Tag: Moose Muhammad III

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;

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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.

Texas A&M’s receiving corps ranks top 10 heading into the 2023 season

Led by the trio of Evan Stewart, Ainias Smith, and Moose Muhammad III, Texas A&M’s talented receiving corps was ranked in the top 10 in the country by one college football outlet.

Texas A&M has a case to be made for boasting the most talented wide receiver unit in all of college football, and the Aggie faithful aren’t the only ones backing up that claim.

In Pro Football Focus‘ ranking of the top-10 receiving corps in college football heading into the 2023 season, Texas A&M clocked in at No. 9 overall. The only SEC foes to register a better ranking were Georgia (No. 4) and LSU (No. 8). The Maroon and White sit one spot ahead of Alabama (No. 10).

According to PFF College Football Analyst Max Chadwick, the reasoning behind the Aggies’ No. 9 ranking lies in the volume of returning talent with immense upside:

“Evan Stewart immediately showed why he was a top-10 overall recruit, leading the Aggies with 643 receiving yards as a true freshman. The sky’s the limit for him in Year 2.

Moose Muhammad III was right behind him and tied for seventh among SEC receivers last year with 20 catches of 15-plus yards. Ainias Smith had his season cut short due to a broken fibula but led the Aggies in receiving during both the 2020 and 2021 seasons. Texas A&M also returns Donovan Green, who was seventh among SEC tight ends with 233 receiving yards as just a true freshman in 2022.”

PFF rightly giving the Aggies receiving corps their flowers is a sight for sore eyes after some recent disrespect on social media. And in reality, their No. 9 ranking feels appropriate given the context. A&M ranked 95th in the country in passing last year (204.2 ypg), but truth be told a stagnant and unimaginative offense handicapped the talent level on the field.

That stands to change in 2023 with Bobby Petrino stepping in as the new offensive coordinator. Throughout Petrino’s coaching career, his offenses have averaged at least 400 yards in 16-of-20 seasons and 30 points per game in 15 seasons. His teams have eclipsed the 500-yard and 40-point thresholds five and three times, respectively.

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. Sophomore tight end Donovan Green is an added x-factor, as Graduate Max Wright teased how Petrino has a knack for disguising TEs through different formations.

It’s encouraging to see the likes of PFF understand the immense upside the Aggies receiving corps has heading into the fall. Yet with a talented trio in Stewart, Smith, and Muhammad leading the way, it’s not a stretch to say this unit could make a case for being top five, at least, once the 2023 season gets underway.

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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On3 questionably leaves Aggies Evan Stewart, Ainias Smith off list of best SEC WRs

On3 asked who is the best wide receiver in the SEC, and of course, Texas A&M’s own Evan Stewart, Ainias Smith, and Moose Muhammad III were questionably left out.

The disrespect continues to pile up for Texas A&M, and the latest example is taking aim at the Aggies talented receiving room.

Ahead of what should be a wildly entertaining season of SEC football, On3 posed a question to the Twitter landscape that would only ensure (friendly) chaos to ensue in the comments. As arguably the most competitive conference in all of college football, the SEC has no shortage of talented pass catchers.

But most importantly, which wide receiver is equipped to have the best 2023 season, and which is the best receiver of them all?

A fair question, no doubt, but the names proposed by On3 were, for all intents and purposes, disrespectful to the talent level found in College Station. The proposed candidates on On3’s social media graphic were LSU’s Malik Nabers, South Carolina’s Antwane Wells Jr., Kentucky’s Barion Brown, and Alabama‘s Traeshon Holden.

Wait for just a minute…no, Evan Stewart? No Ainias Smith? How about Moose Muhammad III? It doesn’t matter if there’s an “other” recommendation hovering below; this is the epitome of disrespect!

Upon a glance at the ensuing comments, one reply sticks out like a sore thumb: “Could’ve been fun last year with an even better team but was it? No.” And there lies the cause for the Aggies’ disrespect, with recency bias rearing its ugly head once more.

Truth be told, Texas A&M should not be exempt from criticism following an underwhelming 5-7 season in 2022. However, a reimagined offense that should get a jolt of ingenuity from new OC Bobby Petrino should play a role when considering which receivers are in for a successful 2023 season.

Stewart, in just year one, averaged 12.2 yards per reception, and it’s clear he has yet to reach his ceiling of star potential. Muhammad averaged 16.1 yards per reception and logged the best receiving grade of his collegiate career of 77.7 per PFF (which was higher than Nabers, Wells Jr., Brown, and Holden.)

Although his 2022 campaign was limited, Smith is a known threat from anywhere on the field, and his versatility gives him an edge versus plenty of SEC competition. Even with his limited time on the field last year, he still averaged 19.4 yards per catch, and he should round out a highly talented receiving trio after returning to College Station this season.

The trials of last season clearly fuel the disrespect leading into 2023. Still, it should only serve as more bulletin board material for the Aggies to assemble an emphatic bounce-back campaign. With that as the primary goal, look for Texas A&M’s talent-laden receiving unit to lead 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 Pete on Twitter: @PeteThreee.

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