Tag: Moose Muhammad III

Texas A&M WR Moose Muhammad III’s lack of play time is confusing, to say the least

Texas A&M is 1-1, and in those two games, WR Moose Muhammad III has yet to crack the starting lineup while his play time has diminished.

Within Texas A&M’s brutal 48-33 loss to Miami on Saturday afternoon, several takeaways ranging from the lack of effort and tackling on defense to sophomore quarterback Conner Weigman’s inspiring performance, junior wide receiver Moose Muhammad III’s lack of game snaps has become an unsettling trend.

Early Sunday, Aggies Wire staff writer Pete Hernandez was the first to point out Muhammad’s “the odd man out” situation in the Aggies lineup, totaling 46 snaps in the last two games, including 34 against New Mexico with three receptions for 15 yards and one touchdown, and what is hopefully a season-low 12 on Saturday against the Hurricanes with one reception for 15 yards.

However, in the season opener vs. the Lobos, most of his 34 snaps were in the second half, after the Aggies had built a 35-7 lead en route to their 52-10 win. Appearing in eight games during the 2022 season, Muhammad led Texas A&M in receiving in the last five games with 411 yards and two touchdowns, totaling 38 receptions, 610 yards, and four touchdowns, good for second in receiving yards behind Evan Stewart.

In agreement with GigEm247 beat writer Carter Karels, every time Muhammad is on the field, he’s either producing in the passing game or blocking in the run game, making an impact on either front. I wish I could answer why he has yet to see the field consistently, but until something changes, the confusion remains.

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.

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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Five reasons why Texas A&M will beat New Mexico in Week 1

While Texas A&M must execute on their keys to victory, they’ll have more than a handful of traits leaning in their favor. Here are the five reasons why the Aggies will beat New Mexico.

A mere 24 hours separates Texas A&M football fans from the first action of the season as the Aggies welcome New Mexico to Kyle Field. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. CT, and as the Maroon and White prepare for the Lobos they enter as heavy favorites in this showdown.

Both of these programs enter with heightened expectations after their respective underwhelming 2022 campaigns. New Mexico head coach Danny Gonzales is entering his fourth year with the Lobos, but he could be on the early hot seat following two straight seasons of finishing last in the conference in scoring.

Of course, we remember all too well last year’s 5-7 (2-6 SEC) debacle from the Aggies, which gives head coach Jimbo Fisher and this program a pivotal 2023 season to embark on.

A win in Week 1 would be a convincing statement for either team, but when looking at the talent on paper and what to expect from each program, it should be Texas A&M walking away with a 1-0 record. Of course, they’ll need to execute their keys to victory, but nonetheless, they have more than a handful of traits leaning in their favor.

From a new offensive look which should be a far cry from what was on display last year, to a fearsome group at both wide receiver and defensive line, the Aggies should have the advantage when it comes to talent as well as scheme. They should not overlook any opponent on their slate, but handily beating the Lobos is the right way to set the tone for this season.

Here are the five reasons why Texas A&M should beat New Mexico in their 2023 Week 1 opener.

Texas A&M 2023 college football season countdown: No. 7 Moose Muhammad III

Moose Muhammad III’s efficiency as a slot receiver will pair nicely with Evan Stewart’s star potential to form one of the most talented WR duos in the SEC.

Fear not, Aggie fans, meaningful college football is just around the corner, with the start of the 2023 season officially one week 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 seven days until kickoff, we’re looking at No. 7 for the Maroon and White: junior wide receiver Moose Muhammad III.

Muhammad is back in Aggieland as the likely starting Z receiver, having finished with 38 receptions for 610 yards and four touchdowns in 10 games during the 2022 campaign. After redshirting his first season, Muhammad has totaled 48 receptions for 763 receiving yards and eight touchdowns across the last two seasons. He’s averaged 15.3 yards per reception during his time with the Maroon and White.

Like so many other players in last year’s “baptism by fire” campaign, Muhammad was forced into an elevated role following a season-ending injury to all-purpose wide receiver Ainias Smith. Once Muhammad was inserted into the starting lineup, the wide receiver group began to make strides to close out the season.

Texas A&M’s passing game truly benefitted from Muhammad’s ability to find open spots in coverage, make plays after the catch, and battle and beat opposing defenders for contested catches. When looking at his stats per-game, he finished top 15 in the SEC in both receptions and yards per game. One could only imagine his final stats had he started from the beginning of the season.

The Aggies have no shortage of talent at receiver heading into the fall, as Evan Stewart is primed to ascend to star status, while sophomore Noah Thomas could very well be on the doorstep of a breakout season. Smith’s return gives the unit a bolt of experience, which means Texas A&M could have a “pick your poison” receiving room that will keep opposing defensive coordinators up at night.

Thankfully, at 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds, Muhammad has the size and frame to line up anywhere in various personnel sets despite projecting as a slot receiver coming out of high school. If we take Bobby Petrino’s new motto of “feed the studs” to heart, then there should be no concerns about whether Muhammad will be effectively used in the passing game.

After flexing his big play potential in a 2022 campaign with no shortage of speedbumps, his efficiency in the slot should pair nicely with Stewart’s star potential to form one of the most talented wide receiver duos in the SEC this season.

Moose Muhammad III’s Photo Gallery;

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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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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Highlights from Texas A&M Football’s ninth practice in the new Coolidge Football Performance Center

Here are the highlights from Texas A&M’s ninth football practice inside the the Aggies’ new Coolidge Football Performance Center

I hope you don’t get tired of us reminding you that Texas A&M’s 2023 football season is now just a mere three weeks away, and as the Aggie’s ninth fall practice took place on Friday afternoon inside the new Coolidge Football Performance Center in the Graham athletic center, which is quite the beauty.

While the all-encompassing quarterback battle between sophomore Conner Weigman and senior southpaw Max Johnson has yet to conclude, both talented signal-callers continued showing off their skill sets while tossing passes to the Aggies’ talented receiving core members. At the same time, Weigman’s natural connection with star wideout Evan Stewart is a sign that the duo’s momentum from the latter half of the 2022 campaign hasn’t declined in the slightest.

The defense went through their regular drills while the linebacker core, as TexAgs recruiting analyst David Sandhop points out, looked much deeper than many of us assumed they’d before the important addition of former Jackson State LB Jurriente Davis earlier this year.

Like most teams this fall, the Aggies are currently dealing with a few bumps and bruises across the roster, though nothing significant is worth mentioning at this moment. Overall, the team has continued to progress on both sides of the ball, and with more practices to go, various position-based questions will soon be answered.

Here are the best highlights from Texas A&M’s ninth fall practice.

Texas A&M Football 2023 Position Preview: Wide Receivers; Among the best groups in the country

Texas A&M’s wide receiver corps is teeming with a nice mix of star upside and veteran experience, making it among the best in the country.

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.

The Aggies’ wide receiver corps is teeming with a perfect mix of star upside and veteran experience, making this unit among the best in the country.

Returning production: Sophomore Evan Stewart returns after a promising 2022 campaign as the starting X receiver. He logged 53 receptions, 649 yards, and two touchdowns in 10 games as a true freshman last season and flashed why he was a top-10 recruit of the 2022 cycle.

Graduate Ainias Smith returns as the likely starting slot receiver, having recorded 15 receptions for 291 yards and two touchdowns in four games during the 2022 season. Smith saw limited action due to a season-ending leg injury that he suffered in last season’s win over Arkansas.

Junior Moose Muhammad III is back in Aggieland as the likely starting Z receiver, having finished with 38 receptions for 610 yards and four touchdowns in 10 games during the 2022 campaign. Sophomore Noah Thomas could be a potential breakout candidate after finishing with five receptions for 51 yards and two touchdowns in five games last season.

Rounding out the returners is senior Jalen Preston, who tallied seven receptions for 89 yards and one touchdown in 12 games last year.

Departures: Sophomore Chris Marshall had transferred to Ole Miss but has since left the team. Junior Yulkeith Brown entered the transfer portal and landed with Tulane, while senior Chase Lane transferred to Georgia Tech. Rounding out the departures is Senior Devin Price, who transferred to App State.

Final Observation: A&M ranked 95th in the country in passing last year (204.2 ypg), but the root cause was a stagnant and unimaginative offense. That stands to change in 2023 with Bobby Petrino stepping in as the new offensive coordinator, and the group that should greatly benefit is the wide receiver corps.

The creativity of Petrino’s offensive scheme, which allows for multiple players to do damage from various spots on the field, will only maximize what Stewart, Smith, and Muhammad have to offer. Petrino’s track record as an offensive guru speaks for itself, as his offenses have averaged at least 400 yards in 16-of-20 seasons and 30 points per game in 15 seasons.

Coupled with the belief that Conner Weigman will take a leap in year two under center, Texas A&M has the right pieces to make the air attack a focal point of what should be a resurgent offense.

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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Twelve Aggies will represent Texas A&M in the 2024 East-West Shrine Bowl

Ahead of the 2024 East-West Shrine Bowl, twelve Aggie football players will represent the Maroon and White on Feb. 1.

We’re just 42, yes, 42 days away from the end of “talkin’ season” and the start of actual Texas A&M Football being played inside Kyle Field, as the Aggies kick off their crucial 2023 campaign on Saturday, Sept. 2, hosting New Mexico.

Now, taking a sneak peek ahead to February, which is likely a dreaded thought for most, it was announced this week that twelve Aggie football players will represent the program in the 2024 East-West Shrine Bowl, which for the first time in its vast history will take place in my former hometown, Frisco, Texas at the Ford Center at The Star, the NFL’s Dallas Cowboy’s primary practice field.

Texas A&M’s 2023 season may already be marred by several media-obsessed storylines surrounding the program’s 2022 failures and how well Jimbo Fisher and new offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino’s “egos” will work in tandem. Still, focusing on the unscathed truths around what truly matters while gauging future success, the Aggies roster is stacked from top to bottom. Every player selected in the East-West Shrine Bowl is some of the best at their respective postion in the county.

  • Senior Punter, Nic Constantinou 
  • Junior Linebacker, Edgerrin Cooper 
  • Senior Cornerback, Josh DeBerry
  • Junior Defensive end, Fadil Diggs 
  • Senior Cornerback, Tony Grimes 
  • Senior Defensive Tackle, McKinnley Jackson 
  • Junior Wide receiver, Moose Muhammad III
  • Senior Safety, Demani Richardson 
  • Senor Offensive guard, Layden Robinson 
  • Senior Linebacker Chris Russell Sr. 
  • Senior Wide receiver (selected as a running back) Ainias Smith 
  • Junior Offensive guard Jordan Spacojevic-Moko

In response to the change of venue, Dallas Cowboys’ Chief Operating Officer, Executive Vice President, and Director of Player Personnel, Stephen Jones, described his excitement in bringing the game to Frisco and its continued effort in raising the profile for Shriners Children Hospital.

“It is a tremendous honor to host the East-West Shrine Bowl at the Ford Center at The Star next February,” said Stephen Jones “The game is a fixture in college football. We look forward to bringing the best college football players in the country to Frisco in the spirit of helping Shriners Children’s care for young patients around the world.”

Congratulations to all twelve young men for their selection ahead of what is hopefully a memorable 2023 season in College Station.

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 WR Moose Muhammad III listed as a Top 10 wide receiver in the 2024 NFL Draft

According to PFF’s Trevor Sikkema, Texas A&M WR Moose Muhammad III is among the Top 10 receivers ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Texas A&M’s 2023 wide receiver depth chart is borderline elite and by far the best group in the SEC, headlined by the four-man starting rotation consisting of senior Ainias Smith, sophomore Evan Stewart, sophomore Noah Thomas, and perhaps the most NFL-ready prospect aside from Smith, junior Moose Muhammad III.

Last week, PFF writer Trevor Sikkema released his preliminary Top 10 rankings for what he considers to be the best wide receiver prospects ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft. While Ohio State’s No.1 receiving option Marvin Harrison Jr. (son of NFL Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison), took the top spot, another second generation, or in this case, third, was placed at No. 10, as Moose Muhammad III looks to represent the Maroon and White as one of the first Aggies taken off the board in 2024.

Muhammad III, whose father, Muhsin Muhammad, spent 13 seasons in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers (1996-2004, 2008-2009), and Chicago Bears (2005-2007), what essentially a hidden gem on Texas A&M’s roster until the 2022 season, where due some early season injuries/suspensions gave way to what I would coin the Moose Muhammad coming out party, recording 38 receptions, 610 receiving yards, four touchdowns, and 16.1-yard average in ten games and six starts on the year.

Standing at 6-1 and 205 pounds, Muhammad’s size, speed, route running, ball skills, and ability to expose zone coverage at a consistent clip are just some of the many reasons his profile will continue to rise. At the same time, the 2023 season among a revamped Aggie offense behind new offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino should only increase his productivity.

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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Seven Aggies make PFF’s 2023 Preseason All-SEC Team

Ahead of Texas A&M’s pivotal 2023 CFB season, seven Aggies have made PFF’s 2023 Preseason All-SEC Team.

The countdown to Texas A&M’s pivotal 2023 football season is nearing the 40-day mark, and after Head Coach Jimbo Fisher, who wide receiver Ainias Smith accompanied, defensive end Fadil Diggs, and defensive tackle McKinnley Jackson spoke during the first day of the 2023 SEC Media Days, college football is (kind of) back!

On Monday, PFF writer Anthony Treash released his 2023 Preseason All-SEC Team, as senior LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels unsurprisingly leads the way as the First Team signal caller, seven well-known players for the Maroon and White received First Team, Second Team, and Third Team selections, as the Aggie’s roster is by far one of the more talented and experienced groups in the conference and the country.

Entering his sixth season as the helm, Jimbo Fisher’s polarized relationship with the media has zero effect on how the Aggies perform on the field this season. Still, to echo nearly every fellow writer who covers the program, the trust he has developed with the fanbase will slowly fade away.

However, new OC and (assumed) play-caller Bobby Petrino may be the cure-all to A&M’s offensive shortfalls in 2022, and as these rankings display, he’ll have plenty to work with.

Every Texas A&M player selected in PFF’s 2023 Preseason All-SEC Team is listed below!

Texas A&M lands in Phil Steele’s Top 5 most-improved teams ahead of the 2023 CFB Season

Texas A&M has landed in Phil Steeles’ Top 16 most-improved teams in 2023 list, finding themselves among the Top 5 teams.

What if I told you that having high expectations for Texas A&M ahead of the pivotal 2023 college football season was okay, especially after their disastrous 5-7 (2-6 SEC) 2022 campaign?

Well, I’m here to confirm that all of us in the Aggie media sphere aren’t the only ones in the hope business regarding the Maroon and White, as longtime CFB analyst Phil Steele, known for his annual season preview magazine, released his Top 16 most-improved teams ahead of the 2023 season, which happens to include Texas A&M who landed among the Top five teams listed.

Leading the SEC in returning production with eight starters returning on offense and defense, including veteran players such as wide receiver Ainias Smith, defensive tackle McKinnley Jackson, and strong safety Demani Richardson, who will all take on important leadership roles not only on the field but also inside the locker room.

Led sophomore quarterback Conner Weigman who’s poised to take the next step in his development after finishing 2022 with 896 passing yards, eight touchdowns, and zero interceptions for a 132.3 passer rating in five games during the latter half of the 2022 season, is poised to take the next step in his development under play-calling savant and QB guru Bobby Petrino, who’s entering his first season as the program’s new offensive coordinator.

Here are the Top five teams poised to improve in 2023, according to Phil Steele.