Tag: Le’veon Moss

Watch a recap from Texas A&M’s final week of fall football practice

Texas A&M’s final week of fall practice is coming to a close, so here’s a quick video recap!

In just two weeks from now, Texas A&M and head coach Mike Elko will be preparing to kick off the 2024 season against Notre Dame on Saturday, August 31, as the 7th-ranked Fighting Irish will make their way to what could be a sold-out Kyle Field.

This week, the Aggies took the field for the final time before preparing for the 2024 season as the fall practice period can’t be called a success just yet, but progress has certainly been made on both sides of the ball.

Defensively, the biggest riser has consistently been junior defensive end Shemar Stewart, who, after gaining significant weight this offseason, is still looking lean and mean at 290 pounds, while his elite strength and athleticism make him a player to watch. Teaming up with former Purdue DE Nic Scourton and senior DL Shemar Turner, A&M’s pass rush looks borderline elite.

Offensively, redshirt sophomore quarterback Conner Weigman has improved as a passer, increasing the velocity on these throws, while his accuracy and touch remain top-notch.

Concerning who he will be throwing to, Texas A&M’s wide receiver rotation is skilled but relatively unproven. At the same time, several new tight end additions, including former Fresno State TE Tre Watson, whose blocking and receiving skills make him a perfect fit in new OC Collin Klien’s offensive scheme.

As the roster continues to take shape, here’s a quick recap video from this week’s practice. The video also shows sophomore wide receiver Micah Tease making a couple of big-time receptions this week.

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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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WATCH: Maroon team finds the end zone twice to take a 14-3 lead in the spring game

Le’Veon Moss breaks the game open for the Maroon team during Texas A&M’s spring game, followed by a Marcel Reed TD To Noah Thomas

Texas A&M’s Maroon & White spring game is off to the races despite the inclement weather. The game was moved up an hour to avoid the rain predicted for later in the day. Aggie fans have seen new head coach Mike Elko back on the sidelines for the first time since his defensive coordinator days (2017-2021) with the program.

It’s been a slow day for both offenses, as several presumed 2024 starters are sitting out. The quarterbacks have looked solid for the most part, starting with the limit reps Conner Weigman has taken. For the Maroon team, sophomore Marcel Reed took notable strides, aided by an enhanced running back rotation that now features the son of NFL Hall of Fame RB Emmett Smith, E.J. Smith, who transferred from Stanford earlier this year.

However, don’t forget about 2023 starting running back Le’Veon Moss, who broke the game open with an impressive inside touchdown run to give the Maroon Team a 7-3 lead. As both defenses continued to impress, Reed’s impressive play led the Maroon down the field again, soon finding wide receiver Noah Thomas on a rollout in the endzone to take a 14-3 lead into halftime.

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Texas A&M OL Trey Zuhn will officially return for the 2024 season

Texas A&M OL Trey Zuhn III is the fourth Aggie to announce his return in 2024 through NIL partner, Texas United.

Texas A&M’s football roster in the beginning stages of the offseason has already dealt with significant attrition, as more than a dozen players have entered the transfer portal. At the same time, several 2024 commits have either flipped or de-committed this month.

Three veteran players have also declared for the 2024 NFL Draft, including wide receiver Ainias Smith, defensive tackle McKinnley Jackson, offensive lineman Layden Robinson, and standout linebacker Edgerrin Cooper, who will likely be the first of the four to hear his name called.

On Friday, two more vital members of the 2023 roster announced their return for the 2023 season, starting with star running back Le’Veon Moss, followed by starting left tackle Trey Zuhn III, one of the toughest players on the team, bar none. Appearing in all 12 games during the 2023 redshirt sophomore season, Zuhn was consistently one of the highest-rated pass blockers on an otherwise porous offensive line per Pro Football Focus.

Heading into the 2024 campaign, quarterback Conner Weigman will be back in the saddle after his season ended prematurely due to injury, and while the rest of the O-line is finally due to improve under new offensive line coach Adam Cushing, Zuhn’s trustworthy play while protection Weigman’s blindside has to help new head coach Mike Elko sleep better at night.

Including Zuhn and Moss, four Texas A&M starters have announced their returns.

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Texas A&M RB Le’Veon Moss is the third Aggie to announce his return for the 2024 season

Texas A&M starting running back Le’Veon Moss is the third Aggie to announce his return for the 2024 college football season.

Texas A&M’s football roster in the beginning stages of the offseason has already dealt with significant attrition, as more than a dozen players have entered the transfer portal. At the same time, several 2024 commits have either flipped or de-committed this month.

Three veteran players have also declared for the 2024 NFL Draft, including wide receiver Ainias Smith, defensive tackle McKinnley Jackson, offensive lineman Layden Robinson, and standout linebacker Edgerrin Cooper, who will likely be the first of the four to hear his name called.

What has become an interesting trend over the past week is that several players have announced their return for the 2024 season through Texas A&M’s official NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) sponson, Texas United, including safety Bryce Anderson, offensive lineman Kam Dewberry, and now, starting running back Le’Veon Moss has joined in with one of the more critical announcements thus far, stating “Run it Back” in a Texas United post on X.

Moss, a Louisiana native, is drenched with talent at the position. If it wasn’t for several nagging injuries throughout the 2023 season, we’re talking about one of the top running backs in the country in just his second season in an Aggie uniform. In nine games, Moss rushed for 484 yards and five touchdowns on 96 carries, finishing just 30 yards below running back Amari Daniels (514 yards) on the year.

With Daniels and standout freshman back Rueben Owens (359 yards, 2 TDs) expected to return, the Aggies possess the deepest running back room in the SEC and possibly the nation heading into 2024. If Le’Veon Moss can stay healthy and the offensive line shows improvement, the sky is the limit.

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Initial injury report ahead of Texas A&M vs. Mississippi State

After head coach Jimbo Fisher’s Monday press conference, here is the Aggies initial injury report ahead of Texas A&M vs. Mississippi State.

Texas A&M (5-4, 3-3 SEC) is coming off a loss that may stick in every coach and player’s mind for quite some time, falling to the 10th-ranked Ole Miss Rebels 38-35 in the final minutes of the fourth quarter.

While the blame game continues to point towards the top, Aggies head coach Jimbo Fisher knows that his seat is burning up week after week as the losses pile up, and even worse, mediocrity sets in for a program littered with resources to contend at the highest level.

On Monday, Fisher spoke to the media to further reflect on the loss and, more importantly, provide several injury updates about quarterback Max Johnson, running back Le’Veon Moss, cornerback Tony Grimes, and right tackle Reuben Fatheree II.

First and foremost, the inappropriate rumors regarding Max Johnson’s rib injury, which still remain somewhat vague, should never be taken seriously until accurately reported. So, without going into detail, Fisher did reveal that Johnson is dealing with an upper body/rib injury. Still, it’s not as severe as the rumors entailed, as Johnson should be ready to go ahead of Texas A&M’s Week 11 home matchup vs. Mississippi State.

“Max was able to finish the game, was a couple off tough shots, but we’ll wait and see how it goes. But he should be good. I’m planning on him playing and hopefully we’ll see as it goes day-by-day.”

Concerning Le’Veon Moss, the ascending sophomore is also listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury, as Fisher noted as he avoided any ligament damage in the process.

There is good news and bad news surrounding transfer cornerback Tony Grimes, who has yet to see the field this season, as his first year in Aggieland will officially come to an end before even taking a live snap. Still, with his 2023 redshirt season going into effect, he will now have two more seasons of eligibility remaining.

Finally, right tackle Reuben Fatheree, who has been rehabbing throughout the season, is currently working on gaining his play strength back, keeping him sidelined for what is likely the rest of the year with only three games and possibly four, including a bowl game, remaining on the year.

Texas A&M will return to Kyle Field to take on Mississippi State on Saturday, Nov. 11 at 6:30 pm. CT. The game will air on ESPN2.

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Aided by special teams and late offense, Texas A&M trails Ole Miss 20-14 at halftime

A blocked field goal return and a Le’Von Moss touchdown have brought the Aggies back to life on the road against Ole Miss.

Texas A&M (5-3, 3-2 SEC) entered Week 10 on the road vs. 10th-ranked Ole Miss with revenge on their mind after falling to the Rebels 31-28 just a season ago. Making obvious headlines throughout the week, Aggies head coach Jimbo Fisher has not won a true SEC road game in two seasons and is 0-2 vs. Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin as well.

On Saturday, after a shaky start on offense while giving up two scores on defense, Aggies safety Jacoby Matthews’ blocked field goal return from defensive end Shemar Turner, coupled with running back Le’Veon Moss’s late second-quarter touchdown has brought the Aggies within one score at the half, trailing Ole Miss 20-14.

Quarterback Max Johnson continued to face immense pressure in the pocket amid the issues on the offensive line that have festered in SEC play, completing 12/17 for 77 yards. In comparison, Grand Valley State transfer wide receiver Jahdae Walker currently leads the team in receiving with three receptions for 41 yards. No, the running game has not fixed its issues, but Moss’s 13-yard touchdown saw minor improvement that needs to continue throughout the game.

Despite giving up 20 points, Texas A&M’s swarming defensive line, specifically the aforementioned Shemar Turner, has continued to pressure Rebels quarterback Jaxson Dart, one of the better signal callers in the conference. While star wide receiver Evan Stewart leaves a gaping hole in the Aggies’ passing offense, look for Walker, Moose Muhammad III, and Noah Thomas to step up in the second half.

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Texas A&M Football 2023 Midseason Grades: Running Backs

With A&M in their bye week, we’re taking a pulse check on how each positional group has fared so far, including the RBs.

The Aggies Wire team is doing the same with Texas A&M (4-3, 2-2), looking to take a breather and reassess heading into the bye week. Namely, there’s no better time to take a pulse check on how the Aggies have fared through the first half of the season, with a deep dive on each positional group.

Next up, we’re looking at the Aggies in the backfield, headlined by Le’Veon Moss, Amari Daniels, and Rueben Owens.

Highlights

Texas A&M’s ground game is good for 83rd in the country, as the Maroon and White boast an average of 131.9 rushing yards per game. While that’s a tad below their 144.7 rushing yards per game average from last year (70th), there had to be an expected drop-off when elite speedster De’Von Achane declared for the NFL Draft.

Leading the way is Le’Veon Moss, whose 82.2 run grade at Pro Football Focus is the best among all Aggie runners this season. Amari Daniels and Rueben Owens have been solid complimentary pieces, but it’s no secret that Moss’ versatility has made him A&M’s true blue RB1.

Areas of improvement

While Moss boasts a strong running grade per PFF, Daniels’ 66.0 grade has been solid, at best. Meanwhile, Owens’ 62.1 grade is likely indicative of having a mere 3.5 yards per carry on the season, coupled with one fumble recorded. Truth be told, Owens’ struggles are to be expected from a true freshman, and he’ll surely get more efficient in the ground game as he continues to develop.

From a larger point of view, A&M’s run game has somewhat cooled off over the last few weeks, which is troublesome as the Aggies’ pass game has been stuck in a rut. While the Maroon and White average over 130 yards per game on the season, that’s dwindled to just 108.3 yards per game in the last three contests and just 54.0 yards in their loss to Tennessee. Among the larger SEC, their ground game ranks 11th out of 14 total teams.

Among the notable adjustments needed for this second half of the season is a kickstart to the ground game once again.

Final grade: C+

The Aggies ground game has had its moments over the course of the season, but it’s clear that there are areas to improve on as the second half of the schedule kicks into full gear.

The Maroon and White enter a pivotal stretch once they welcome South Carolina to Kyle Field in Week 9, and it will be interesting to see how Bobby Petrino leverages the run game as a possible means of lighting a spark in what has been a sluggish offense over the last few games.

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