Tag: Noah Thomas

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.

Everything Noah Thomas and Bryce Anderson had to say during Texas A&M’s Fall practice Media Day

Here is everything Noah Thomas and Bryce Anderson had to say during their Q&A portion of Texas A&M’s Fall Practice Media Day.

Texas A&M’s first and only open practice during fall practice is slated for Sunday afternoon inside Kyle Field, as both the public and the media will have the opportunity to preview what’s to come ahead of A&M’s season opener vs. New Mexico on Saturday, Sept. 2.

Before the open practice, the Aggies held their annual Media Day, as every media member in attendance posed questions to every coach and player available to take the podium were Assistant Head Coach Elijah Robinson, Defensive Coordinator DJ Durkin, Offensive Coordinator Bobby Petrino, and players Max Johnson, Conner Weigman, Noah Thomas, and Bryce Anderson. Of course, media day wouldn’t be complete without the Aggies’ leader at the helm, Head Coach Jimbo Fisher.

Representing the wide receivers, Spring MVP Noah Thomas is entering his sophomore season with high exceptions after a mostly absent 2022 campaign; the 6-5 sprinter possesses every trait needed to succeed in what should be a much-improved offense under new offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino, paired with an elite starting WR unit including Evan Stewart, Ainias Smith, and Moose Muhammad III. Oh, and it looks like Thomas is very comfortable with both options at quarterback this season.

“For both of those guys, being on the field together and competing against each other is great because they get better every single day.”

Speaking for the defense, sophomore defensive back Bryce Anderson, one of the most versatile athletes in the country, will likely fill the void left by nickel corner Antonio Johnson, who the Jacksonville Jaguars drafted in the 2023 NFL Draft. Possessing an elite blend of physicality and athleticism is already a proven run-stopper due to his notable closing speed after accumulating 28 total tackles (16 solo) with 1.0 forced fumble and two fumble recoveries last season. As a proven leader in the locker room, Anderson knows that the work the Aggies have put in this offseason will finally lead to positive results.

“We are going to prove everybody wrong. We have a standard set… We have to meet that standard everyday.”

Here are Noah Thomas and Bryce Anderson’s full press conference videos from Fall Camp Media Day 2023.

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 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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5 sleepers on Texas A&M’s offense heading into the 2023 season

As Texas A&M’s offense looks to make a significant improvement in 2023, be on the lookout for these five sleeper candidates to make an impact.

With just under two months until the 2023 college football season, it means that an emphatic bounce-back campaign from Texas A&M is just around the corner. You know it, I know it, and the 12th Man knows it, and it will take a collective effort to reach that goal.

It’s no secret that for the Aggies to reach success this coming season, it hinges on their offense to make a drastic improvement from their scoring mark in 2022. Last year, the Maroon and White ranked 101st in the country with a scoring average of 22.8 points per game. Spoiler alert: that’s not going to cut it when facing SEC juggernauts such as Alabama and LSU.

With new offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino in the fold, it opens the door for some much-needed ingenuity in the playbook to help maximize the star potential on that side of the ball. Sophomore quarterback Conner Weigman could be in for a dark-horse Heisman campaign with no shortage of targets in the likes of Evan Stewart, Ainias Smith, and Moose Muhammad III leading a talented receiving unit.

But truth be told, those names won’t be the only ones to benefit from a revitalized offensive scheme. Once the Aggies take the field, we could see more than a handful of breakout candidates make a name for themselves in 2023.

Here are five players on Texas A&M’s roster you don’t want to make the mistake of sleeping on heading into the fall season.

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.

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.

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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Another offer in Texas, this time Notre Dame targets a ‘22 WR

Notre Dame offensive coordinator Tommy Rees offers Texas wide receiver Noah Thomas a scholarship after speaking on Friday night.

A flurry of offers have gone out to the 2022 recruiting class, most of them being on the defensive side of the ball. It was time to get on the offensive, as Tommy Rees reached out to Texas wide receiver Noah Thomas and after an “amazing conversation” was offered a scholarship.

Thomas has elite size at six-foot-five-inches and 187-pounds. If you look through the recent twitter activity from Thomas, the offer from the Irish’s offensive coordinator was a big one. Not only has he pinned the offer to his page, its littered with retweets about him receiving the offer.

Not only does Thomas possess elite size, he’s also got the speed to match it. He is a big time redzone threat, just throw the ball up in his area and with his size and leaping ability, Thomas goes up and gets it.

Notre Dame is getting in on Thomas early, as he is just starting to get some big time offers from schools around the country. Recruits tend to remember who has identified them early as a prospect that would fit at their school and hopefully the offer from Rees goes a long way with Thomas.