports College Football 25.” Starting on Thursday, student-athletes around the nation can opt-in to their NIL rights to appear in the upcoming game per On3 college sports business & transfer portal reporter Pete Nakos.

According to multiple reports, the players are being offered $600 and a copy of the game for their respective appearance fees. Six Benjamins and the game is a cool offer, considering that college football players from 1993 to 2013 didn’t receive a dime for their NIL. But this news leads to larger questions.

Should Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko encourage all of his players to participate? Should star players like junior quarterback Conner Weigman and sophomore linebacker Taurean York take the initial offer?

This CFB franchise’s return is highly anticipated, but it’s also been gone for 11 years. Therefore, current college football players likely haven’t grown up playing it as much as those from a decade ago, minimizing the nostalgia factor.

If I were a primetime player, I would try to maximize my NIL rights. Worst case scenario, you end up like Bill Belichick in Madden, it’s worth the risk.

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

Texas A&M cracks ESPN’s way-too-early Top 25 rankings

Texas A&M has received a dose of preseason hype, as ESPN’s Mark Schlabach placed the Aggies wining his newest 2024 Top 25 rankings.

The Mike Elko era at Texas A&M is filled with high expectations. Still, this time, said expectations feel much more rooted in reality, as the former Duke head coach is determined to bring the Aggies back to contention with a blend of toughness and determination coupled with yearly development.

Heading into his inaugural season, it’s okay to be unsure of how things will transpire on the gridiron, but after acquiring 22 players from the transfer portal while closing out the 2024 recruiting class with multiple key singing, including 5-star athlete Terry Bussey, we could be looking at a nine, or possible ten win season right out of the gate.

Avoiding Alabama and Ole Miss this coming season, Texas A&M’s schedule is manageable, barring overall health and how things translate on the field after six years under Jimbo Fisher. However, with the return of talented quarterback Conner Weigman and senior defensive lineman Shemar Turner to the fold, plenty of leadership presides on both sides of the ball.

On Tuesday, ESPN senior writer Mark Schlabach released his new “Way-Too-Early” Top 25 college football rankings, and what may come as a surprise to some of the Aggies fan base, Texas A&M comes in right at the finished line at No. 25. Here’s what Schlabach had to say about their inclusion:

“A little discipline and structure might go a long way at Texas A&M, which lost its footing under former coach Jimbo Fisher. New Aggies coach Mike Elko knows the program well after working as Fisher’s defensive coordinator from 2019 to 2021. Elko inherited a talented roster and added several key players through the portal.

Quarterback Conner Weigman gets new life and might flourish under new coordinator Collin Klein. The Aggies will have to identify a No. 1 receiver during the spring. Purdue transfer Nic Scourton led the Big Ten with 10 sacks last season, and Alabama cornerback Dezz Ricks is among eight defensive back additions through the portal. Versatile freshman Terry Bussey will start his college career in the secondary.”

While Nic Scourton and Dezz Ricks certainly stand out as the more intriguing portal additions, others, including cornerbacks Will Lee Jr., BJ Mayes, and Donovan Saunders, all possess the size and experience in the secondary that it is in dire need of a makeover after last year’s struggles.

Another underrated storyline resides at wide receiver, as the departure of Ainais Smith (NFL Draft) and Evan Stewart (transferred to Oregon) leaves a new opening at the No. 1 spot, as Moose Muhammad III, Jahdae Walker, and Noah Thomas will compete for the position starting next month, keep an eye on former Louisiana Tech WR Cyrus Allen, who brings a wealth of experience, speed and versatility to the table.

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.

Where does Jackson Arnold rank in early 2024 Heisman odds according to Fan Duel?

Jackson Arnold is already getting some preseason Heisman buzz before his first year as a starter.

If you think [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] is going to win the [autotag]Heisman[/autotag] in 2024, now is the time to bet on it. You probably won’t see the odds this low again if he has the season you think he’s going to have.

Arnold is heading into his first year as the starting quarterback for the Oklahoma Sooners. The sophomore quarterback showed flashes in games last year. Even though his bowl game was soured with all of the turnovers, he showed in that game why people are so high on him and his ability.

He’s definitely got all of the makings to be Oklahoma’s next great quarterback and Heisman contender. Arnold’s going to have plenty of opportunities to show out against several high-quality opponents.

So where does Arnold land in 2024 Heisman odds according to Fan Duel Sportsbook? Let’s take a look at the early contenders.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”3006″ ] Fan Duel

Here are the Top 5 Texas A&M offensive players that need to show out this spring

Ahead of spring football, here are five Texas A&M offensive players who need to improve, starting next month.

It may be early in the offseason, but Texas A&M’s spring football season is less than a month away, and all eyes will be on how new head coach Mike Elko and his impressive coaching staff will help the offense, especially quarterback Conner Weigman, take the next step in their development.

After adding 22 veteran players from the transfer portal, the Aggies’ roster looks better by the day. Still, until the newcomers prove themselves on the field, the returning players from last season will define the 2024 campaign.

Focusing on the offense, Weigman’s return from the lower body injury that resulted in him missing the Aggies’ final nine games will take center stage as soon as spring practices begin, but due to consistent poor play on the offensive line, how new O-line coach Adam Cushing will fix said issues will be telling, and likely result in the offense’s success, or failure starting in September.

Here are the top 5 Texas A&M players on offense who need to show up and show out this spring, heading into the 2024 season.

Win projections for every SEC team in 2024

Here are the projected win totals for every SEC team entering the 2024 college football season, according to Fan Duel.

College football realignment has reached the forefront for nearly every major conference heading into the 2024 season, especially in the SEC. Texas and Oklahoma will officially leave the Big 12 to join what is still considered the toughest conference in college football.

While the Texas Longhorns were just a play away from facing the Michigan Wolverines in the National Championship game, it just wasn’t meant to be, and entering their first season in the SEC, the road only gets tougher compared to some of the softer defenses the Longhorns have faced during their time in the Big 12.

Recruiting-wise, NIL plus the evergrowing transfer portal are just a few headaches every SEC head coach will continue to deal with until regulations are eventually imposed. Still, hey, I can’t say it isn’t entertaining.

For Texas A&M, new head coach Mike Elko has already proven his recruiting chops after signing the Aggies’ three remaining targets, including 2024 5-star athlete Terry Bussey. Combined with 22 incoming transfers, Texas A&M’s chances of earning their first nine, or possibly ten-win season in 2024 is more realistic than some may think.

This week, Fan Duel released its win total projections for every SEC team, which will likely lead to a plethora of “hot takes” for certain programs that will likely perform much better or worse than said projections come Fall.

With that, here is every projected win total for all 16 SEC teams, according to Fan Duel.

Texas A&M is ranked as a Top 18 team in ESPN’s returning production rankings for the 2024 CFB season

Ahead of HC Mike Elko’s first season at the helm, Texas A&M is ranked in the Top 18 in Bill Connelly’s (ESPN) returning production rankings.

Texas A&M Football is entering a new era under head coach Mike Elko, as his inaugural 2024 season is now just seven months away, and Aggie fans couldn’t be more excited to see what he can bring to the job.

While A&M’s 2024 schedule avoids the likes of Alabama and Ole Miss for the first time since entering the SEC more than a decade ago, it’s the wealth of returning production, including gaining 22 players through the transfer portal over the last two months.

On Monday, ESPN’s Bill Connelly released his annual SP+ ratings rankings (subscription required) for the 2024 college football season, as the creator of one of the more accurate returning production models has the Aggies ranked 18th out of 134 FBS teams. According to Connelly, A&M leads the SEC with a returning production rate of 72% and an offensive (77%) and defensive (67%) return rating ranked 22nd and 35th in the country.

As noted in the article, the Aggies’ incoming transfers count in the returning production rating, led by former Purdue Edge Nic Scourton, who led the Big 10 in sacks (10) during the 2023 season.

To clarify things, here is how each position group will potentially look ahead of the spring football season starting next month.

TexAgs’ Billy Liucci provides his thoughts on how Conner Weigman will perform in new Aggies OC Collin Klein’s offense

Billy Liucci gives a rundown on why he thinks Conner Weigman can make a big jump this next season.

Texas A&M’s 2024 football season will come with a lot of a lot of question marks. However, outside of the defensive line, the quarterback room is the other position group with immense talent. While the actual game experience might be lacking, signal callers Conner Weigman, Jaylon Henderson, and Marcel Reed all showed the ability to make plays in the hybrid Jimbo Fisher/Bobby Petrino play-calling system last season.

While the competition in the spring will be interesting to watch, Weigman still holds the QB1 sport, with the backup position being an under-the-radar battle to keep an eye on. Billy Liucci of TexAgs recently gave us his insight into why he believes Weigman will make a big jump this next season.

We can get our first look at Conner in Collin Klein’s offense and what we can expect from this team during the spring scrimmage on April 20th.

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 Jarrett Johnson on Twitter: @whosnextsports1.

Texas A&M junior quarterback Conner Weigman discusses being cleared and much more

“The doctor called a couple of days ago. He looked at my CT scans and said the bones were all healed. It was good to get cleared from him.”

Texas A&M junior quarterback Conner Weigman was recently cleared to play after suffering a season-ending foot injury in Week 4 of the 2023 season.

Weigman chatted with Billy Liucci of TexAgs this week about a variety of topics, including his rehabilitation and the new era under head coach Mike Elko and his staff.

“Rehab has been good so far,” Weigman told TexAgs. “The doctor called a couple of days ago. He looked at my CT scans and said the bones were all healed. It was good to get cleared from him. We just need to start working with the training staff now and it’s about getting back to feeling like myself again.

“It’s exciting to be back with the team and do the same workouts with the guys. Being on the side by myself was pretty tough because I couldn’t be with my teammates and in the fire with them. I’m excited about being back with them and getting the ball rolling again.”

The Aggies were recently rated No. 1 in 247Sports’ “2024 Transfer Football Team Rankings” which impressed Weigman.

“The new regime is not playing around. I love it. There’s discipline in the little details. The little things matter because they all add up. It’s cool to see how it’s all coming together quickly,” Weigman said. “The portal transfers came out to be something like 28 guys. It has been cool. I try to eat breakfast every day with a new guy to try and build that bond and build that brotherhood. I remember how I felt when I first got here, so I just try to reach out to them.

“I’ve already been talking to the new defensive backs because I want to see what they’ve got. The competition at practice is going to be something and I’m looking forward to it.”

Weigman seems to be gelling with his new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach as well.

“Working with Collin Klein has been cool because he played the position at a high level. Just a few years ago, he was in the Heisman race with Johnny Manziel,” Weigman recalled. “Klein is a younger guy, so he’s in tune with all the new-age stuff. He’s fun to sit and talk to about football. I remember watching him play in 2012.”

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

Texas A&M senior WR Jabre Barber proclaims lofty, yet realistic goal after transferring from Troy

“I feel like I can go for 50 catches and I want to get past that 1,000-yard mark,” Barber admitted. “I know I have to put in a lot of work.”

Texas A&M senior wide receiver Jabre Barber has been an Aggie for just over a week but he’s already formed a lofty goal for the upcoming season in College Station.

Barber chose Texas A&M in the NCAA Transfer Portal on Jan. 5. This week he spoke with Carter Karels, the Aggies beat writer for 247Sports, about his plans for the 2024 campaign.

“There is not a guaranteed role. It is about coming in and being your best. I know I am up to compete,” Barber told Karels. “I can be versatile. I can play in the slot, as well as the outside, motion out of the backfield. Or as a wide receiver, motioning over and pulling me to the end to where I can just work as a 1-on-1 player between me and the DB. I can be all over the field, not just in the slot. I can do more than that and show my versatility.”

Barber is 5-foot-10, 174 pounds and was a 2-star prospect coming out of Dothan High School in Alabama. He took a redshirt year in 2020 after appearing in three games at Troy.

Over the last three years, Barber has racked up the statistics for the Trojans. In 32 games, he tallied 132 receptions for 1,674 yards and 10 touchdowns. A majority of those numbers came this past year. During the 2023 season, he recorded 75 catches for 999 yards and 5 scores, just barely falling short of 1K.

“When I got into the locker room and looked at my phone — I am in a group chat with my close buddies. They were telling me, ‘You had 999 yards. You were one yard short.’ I am just like, ‘Whoa, what?'” Barber recalled. “I feel like I can go for 50 catches and I want to get past that 1,000-yard mark. I know I have to put in a lot of work. But I have a lot of belief in myself that I can do that and prove to my quarterback, Conner Weigman, that he can trust me to throw me the ball.”

Barber explained to Karels that associate head coach and running backs coach, Trooper Taylor, made a significant impact in his decision to play home games at Kyle Field.

“Sitting down and talking with the coaches, it started to feel a little bit like home,” Barber said. “The Duke coach, coach Trooper, he talked to me a lot. He made me feel like home a little bit more. So that is what made me a little more comfortable, how they made me feel welcome.”

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