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.

Texas A&M underclassmen trio returning for 2024 football season

According to Texas Aggies United, freshmen, WR Micah Tease and DL DJ Hicks, and sophomore OL Dametrious Crownover are returning for next year.

A trio of Texas A&M underclassmen will be back for the 2024 football season to officially kick off the Mike Elko era in College Station.

According to Texas Aggies United, freshmen, wide receiver Micah Tease & defensive lineman DJ Hicks, and sophomore offensive lineman Dametrious Crownover are returning for the next campaign. Crownover is an incoming junior while Tease and Hicks will be sophomores.

It was originally reported on Jan. 3 that Hicks would be forgoing the transfer portal and remain in Aggieland. Hicks will work directly with Sean Spencer, who was hired fromĀ FloridaĀ to coach the defensive line. The 6-foot-5, 290-pound native of Katy, Texas graduated from Paetow High School last year.

He committed to Texas A&M as a 5-star recruit who was ranked amongst the top 15 players in the country. According to 247Sports, Hicks was the No. 1 player from theĀ Lone Star StateĀ in the Class of 2023. He was selected to play in the Under Armour All-America game and Polynesian Bowl.

Hicks played in 11 games for the Aggies this season, tallying 13 tackles (6 solo), 2 tackles for a loss of yards and 1 sack. He racked up 2 tackles during theĀ Texas BowlĀ on Dec. 27 againstĀ No. 20 Oklahoma State.

Tease had a rocky first season in College Station as he was arrested in September. Crownover’s older brother, Earnest, declared for the 2024 NFL Draft on Dec. 28 and was a finalist for the Lowman Trophy.

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Final injury report ahead of Texas A&M vs. UL Monroe

Here is the final injury report ahead of Texas A&M’s home matchup vs. UL Monroe on Saturday afternoon.

Texas A&M (1-1) is fresh off their disappointing 48-33 road loss to the highly underrated Miami Hurricanes, who, by all means, bullied the Aggies into submission in one of the more lopsided second-half performances witnessed in the first few weeks of the 2023 season.

Ahead of the Aggies’ Week 3 home matchup vs. the visiting UL Monroe Warhawks, head coach Jimbo Fisher spoke to the media on Monday to reflect on the loss as the team resets and refocuses with ten games remaining in the regular season.

Albeit not providing any new updates regarding the injury report, the two players that are deemed to return to the lineup after missing the last two games include starting right tackle Reuben Fatheree II after recovering from his knee injury and freshman wide receiver Micah Teaseā€”fresh off a full week of practice to get back in game shape.

Assuming Fatheree does return to the starting lineup, his size, strength, and experience on the right side of the line will only make starting quarterback Conner Weigman’s job easier after the sophomore signal caller endured blitz attempts on 33 of his 57 dropbacks against Miami.

Something to keep an eye on: Starting defensive end Shemar Turner’s recent arrest for reckless driving was unsurprisingly not mentioned by Fisher, so based on the lack of public acknowledgment, I personally expect Turner, who leads the Aggies in sacks so far this season, to start against UL Monroe.

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Initial Injury report ahead of Texas A&M vs. UL Monroe

Here is the initial injury report ahead of Texas A&M’s Week 3 home matchup vs. UL Monroe on Saturday afternoon.

Texas A&M (1-1) is fresh off their disappointing 48-33 road loss to the highly underrated Miami Hurricanes, who, by all means, bullied the Aggies into submission in one of the more lopsided second-half performances witnessed in the first few weeks of the 2023 season.

Texas A&M’s porous secondary and blatant lack of pass rush pressure allowed Miami quarterback Tyler Van Dyke to pass for 374 yards and five touchdowns, leaving many of us to question Aggie’s defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin’s future with the program and just how susceptible the Aggie D will continue to be before the start of SEC play.

On Monday, Head Coach Jimbo Fisher once again sat down with the media to reflect on the loss and look toward what is hopefully a “get right” game vs. the visiting UL Monroe Warhawks on Saturday, without going into great detail regarding several players recovering from injuries, most notably starting right tackle Reuben Fatheree II.

While Fatheree has the potential to return as soon as this weekend, starting defensive end Shemar Turner’s recent arrest for reckless driving has created another headache within the program, and as expected, Fisher avoided the topic altogether. Personally, I expect Turner, who leads the Aggies in sacks so far this season, to play on Saturday.

Before the Miami game, freshman wide receiver Micah Tease, who warmed up with the rest of the offense before kickoff, was held out due to lack of practice after his suspension during the season opener vs. New Mexico, stemming from his marijuana-related arrest. He is also expected to play against UL Monroe.

Texas A&M will return to Kyle Field to take on Louisiana Monroe on Saturday, Sept. 16, as the game will air on the SEC Network at 3:00 p.m. CT.

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WATCH: Texas A&M WR Micah Tease seen warming up before the Aggies take on Miami

Recently suspended Aggies wide receiver Micah Tease was seen warming up before Texas A&M takes on Miami on Saturday afternoon.

Just half an hour before Texas A&M faces the Miami Hurricanes inside Hard Rock Stadium; it was revealed that freshman wide receiver Micah Tease, who has been suspended indefinitely after his arrest late last week before the Aggies opened the 2023 season vs. New Mexico, was seen warming up on the sideline earlier this afternoon in a video from The Eagle reporter Travis Brown.

On Friday, September 1, TeaseĀ was officially charged with possession of four to 400 grams of a controlled substance (edibles), a second-degree felony charge, which could result in a 20-year prison sentence and a $10,000 fine. Tease was also charged with possession of marijuana, which is a more lenient Class B misdemeanor charge.

Head Coach Jimbo Fisher’s track record regarding player suspension regarding similar charges showed a pattern of one to two-game suspensions. After obviously missing the season opener, Tease looks ready to roll and finally contribute in the receiving core and on special teams.

Tease committed to Texas A&M back in late December, coming in as a four-star prospect in the 2023 class, positioned as the 5th-ranked Athlete and the 3rd-ranked player in Oklahoma, according to 247Sports composite.

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Texas A&M WR Micah Tease reportedly arrested on felony drug related charge

It has been reported that Texas A&M freshman wide receiver Micah Tease was arrested on felony drug charges on Friday evening

It has been reported that Texas A&M freshman wide receiver Micah Tease was arrested on drug-related charges on Friday, Sept. 1, which includes a second-degree felony charge.

Tease was officially charged with possession of four to 400 grams of a controlled substance (edibles), a second-degree felony charge, which could result in a 20-year prison sentence and a $10,000 fine. Tease was also charged with possession of marijuana, which is a more lenient Class B misdemeanor charge.

According to a Texas A&M Athletic Department spokesperson, Tease has been suspended indefinitely and will likely miss the Aggie’s season opener against New Mexico on Saturday night. Posting a $13,000 bond, Tease was released just hours after his arrest on Friday night.

As The Eagle reporter Travis Brown importantly noted, Texas A&M University Police, who arrested Micah Tease, recently stated that they would cease arrests related to minor marijuana possession charges in the realm of two ounces or less; however, the felony controlled substance charge was completely separate.

Tease committed to Texas A&M back in late December, coming in as a four-star prospect in the 2023 class, positioned as the 5th-ranked Athlete and the 3rd-ranked player in Oklahoma, according to 247Sports composite.

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Evan Stewart and Micah Tease headline Texas A&M’s wide receiver depth in Maroon and White game

Evan Stewart’s over-the-shoulder catch and Micah Tease’s 52-yard touchdown grab spotlight a promising Aggies receiver corps following Saturday’s Maroon and White game.

Team White may have fended off Team Maroon in a 33-19 win during Texas A&M‘s 2023 spring game, but everyone should walk away optimistic after seeing the receiving corps on display at Kyle Field on Saturday.

Evan Stewart (7 receptions, 97 yards, 1 lost fumble) and Micah Tease (3 receptions, 72 yards, 1 receiving touchdown) were by far the top performers of the day with each putting up respective highlight-worthy catches in the opening quarter. Stewart received a nice over-the-shoulder pass from quarterback Conner Weigman, while Tease had a catch of 52 yards from Max Johnson that put the White Team in the end zone first.

Ainias Smith (4 receptions, 67 yards, 1 touchdown) had a long reception in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter, which illustrates how an already talented receiving corps can only become more potent with the redshirt senior’s return. Raymond Cottrell (2 receptions, 22 yards) looked solid in the offensive scheme while Noah Thomas, unfortunately, saw his day cut short after leaving from a scary hit in the opening minutes.

The spring game is still an exhibition, so you never want to see those types of injuries at this time of year. It’s also key to note that Moose Muhammad III did not dress for Saturday’s game after managing to practice in just a limited capacity on Wednesday.

You can bet that Jimbo Fisher and Bobby Petrino have more than a few cards up their sleeves when it comes to the playbook, but it was still promising to see the offense line up in various formations that featured a handful of wideouts in motion.

This offense ranked just 101st in the country in scoring last season (22.8 PPG), so witnessing an injection of creativity will always be a welcome sight, even during spring ball.

Petrino has a track record of tailoring his offenses to his best players and with Stewart flashing his upside on Saturday, you can be sure that this offense will open up space for him to do damage against the second and third levels of the defense.

Seeing this receiving corps in action on Saturday should have Aggies fans eager for the 2023 campaign, but it doesn’t mean Fisher and this staff should stand pat during the transfer portal window that re-opened, coincidentally, on Saturday. With the likes of former USC receiver Gary Bryant potentially in the mix, A&M could add even more depth to this unit should they be aggressive in the coming weeks.

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Conner Weigman, Max Johnson and the quarterback competition that only helps Texas A&M in 2023

Both quarterbacks showed off their skillset in Texas A&M’s Maroon and White Spring Game, and that can only yield unlimited benefits in 2023.

Texas A&M and head coach Jimbo Fisher have a lot to be proud of after the teams’ performance during Saturday’s Maroon and White Spring Game, and even though several other areas of play stood out the brightest, quarterback, and the continued competition between former five-star sophomore Conner Weigman and veteran southpaw senior Max Johnson will continue to stay in the headlines.

On the afternoon, Max Johnson went 21-37 for 273 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions, while Conner Weigman completed 17-40 for 243 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. Oh, and if an update for the head coach is what you’re looking for, Jimbo Fisher made it clear that competition at every postion is up for grabs ahead of the 2023 campaign.

ā€œItā€™s going to be competition all the time, every week,ā€ Fisher stated. ā€œAll the way until the end of next year. Every positionā€™s going to be that way. If you donā€™t practice in the gameā€¦ You want competition every day and guys you feel comfortable with. To name a starting quarterback today, what does that mean? Nothing.ā€

Even in an exhibition game, there was a winner and a loser, as Johnson’s White team defeated Weigman’s Maroon-led squad 33-19 behind his three touchdown passes to three different receivers on the day. Not to take away from Conner Weigman’s impressive performance regardless of his 42% completion percentage, specifically connecting with ascending sophomore wide receiver Evan Stewart for 97 yards on the afternoon.

All in all, both signal callers showed off their arm strength and improvement in the pocket after enduring the frustrating nature of the 2022 campaign, knowing that whoever takes over as QB 1 in the Fall, the other will act as perhaps the best insurance policy in college football next season. After the game, head coach Jimbo Fisher agreed with their noted improvement through the ongoing competition.

“They’re two competitors. They’re always going to want to keep battling each other,” Fisher stated after the spring game “You’re glad you have two guys capable of making plays like that… both of them came to shine.”

With the game being played on a shortened field due to construction in the south endzone, this could have been a very weird and awkward QB battle, but after Johnson dropped back on 2nd and 6 and unleashed a 52-yard rocket down the sideline to freshman wideout Micah Tease for the first score in the first quarter, it looked as if the truncated field had zero effect on the Aggies new look passing offense.

Johnson struck first, while Weigman had his moments in a less consistent manner, but continued to show just why his preseason hype is based on his natural traits as a passer. Finally finding the endzone in the fourth quarter, Weigman battled back from his second-quarter interception to find freshman wide receiver Pierce Turner for a 28-yard touchdown.

However, Johnson’s gutsy performance most likely created a lasting impression in Jimbo Fisher’s mind after connecting with Ainias Smith on another deep ball in the final minutes of the fourth quarter for what was initially just a 38-yard gain, which eventually changed into a touchdown. Fisher continued to applaud both performances.

“Both of them came back and battled after they had some mistakes and had some things go wrong,” Fisher stated. “That’s part of the game and I think both showed a lot of maturity in that way.”

One perspective that cleared up a lot of the development questions for both players was that of senior wide receiver Ainias Smith, who praised Johnson and Weigman’s downfield passing ability which is sure to take a leap next season under offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino’s guidance.

“Connecting downfield is one area where both of them are improving,” Smith stated. “They were already great at that, but it’s starting to look a little more consistent. On top of that, they’re voicing their opinions. They’re voicing how they feel the team should be going, and that has improved a whole lot this year. “The attitude that they have toward winning has really improved.”

In essence, yes, this is a competition while Conner Weigman continues to remain as the presumed starter after his performance to end the 2022 season, but due to Max Johnson’s week 4 hand injury that sidelined him for the rest of the year, the “what could have been” aspect is extremely intriguing coupled with his fierce competitor-like mentality and SEC experience. So, buckle up folks, we’re in for a wild ride.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWireĀ on Twitter, and like our page onĀ Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions.Ā Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty

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5 lingering questions about the Oklahoma Sooners 2023 recruiting class

We are in the stretch run of the 2023 recruiting cycle, and the Oklahoma Sooners are looking to close strong. From @thatmanbryant

We are exactly two weeks away from the first day of the early signing period. Though a only added to the calendar in recent years, it’s provided another element of excitement and intrigue to the recruiting process.

Oklahoma, as it stands, owns the No. 7 ranked class in the nation. They are headlined by consensus five-star QB Jackson Arnold, who has blown everyone away with his senior season. He and his Denton Guyer team look for a state title at Texasā€™ highest classification.

While Oklahoma sits inside the top 10, there is room to move up, and Brent Venables and Co. are road-tripping across the country to improve the class.

Oklahoma has several high-profile targets in its sights and they’re well within reach. However, recruiting is about closing. It’s never how you start but how you finish.

Here are five lingering questions about the Soonersā€™ 2023 recruiting class as we sprint to the finish line for this recruiting cycle.

Recruiting provides optimism for Oklahoma’s future under Brent Venables

What Brent Venables and his staff are doing on the recruiting trail over the last year provides optimism for the Oklahoma Sooners’ future. From @john9williams

Transfer portal season is wild. Players you might have counted on for significant contributions will find new homes, and your favorite team will be left searching for answers. Possibly in the transfer portal, but with a guy like Brent Venables, the optimism comes through what he and his staff are doing on the recruiting trail.

This time a year ago, the Oklahoma Sooners’ 2022 recruiting class fell apart and dropped from inside the top 10 to 28th in the country in 247Sports team recruiting rankings. Lincoln Riley’s departure for USC left the Sooners recruiting class in shambles.

[autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] and his staff arrived in Norman and got to work, and finished the 2022 cycle strong. Oklahoma ended up with the No. 8 recruiting class in the cycle. Sure, the Sooners have since lost Nick Evers and Alton Tarber, but that shouldn’t diminish what they accomplished in less than two months in Norman.

Fast forward to now, and the Sooners are sitting with the No. 7 recruiting class in the 2023 cycle with a chance to make it a top five or even top three group by national signing day in February.

The Sooners have 22 commits in the cycle. Two five-star players and 11 four-star players. Led by [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] and [autotag]Adepoju Adebawore[/autotag], the Sooners are in a great spot for 2023, even if they don’t add anyone else. However, they’re probably going to add another handful of commitments and signings over the next two months.

They’ve been projected to land five-star safety, and Notre Dame transfer Peyton Bowen and still have a shot to land five-star Texas A&M defensive line commit [autotag]David Hicks[/autotag]. In addition to the five-star targets, the Sooners could land a few more four-star targets as well.

Oklahoma may circle back to Arkansas commit and Tulsa native Micah Tease and have made an offer to Texas A&M commit and high school teammate of Hicks, Daymion Sanford.

it remains to be seen what the Sooners will do in the transfer portal this winter, but they look to be headed for a strong finish on the recruiting trail.

Despite a 6-6 season, the future remains incredibly bright for Oklahoma in large part because they’re recruiting their tails off. By February, they will have landed two top-10 recruiting classes, with the 2023 class trending toward one of the best recruiting classes in the modern era.

Brent Venables and his staff have work to do this spring on the field and in the film room to improve upon their first season in Norman. However, they’re building something with their last two recruiting classes that will lay the foundation for years to come.

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