Tag: Reuben Fatheree II

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.

Texas A&M is one of eight FBS programs set to return all five starters on the offensive line

Texas A&M is reportedly one of eight FBS programs set to return five of their O-line starters from 2022, but questions remain.

Texas A&M’s 2022 season was marred by several areas of subpar play, and outside of inexperience paired with injury issues to key players throughout SEC play, Jimbo Fisher’s inability to stem the tide was at the heart of all the chaos.

This offseason, changes have been made with additions from the transfer portal and changes to the coaching staff, most notably the dismissal of long-time offensive coordinator Darrell Dickey, leading to the hiring of former SEC head coach Bobby Petrino to the same position.

One area of the offense, the offensive line, coached by veteran O-line coach Steve Addazio, was just awful in 2022, mainly due to inconsistency and injury after injury piling up as the season went on. However, through all its ups and downs, the unit is reportedly one of eight FBS programs that will return all five starters from last season. Still, the starting lineup changed nearly every week for those who weren’t paying attention in October and November.

Suppose we’re looking at it from its original depth chart in early Sept. of last year. In that case, the group consisting of left tackle Trey Zuhn III, left guard Kam Dewberry, center Bryce Foster, right guard Layden Robinson, and right tackle Reuben Fatheree II, Dewberry remains the only projected starter who found his way into the lineup midseason.

Depth at the tackle position pales in comparison to depth in the interior, as freshman tackle Chase Bisontis is presently one of the only reliable options if injuries at both tackle spots occur next season, so let’s say that Addazio once again, his work cut out form him. Overall, the continuity aspect is a huge positive going into 2023, especially for sophomore quarterback Conner Weigman whose success will significantly depend on consistency in pass protection.

Lastly, echoing GigEm247’s Carter Karels’ appearance on Bud Elliots Cover 3 Podcast, Jimbo Fisher’s reliance on “old school” O-line recruiting tactics focused on size instead of athleticism showed its weaknesses in droves last season. Still, with another year of experience, offseason training, and a sense of urgency, things will hopefully get back on track in the trenches.

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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.

2021 Four-Star OT Announces Top Nine Schools

2021 Four-Star offensive tackle Reuben Fatheree II has announced his top nine schools, with Texas making the cut.

2021 Four-Star offensive tackle Reuben Fatheree II has announced his top nine schools, Texas made the short list. The Longhorns join Big 12 foes Baylor, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Texas Tech in the running, while Notre Dame, Texas A&M, and Ohio State round out the top nine.

With 247Sports’ Crystal Ball currently projecting the Aggies, Texas may be losing a prospect to their bitter in-state rivals. Listed at 6-foot-8 and 305 pounds, Fatheree has already been compared to Mike McGlinchey of the San Fransico 49ers.

Coming out of Foster High School in Richmond, TX, Fatheree is the No. 15 ranked offensive tackle in the country. Listed as the 19th best player in the state of Texas, he misses out of a top 100 ranking by 18 spots.

When the recruiting class of 2021 is finished, it has the chance to be full of excellent offensive lineman for Texas. Already having the commitment for four-star OT Hayden Connor, the Longhorns are also favorite to sign the Brockermeyer twins. The protection for the quarterback post-Sam Ehlinger will be one of the best in the country if Texas can secure Fatheree’s signature.

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