Tag: Reuben Fatheree II

Texas A&M has 2 of the highest rated offensive tackles in the state

Texas A&M right tackles Reuben Fatheree and Dametrious Crownover have been lights out this season

Texas A&M’s Week 5 showdown against the Arkansas Razorbacks takes center stage inside AT&T Stadium on Saturday afternoon, as the Southwest Classic will move to a new venue next season. For those who have been paying attention, Texas A&M has defeated the Razorbacks all but once since the 2012 campaign.

This season, both teams enter the game at 3-1 and 1-0 in SEC play while coming off close wins, especially the Aggies’ underwhelming Week 4 performance against a touch Bowling Green team. However, redshirt freshman quarterback Marcel Reed has continued to improve as Conner Weigman recovers from his shoulder injury.

Whoever starts at quarterback on Saturday, the Aggie offensive line must establish dominance in pass protection, as Arkansas’s top-15-ranked run defense could stifle the running game.

Starting left tackle Trey Zuhn has been the most dependable blocker this season. The right tackle position has been a two-man show between seniors Reuben Fatheree and Dametrious Crownover. According to Pro Football Focus, they are currently two of the highest-rated pass protectors in the state of Texas.

Fatheree, who returned from an injury that kept him inactive for most of the 2023 season, has allowed zero pressures, hurries, or sacks in 82 snaps at right tackle and is currently the highest-rated pass protector with an 83.3 grade and a 74.9 run blocking grade.

Crownover, who is equally massive and smooth with his feet, has logged 195 snaps at right tackle while allowing one hit and four quarterback hurries—the senior’s 65.5 pass protection grade is above average, while his 75.0 run blocking grade is one of the best on the team.

Fatheree deserves more snaps at right tackle if we’re strictly going by numbers. Still, given his injury history, it’s no surprise that head coach Mike Elko and O-line coach Adam Cushing are still rotating both players, which is an obvious advantage depth-wise.

Texas A&M will face Arkansas inside AT&T Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 28, at 2:30 p.m. CT. The game will air on ESPN.

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Texas A&M’s O-line looks vastly different after recent practice

Several changes accross the offenisve line could be coming this fall

Amid the final week of Texas A&M’s fall practice period, progress on both sides of the ball continues. The 2024 season opener vs. Notre Dame is less than two weeks away, and it will also serve as head coach Mike Elko’s inaugural season.

While the Aggies’ defense looks like the team’s predominant strength, it’s the offense that continues to take center stage. Led by starting quarterback Conner Weigman, the redshirt sophomore is counting on A&M’s offensive line to keep him upright throughout the season, which is quite the ask after this group’s performance last season.

With new O-line coach Adam Cushing attempting to build the best unit he can with pieces in front of him, the news that sophomore OL Chase Bisontis would move to guard full-time this season led to a shake-up in the trenches. After A&M’s 12th fall practice on Wednesday, GigEm247’s Carter Karels noticed an interesting change on the right side of the line.

In Texas A&M’s social media “sights and sounds” practice compilations, Karels responded on X to notice that sophomore Mark Nabou was starting at right guard. At the same time, former Kansas OL Ar’maj Reed-Adams surprisingly took reps at right tackle.

This fall, Nabou, who has competed for the starting center spot, possesses postion versatility at guard, so this isn’t a big surprise. Still, the fact that senior offensive tackle Reuben Fatheree II wasn’t taking most of the reps at right tackle is somewhat surprising.

If both players take over on the right side, does this mean that Chase Bistontis could take over at left guard? Time will tell, but we will certainly continue to monitor this change.

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Texas A&M’s O-line is playing with much needed intensity during fall camp

Texas A&M’s offensive line is looking more confident and aggressive this fall

Suppose you can take anything away from the short practice clips many of us post from Texas A&M’s second week of fall practice. In that case, the offensive line, under a microscope after the unit’s poor performance during the 2023 season, has begun to practice with much-needed intensity.

Under new O-line coach Adam Cushing, new additions combined with sophomore OL Chase Bisontis’s move to guard after spending the entirety of the 2023 season at right tackle have already improved the line, while starting left tackle Trey Zuhn III’s reliability provides Cushing plenty to work with.

This week, thanks to GigEm247’s Carter Karels for the videos, several presumed starters, including Zuhn, Bisontis, and former Kansas guard Ar’maj Reed-Adams, are practicing with pure aggression on concentration while a one-on-one battle between Bisontis and Zuhn had Adam Cushing shouting in excitement.

Right now, this is how Texas A&M’s starting offensive line could shake out at the end of fall camp:

  • Left tackle: Trey Zuhn III
  • Left guard: Ar’maj Reed-Adams
  • Center: Mark Nabou
  • Right guard: Chase Bisontis
  • Right tackle: Reuben Fatheree II

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Texas A&M OL Chase Bisontis’s position change has been announced

Chase Bisontis could be taking over at right guard this season

With the 2024 season inching closer, Texas A&M’s season opener vs. Notre Dame will pose as the primetime event on Saturday, August 31. This will also serve as Mike Elko’s inaugural matchup as the program’s newest head coach, who will begin fall practice with the team on Wednesday afternoon.

On Tuesday, Elko took questions from the local media in College Station to officially open the fall practice schedule. Thanks to the journalists in the room, the former Duke head coach provided key updates regarding nearly every position group, including Chase Bisontis’s new position across the offensive line.

While the center position battle is reportedly ongoing, Elko stated, in a semi-passionate fashion, that Bisontis has officially moved to guard and has reportedly been working at guard since Elko took over the program back in November.

“Chase (Bisontis) has been a guard all the way. He has never left guard. We feel that’s the right spot for him.”

“He has been a guard since day one with us.”

Standing at 6’6″ and 320 pounds, Bisontis was recently seen squatting 605 pounds for three reps, exhibiting the same elite strength that made him the No. 1-ranked 2023 prospect in New Jersey.

This move is a no-brainer with right tackle Reuben Fatheree II returning to the lineup, as Bisontis’s size and athleticism will make him an instant asset in the running game.

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Texas A&M OL Reuben Fatheree II announces his return for the 2024 season

Following several of his teammates, incoming Texas A&M senior OL Reuben Fatheree II will officially return for the 2024 season.

The good news keeps rolling in, as Texas A&M junior right tackle Reuben Fatheree II has joined several of his Aggie teammates in announcing his return for the 2024 season after missing ten games due to injury last season.

Through the now regularly scheduled Texas Aggies United post on X, serving as A&M’s official NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) partner, aided Fatheree in his announcement, simply stating “Run it Back” in said social media post. Fatheree’s absence last season was detrimental to the Aggies’ chances of gaining consistency on the O-line, as freshman tackle Chase Bisontis did the best he could with little to no experience.

Standing at 6’8″ and 315 pounds, Fatheree’s stature and athletic prowess make him the perfect tackle on paper, and with 25 appearances, including 23 starts, missing the bulk of last season shouldn’t hinder his ability to pick up where he left off.

Joining starting left tackle Trey Zuhn, guards Kam Dewberry and Mark Nabou, and center Bryce Foster, the Aggies have now returned their entire 2023 offensive line outside of guard Layden Robinson, who recently announced his departure for the 2024 NFL Draft.

Entering Texas A&M as a four-star recruit in the 2020 recruiting class, Fatheree, according to 247Sports, was positioned as the 17th-ranked offensive tackle and the 20th-ranked player in Texas.

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Initial injury report ahead of Texas A&M vs. Mississippi State

After head coach Jimbo Fisher’s Monday press conference, here is the Aggies initial injury report ahead of Texas A&M vs. Mississippi State.

Texas A&M (5-4, 3-3 SEC) is coming off a loss that may stick in every coach and player’s mind for quite some time, falling to the 10th-ranked Ole Miss Rebels 38-35 in the final minutes of the fourth quarter.

While the blame game continues to point towards the top, Aggies head coach Jimbo Fisher knows that his seat is burning up week after week as the losses pile up, and even worse, mediocrity sets in for a program littered with resources to contend at the highest level.

On Monday, Fisher spoke to the media to further reflect on the loss and, more importantly, provide several injury updates about quarterback Max Johnson, running back Le’Veon Moss, cornerback Tony Grimes, and right tackle Reuben Fatheree II.

First and foremost, the inappropriate rumors regarding Max Johnson’s rib injury, which still remain somewhat vague, should never be taken seriously until accurately reported. So, without going into detail, Fisher did reveal that Johnson is dealing with an upper body/rib injury. Still, it’s not as severe as the rumors entailed, as Johnson should be ready to go ahead of Texas A&M’s Week 11 home matchup vs. Mississippi State.

“Max was able to finish the game, was a couple off tough shots, but we’ll wait and see how it goes. But he should be good. I’m planning on him playing and hopefully we’ll see as it goes day-by-day.”

Concerning Le’Veon Moss, the ascending sophomore is also listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury, as Fisher noted as he avoided any ligament damage in the process.

There is good news and bad news surrounding transfer cornerback Tony Grimes, who has yet to see the field this season, as his first year in Aggieland will officially come to an end before even taking a live snap. Still, with his 2023 redshirt season going into effect, he will now have two more seasons of eligibility remaining.

Finally, right tackle Reuben Fatheree, who has been rehabbing throughout the season, is currently working on gaining his play strength back, keeping him sidelined for what is likely the rest of the year with only three games and possibly four, including a bowl game, remaining on the year.

Texas A&M will return to Kyle Field to take on Mississippi State on Saturday, Nov. 11 at 6:30 pm. CT. The game will air on ESPN2.

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

Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher provided several injury updates ahead of Texas A&M’s pivotal Week 7 road trip to face the Tennessee Volunteers.

Texas A&M (4-2, 2-1 SEC) is fresh off its difficult loss to Alabama on Saturday afternoon, falling to the Crimson Tide 26-20 in front of a sold-out Kyle Field.

Only sustaining their first conference loss, the Aggies are still technically in the thick of the things regarding the SEC West. Still, the road only gets more demanding as they will now travel to face the Tennesse Volunteers (4-1, 1-1 SEC) in Knoxville (TN). On Monday, head coach Jimbo Fisher spoke to the media to reflect on the loss while looking ahead to the stiff challenge the Vols present after coming off their respective bye week.

Concerning the current injury report after facing Alabama, star WR Evan Stewart’s ankle was less severe than anticipated, as he played throughout the entire matchup, and looks good to go for Saturday, barring any last-minute update. Now, finally receiving an update on the status of right tackle Reuben Fatheree, Fisher stated,

“Reuben (Fatheree) is still rehabbing and trying to get back.”

Somewhat cryptic, the team will have to wait at least another week until his eventual return. Fisher also provided a much-needed update on former North Carolina cornerback Tony Grimes, who’s reportedly dealing with a “lingering lower body injury” that has kept him sidelined for nearly a month. Also, safety Jardin Gilbert remains out.

For Tennessee, here is the injury list that will likely change before the end of the week:

  • OL Andrej Karic (Questionable, undisclosed)
  • WR Dont’e Thornton Jr. (Probable, undisclosed)
  • DB Christian Charles (Out, ankle)
  • WR Bru McCoy (Out, ankle)
  • LB Kwauze Garland (Out, undisclosed)
  • LB Keenan Pili (Out, upper body)
  • RB DeSean Bishop (Out, ankle)

Texas A&M will travel to face the Tennessee Volunteers on Saturday, Oct. 14, at 2:30 p.m. CT, inside Neyland Stadium (TV: CBS).

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Final injury report ahead of Texas A&M vs. Alabama

Here is the final injury report ahead of Texas A&M’s critical Week 6 matchup vs. the visiting Alabama Crimson Tide.

Texas A&M (4-1, 2-0 SEC) is set to take on the visiting Alabama Crimson Tide (4-1, 2-0 SEC) in by far the biggest matchup in college football in Week 6, as both teams are fighting for SEC West supremacy, especially after LSU dropped its second game of the season after falling to Ole Miss on Saturday night.

After defeating Arkansas 34-22, second-year defensive coordinator D.J Durkin is a man on a mission, orchestrating an impressive turnaround for an Aggie defense that has dominated the trenches, recording 14 sacks and 30 tackles for loss in their last two games while holding the Razorbacks to 174 total yards on the afternoon.

With the matchup less than 24 hours away, head coach Jimbo Fisher briefly updated the media on Monday regarding the newest injury report, as a majority of the roster, outside of offensive tackle Reuben Fatheree II and safety Jardin Gilbert, is healthy and ready to suit up. However, star sophomore wide receiver Evan Stewart’s recent ankle injury sustained against the Razorbacks is still a lingering issue.

While the rumor mill is simply unreliable, Stewart is now reportedly a game-time decision to face the Tide. Still, until we see otherwise, I’ll stick with Fisher’s original statement that the star pass catcher “should be good to go” tomorrow. Outside of Stewart, the Aggies’ stellar wide receiver core is back to full health as sophomore Noah Thomas is set to contribute at his usual level finally.

Texas A&M will host No.10 Alabama on Saturday, Oct. 7, at 2:30 p.m. CT, inside Kyle Field (TV: CBS).

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

After head coach Jimbo Fisher’s Monday press conference, here is the initial injury report ahead of Texas A&M vs. Alabama.

Texas A&M (4-1, 2-0 SEC) is set to take on the visiting Alabama Crimson Tide (4-1, 2-0 SEC) in by far the biggest matchup in college football in Week 6, as both teams are fighting for SEC West supremacy, especially after LSU dropped its second game of the season after falling to Ole Miss on Saturday night.

After demolishing Arkansas 34-22, second-year defensive coordinator D.J Durkin is a man on a mission, orchestrating an impressive turnaround for an Aggie defense that has dominated the trenches, recording 14 sacks and 30 tackles for loss in their last two games while holding the Razorbacks to 174 total yards on the afternoon.

Amid soaring expectations after starting the season 1-1, head coach Jimbo Fisher is taking his usual “nameless, faceless” approach to face the juggernaut that is Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide, but sounds as confident as ever heading into Saturday’s mid-afternoon showdown. On Monday, Fisher spoke to the media to preview the team’s preparation for the Tide while also providing several updates regarding the Aggies’ current injury report.

So far, so good, as sophomore wide receiver Evan Stewart was the only Aggie starter who sustained a minor ankle injury against Arkansas but did sit out for most of the second half after taking a brutal hit out of bounds after an impressive toe-tapping catch on a third-down conversion. As of today, Fisher stated that Stewart “should be good to go” against Alabama.

While the return of safety Jardin Gilbert remains in flux as he continues to recover, the same can be said for offensive tackle Reuben Fatheree II, who is apparently still rehabbing with no given return timetable.

For Alabama, linebacker Deontae Lawson is questionable with an ankle injury, and wide receiver Emmanuel Henderson Jr. will sit out due to a hip injury.

Texas A&M will host No.10 Alabama on Saturday, Oct. 7, at 2:30 p.m. CT, inside Kyle Field (TV: CBS).

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Final injury report ahead of Texas A&M vs. Arkansas

Here is the final injury report ahead of Texas A&M’s Week 5 matchup in Jerry World against the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Texas A&M (3-1, 1-0 SEC) took care of business last Saturday after defeating the visiting Auburn Tigers (3-1, 0-1 SEC) 27-10 behind backup quarterback Max Johnson’s second-half heroics after starting signal-caller Conner Weigman sustained an ankle injury late in the first half.

This Saturday, Texas A&M will travel to AT&T Stadium to face the Arkansas Razorbacks (2-2, 0-1 SEC) in one of the more heated rivalries in college football.

After Monday’s press conference, head coach Jimbo Fisher reported that Weigman’s initial injury prognosis was “day-to-day.” Yet, Wednesday’s gutwrenching report by Houston Chronicle Brent Zwerneman detailed that his ankle injury might be worse than we thought, as the final blow was confirmed by TexAgs’ Billy Liucci that the ascending sophomore signal called sustained a broken bone in his foot that will take an estimated 3.5 months to heal, ultimately ending his 2023 season.

Veteran quarterback Max Johnson will now take over for the rest of the 2023 slate. As most Aggies fans already know, the son of former Super Bowl-winning quarterback Brad Johnson is by far the best backup in college football and is more than capable of helping the Aggies accomplish their goals.

The good news on the injury front? Fisher confirmed that Sophomore wide receiver Noah Thomas is set to return on Saturday, while right tackle Reuben Fatheree II is reportedly still rehabbing from his spring knee injury, as his debut in the starting lineup will likely have to wait another week. Starting safety Jardin Gilbert will also likely miss his second consecutive game.

For Arkansas, star running back Raheim “Rocket” Sanders is still questionable for Saturday but will likely play, while wide receiver Sam Mbake is listed as out.

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