Tag: Max Wright

Initial injury report ahead of Texas A&M vs. Miami

Here is the initial injury report for Texas A&M before heading to Miami, Florida, to take on the Miami Hurricanes on Saturday afternoon

Texas A&M (1-0) is just a couple of days removed from their opening season victory over New Mexico, defeating the Lobos 52-10 in one of their more dominant season openers during Jimbo Fisher’s tenure with the program.

Behind the arm of starting quarterback Conner Weigman (18/23, 236 yards, five touchdowns), with three of his touchdowns going to sophomore wide receiver Noah Thomas, while the impressive debut for cornerback Josh DeBerry (10 tackles, one sack, one interception) was a sense of comfort for every Aggie fan unsure of the defensive backfield depth.

On Monday, Head Coach Jimbo Fisher once again sat down with the media to reflect on the win while officially shifting focus to Saturday’s road test vs. the Miami Hurricanes, who are coming off their blowout victory after defeating Miami (OH) 38-3 last Friday. Most importantly, he provided a brief update concerning the Aggies’ injury report before they leave for Florida.

Early reports last week indicated that starting center Bryce Foster would potentially miss the season opener as he returned from a previous minor injury. Still, after starting and finishing the game, he looked as healthy as he’s been since his freshman season. Starting right tackle Reuben Fatheree dressed out for the game. Still, he needed another week to make his way back to the starting lineup, and interestingly enough, he was listed as the second-team left tackle as opposed to his regular right tackle position.

Lastly, transfer linebacker Jurriente Davis, who left Saturday’s game with a minor injury, is “banged up,” according to Fisher, but should be able to return as soon as Saturday.

Texas A&M will face the Miami Hurricanes on Saturday, Sept. 9, which will air on ABC at 2:30 p.m. CT.

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.

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Eleven Aggie football players named to the 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl Watchlist

Texas A&M football has no shortage of veteran leadership as eleven players were named to the 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl Watchlist.

A successful 2023 season for Texas A&M would not only mark a rebound for this football program, but it could also serve as a jolt for a handful of seniors preparing to make a leap to the NFL in the future.

The 11th Annual Reese’s Senior Bowl released its watchlist ahead of the 2024 exhibition in Mobile, Alabama. The Reese’s Senior Bowl is regarded as the preeminent college football all-star game and, for some, the first stage in the NFL Draft process.

Their scouting team has been hard at work in identifying the top-tier prospects at every level of college football for the 2024 NFL Draft, and identifying this year’s seniors is among the key staples of the evaluation process. As a reminder, the list does not include many true or redshirt juniors who could become eligible as of December 2023 (or earlier) graduates.

At first glance, the Maroon and White were well-represented, with 11 individuals highlighted. The full list of Aggie football players who landed on the Reese’s Senior Bowl Watchlist is as follows:

  • TE Max Wright
  • WR Ainias Smith
  • LB Chris Russell
  • OL Layden Robinson
  • DB Demani Richardson
  • WR Moose Muhammad III
  • DL McKinnley Jackson
  • DB Tony Grimes
  • DL Fadil Diggs
  • DB Josh DeBerry
  • LB Edgerrin Cooper

Texas A&M has no shortage of seniors with a practical chance of heading to Mobile for the Reese’s Senior Bowl. While the Aggies have a handful of sophomores projected as starters, many from their historic 2022 recruiting class, the Maroon and White will continue to lean on veterans at key positions.

Cooper and Russell are expected to be leaders of a linebacker unit with questionable depth. In contrast, Richardson is expected to mentor a secondary that could boast a potential breakout star in Bryce Anderson. Smith’s versatility speaks for itself, and it’s hard to imagine Bobby Petrino’s offense running smoothly without the wideout’s impact.

With one last ride on the football field around the corner, success in the fall could prove to be a stepping stone for many of these names, taking the leap to the next level in 2024.

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 Pete on Twitter: @PeteThreee.

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Despite Donovan Green’s season ending injury, Texas A&M’s tight end room is in relatively good shape

Texas A&M’s tight end Donovan Green’s season ending injury means that Texas A&M’s deep TE room has bee thrust into the spotlight

On Sunday night, news broke that ascending Texas A&M tight end Donovan Green, who was set to enter his sophomore season, reportedly tore his ACL during the Aggies’ Saturday afternoon scrimmage, which Head Coach Jimbo Fisher confirmed on Monday.

Standing at an impressive 6-4 and 245 pounds, Donovan Green led all tight ends last season with 22 receptions for 233 yards and two touchdowns while appearing in 10 games with four starts.

Overall, Green is the complete package at the position due to his blocking ability in tandem with route running and impressive downfield speed. Still, everything we expected to see from the rising star this season will now have to wait until 2024, and if it weren’t for the Aggies’ impressive depth at the position, things would look much worse with less than three weeks before the Sept. 2 season opener.

So, who will lead the way in Green’s absence? To start, the bench is deep, yet senior tight end Max Wright, who is entering his 6th season with the program after switching positions from defensive end, has only 13 catches for 194 yards and two touchdowns in 40 career games.

As a skilled blocker and reliable pass catcher, Wright’s injury history has hindered his consistency in the past two seasons. Still, through a healthy offseason, the hope is that his final season in Aggieland will be his most productive yet.

Second in line, sophomore Jake Johnson, who missed the bulk of last season due to injury, had only one reception for 2 yards. Ranked as the No.3 tight end in A&M’s historic 2022 cycle possesses by far the highest ceiling as a player, standing at an impressive 6-6 and 240 pounds; he has already turned heads with his fluidity and route-running in fall camp. Due to his build and wide receiver-like qualities, I’d expect Fisher and new offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino to split him out wide while Max Wright remains the primary inline blocker.

In contrast, sophomores Fernando Garza III and Theo Melin Öhrsrtöm have yet to record a reception and were primarily active in special teams, as Öhrström has reportedly stood out the most this fall according to senior strong safety Demani Richardson:

“He’s getting stronger. He’s already built like Thor. He’s Getting Strong. He’s fast. He’s getting the playbook. He’s learning.”

Lastly, former four-star freshman tight end Jaden Platt might not see the field in large doses this season but has already shown why he was ranked as the No.4 TE prospect in the 2023 cycle after several impressive practices.

All in all, we’ll have to wait to see how things develop this season, but I’ll go ahead and place my trust in tight ends coach James Coley’s ability to get the most out of the talent he has at his disposal. Oh, and expect Donovan Green to be a constant presence in the postion room all season long.

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.

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Texas A&M Senior Tight End Max Wright is named to the Wuerffel Trophy watchlist

Max Wright named to preseason watchlist for annual service award

College football is right around the corner so we will be flooded with preseason rankings, media days, and watchlists. Today is no different, with Texas A&M “Aggie Heart Award” recipient Max Wright being named to the Wuerffel Trophy preseason watchlist.

The Wufferfel Trophy is a service award that honors college football players for their hard work and dedication to serving others nationwide. Danny Wuerffel shares a little about what his foundation and award signify.

“We want to Inspire College Athletes to be community minded, to live for others, to sacrifice their own interests for the benefit of the community and other people.”

Max personifies exactly what the award is striving to convey when it comes to putting others above yourself.

The last Aggie to win the award was Grad transfer Trevor Knight in 2016, and we hope Max will bring home the honor in 2023. Even if he does not, his work will leave an impression on everyone he has helped along the way.

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.

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Texas A&M 2023 college football season countdown: No. 42 Max Wright

Tight end Max Wright returns to Texas A&M to help lead an intriguing tight-end position group that could prove to be a sleeper in 2023.

Fear not, ladies and gentlemen, meaningful college football is just around the corner, with the start of the 2023 season under two months away! Here at Aggies Wire, we’ll be counting down by looking at each Texas A&M football player that corresponds to the number of days left till the start of the football season.

With 42 days until the start of the season, we’re looking at No. 42 for the Maroon and White: graduate tight end Max Wright.

Wright returns to Aggieland to lead an intriguing tight-end position group that boasts a nice mix of experienced veterans alongside promising younger stars. Wright fits perfectly into that first bucket, as he comes off a 2022 campaign that marked the most productive season of his collegiate career. He logged nine receptions for 129 yards with one touchdown and an average of 14.3 yards per reception.

After beginning his career in College Station as a defensive end, Wright made a successful transition to tight end as the coaching staff acknowledged that his natural athleticism, football IQ, and surprising receiving skills would make him an ideal fit on offense. Wright appeared in eight contests last season and he’ll look to build upon his growing presence in the offense in 2023.

Wright will have a significant impact in helping mentor both Donovan Green and Jake Johnson, two incredibly talented four-star prospects that entered as part of Texas A&M’s historic 2022 recruiting class. Green in particular flashed his star upside in last year’s campaign, and based on inklings we’ve heard about how new offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino values the position, there’s a chance we could see multiple tight ends on the field at the same time.

Back in the spring, Wright mentioned the appreciation for the different formations and personnel groupings that the tight end is a part of, from mismatches in terms of blocking schemes to utilizing two tight ends on the ball while also having a tight end in the backfield and at the fullback spot.

That speaks to the unique tight end group in Aggieland filled with various strengths and levels of experience, and with Wright leading the group from a veteran outlook, it helps give Texas A&M another potential sleeper threat to throw at opposing defenses.

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 Pete on Twitter: @PeteThreee.

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Max Wright’s Photo Gallery;

Texas A&M Football 2023 Position Preview: Tight ends; a potential sleeper group

Texas A&M’s tight end group boasts a nice mix of returning veterans alongside promising younger stars, led by Max Wright and Donovan Green.

Texas A&M kicks off the 2023 college football season in just under two months, and while the offseason is nearing its conclusion sooner than later, it’s time to preview what Jimbo Fisher and his staff will be working with from a roster perspective.

This deep-dive will focus on the tight end position group, which boasts a nice mix of returning veterans alongside promising younger stars.

Returning production:  Graduate Max Wright returns to Aggieland following the most productive season of his collegiate career, having logged nine receptions for 129 yards with one touchdown and an average of 14.3 yards per reception. After appearing in just four games across the 2020 and 2021 seasons, Wright appeared in eight contests last season as he looks to build upon his growing presence in the offense in 2023.

Green entered as a four-star prospect in Texas A&M’s historic 2022 recruiting class and quickly flashed his upside last season. He caught 22 receptions for 233 yards and two touchdowns, with an average of 10.6 yards per reception. As one of the many true freshmen that were thrust into last year’s “baptism by fire” campaign, Green is equipped to take another step forward after finishing fourth in receiving last season through 10 games played.

Johnson appeared in four games for the Aggies last season and finished with one reception for two yards. Still, given what we’ve heard about Bobby Petrino‘s offensive scheme, he could be among those ready to benefit from added opportunities.

Departures:  After spending three seasons with the Aggies, junior Blake Smith announced his intention to enter the transfer portal in December, and shortly after, in January, he committed to Oklahoma. Smith appeared in six games during his time with Texas A&M, serving primarily as a blocking tight end and having recorded two catches for one yard.

Final Observation:  Much conversation has been made about how Petrino’s track record as a quarterback guru will help Conner Weigman take a leap this season. Additionally, their talented trio at the wide receiver position highlights the Aggies’ offense. But given what we’ve heard and seen throughout spring football, the tight end unit could truly be a layer to this offense that helps unlock its true potential.

Wright mentioned the appreciation for the different formations and personnel groupings that the tight end is a part of, from mismatches in terms of blocking schemes to utilizing two tight ends on the ball while also having a tight end in the backfield and at the fullback spot. Garza was the group’s highlight during the Maroon and White game, finishing with four catches for 51 yards and an impressive red zone touchdown grab.

In totality, the Aggies have a unique tight end group filled with experience and upside, which gives them another advantage to throw at opposing defenses this season.

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 Pete on Twitter: @PeteThreee.

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Ranking the 15 best players on Texas A&M’s 2023 football roster

As Texas A&M prepares for a critical 2023 college football season, here are the 15 best players on the roster based on both production and future potential.

Texas A&M is headed toward a crucial 2023 football season in the coming months, which means they’ll be relying on a handful of key impactful players on both sides of the ball.

Much conversation has been made about the Aggies’ underwhelming 5-7 2022 campaign (2-6 SEC), but what is often overlooked is the contributions made by more than a handful of true freshmen. For being thrust into the fire on a moment’s notice, Texas A&M flashed its potential on offense and by all means stood its ground on defense, which figures to be a promising unit this coming season.

As Jimbo Fisher has noted recently, the trials of last season will serve as a lesson learned and fuel for the future, which means a number of players could be set for impactful, and even breakout seasons.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at some names Texas A&M will be counting on this fall.

Everything Texas A&M TE Max Wright had to say before the Aggies’ 13th spring football practice

Ahead of Texas A&M’s spring practice, the Aggies tight end spoke on a number of topics including the Maroon and White game, the QB battle, and the upside of the offensive line going forward.

As spring football begins to wind down for Texas A&M a few key members of the football program took a few minutes to sit down with the media ahead of the team’s 13th practice.

In addition to head coach Jimbo Fisher and safety Demani Richardson, tight end Max Wright answered questions for roughly 11 minutes on Tuesday. With the Aggies entering a pivotal 2023 season in a matter of months, Wright had plenty of topics to touch on from how Bobby Petrino utilizes tight ends, how Conner Weigman and Max Johnson make each other better, to the promising upside of the offensive line and its depth.

The full video of Max Wright’s press conference can be found below, as well as our breakdown of each key topic covered during his session with the media.

Texas A&M Spring Football 2023: Tight end position breakdown

Texas A&M is loaded at the Tight end position and will use spring ball to determine the rotation for the 2023 season

Spring football for Texas A&M is well underway, which means it’s every fan’s obligation to parse through the depth chart ahead of what will be an important 2023 season. Thankfully, we’ve got you covered by breaking down each positional battle, with this deep-dive focusing on the talent in the backfield.

In comparison to a quarterback, running back, and wide receiver, selecting a starter at a tight end is based more on the scheme, especially for Texas A&M’s pro-style/spread offense. As it currently stands, senior Max Wright is No.1 on the depth chart due to his experience and reliability as a blocker, yet younger receiving options such as the sophomore trio of Donovan Green, Jake Johnson, and Theodor-Melin-Ohrstrom provide a boost in the passing game, so either way, the Aggies are in a good place from a depth perspective.

To sort out the current depth chart, here are the returners and new additions to the tight end room ahead of the 2023 season.

Returners (2022 season stats)

  • Senior Max Wright: 9 receptions, 129 receiving yards, 1 touchdown
  • Sophomore Donovan Green: 22 receptions, 233 receiving yards, 2 touchdowns
  • Sophomore Jake Johnson: 1 reception, 2 receiving yards, 0 touchdowns
  • Sophomore Theo Melin Ohrstrom: No stats in 2022
  • Sophomore Fernando Garza III: No stats, played mostly special teams in 2023

Departures

  • Junior Blake Smith (transferred to Oklahoma): 2 receptions, 1 yard

Incoming additions

  • Freshman Jaden Platt (4-star recruit, Class of 2023)

Key thoughts and predictions:

Before Jimbo Fisher arrived at Texas A&M, Tight ends, other than for blocking in 12-man personnel packages, were non-existent in Kevin Sumlin’s spread offense, but once Fisher implemented his pro-style system, the position became a premium. Last season, the ascendance of then-freshman Donovan Green due to Max Wright’s lingering injury issues opened up the offense in the seam, while becoming a favorite in the passing game for quarterback Conner Weigman.

Bobby Petrino’s revamped offensive approach should provide opportunities for not only Wright and Green to thrive in the passing game, but utilize Jake Johnson’s large stature and route running ability (6-5, 235 lbs) to expose the middle of the field, and simply create mismatches against defensive backs.

So, where does Theodor-Melin-Ohrstrom fit? the Stockholm, Sweden product earned the offensive scout team award during the team banquet last season. As a 4-star prospect in the 2022 class, Ohrstrom needed a full season of learning the game on American soil, possessing all the tools to develop down the line, as the April 15th spring game provides a great opportunity to show just how much he’s learned over the past year.

Lastly, the talented freshman Jaden Platt is definitely a name to watch out for this spring, though his immediate future on the gridiron is all up to how quickly he can learn the offense, so for now, pencil him as a highly intriguing backup option.

So, my prediction this spring is that Max Wright and Donovan Green will fight for the No. 1 spot, while Jake Johnson and Theo Ohrstrom will see their snaps increase and battle for the No. 2 and No. 3 spot.

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

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Players’ press conference after Aggies’ loss to Ole Miss

Players’ press conference after Aggies’ loss to Ole Miss

The Aggies have now dropped four straight games after coming up short in the final minutes against the 15th-ranked Ole Miss Rebels, losing 31-28 in their first game back in front of the 12th man at Kyle Field in 42 days.

As ugly as the loss is, freshman quarterback Conner Weigman was the brightest spot in an otherwise frustrating outing, making his first career start while passing for 338 yards and 4 touchdowns in the team’s best offensive performance since the season opener vs. Sam Houston State, totaling 480 yards on the night.

Star running back Devon Achane did what he always does, rushing for 138 yards while adding 41 through the air, and scoring the final touchdown on the night for the Aggies, again showing that he’s the most consistent offensive playmaker head coach Jimbo Fisher possesses no matter the opponent.

The Aggie’s defensive performance was abysmal, to say the least, allowing over 400 yards on the ground, with 205 yards coming from freshman running back Quinshon Judkins in one of the most dominant rushing performances I’ve seen against a Texas A&M defense in a number of seasons. Mix in a number of costly penalties while allowing 7 3rd down conversions, and this loss is not squarely on the defense, but it’s close.

After the game, head coach Jimbo Fisher and select players answered questions regarding the loss, while looking forward to hopefully ending their losing streak against their Week 10 opponent, the Florida Gators.

Here are the most notable quotes from defensive tackle Albert Regis and tight end Max Wright.