Tag: Texas A&M Aggies Fooball

A trio of Alabama football stars spoke about Texas A&M during SEC Media Days

Amid last week’s 2023 SEC Media Days, Alabama Football Stars in Dallas, Turner, Kool-Aid McKinstry, and JC Lathan discussed Texas A&M in 2023.

The 2023 SEC Media Days have come and gone. After Texas A&M Head Coach Jimbo Fisher’s concealed day at the podium triggered the same ole’ “who will call plays in 2023” discussion, Fisher’s lack of brusque bravado provided more opportunities for all thirteen other SEC representatives to make their “talkin’ season” mark ahead of the 2023 college football season.

One underreported story concerning the Alabama Crimson Tide came in the form of a simple Q&A with three-star players, including offensive lineman JC Latham, cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry, and defensive end Dallas Turner, who was asked to shed some light on their experience facing Texas A&M during the first two years in the conference.

The Crimson Tide, who are coming off of their 11-2 (6-2 SEC) season, was once again selected to finish 1st in the SEC West, topping LSU and Texas A&M as the two and three spots. All three players hold a 1-1 record against the Aggies going into year three, and let me say that their views of the program completely contrast with rival fanbases, unsurprisingly.

Dallas Turner, who may be the face of the 2023 Crimson Tide squad, started the conversation off by looking back at both close matchups that came down to the final seconds, which of course, includes Aggies kicker Seth Small’s memorable game-winning field goal in 2021.

“It is always a battle when we play them, of course. Jimbo is doing a very good job over there, leading the guys in the right direction. There is a lot of talent over there. A lot of good things they are doing over there.”

Kool-Aid-Mckinstry, whose cool name takes a backseat to his elite ability on the gridiron, is looking forward to facing Texas A&M in Kyle Field this season.

“I know College Station is a very tough place to play. The SEC is going to (have) hard-fought games. That is why you play here at ‘Bama, and that is why you play in the SEC.”

Lastly, JC Latham noted the “unique” situations that occurred in both matchups, including former star quarterback Bryce Young’s absence in the last season’s game which undoubtedly gave the Aggies a fighting chance.

“As I was telling somebody earlier, experience is life’s greatest teacher. I think both years were not just the regular, we show up to play. My freshman year, we previously lost two games. So I think as a group, we did not think they would be ready to play us.

“Last year, we lost (2022 starting quarterback) Bryce (Young). I do not think we were mentally prepared for him not to play. I think we have to do a better job at understanding that anything can happen, anybody can go down at any given moment, they may not play the next game or however it may go. I think that comes from experience. Both games I played in had a unique situation to them.”

Alabama will travel to face Texas A&M inside Kyle Field on Saturday, Oct. 7, as both teams hope to be undefeated beforehand.

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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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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According to CBS Sports, Texas A&M is ‘among the hardest teams to place’ in the 2023 preseason polls

According to CBS Sports, Texas A&M is a confusing team to rank in a preseason poll ahead of their pivotal 2023 season.

Texas A&M’s 2023 football season has become the offseasons’ hottest talking point, headlined by the program’s attempt to rebound after their underwhelming 2022 5-7 (2-6 SEC) campaign, combined with Jimbo Fisher’s hiring of Bobby Petrino as the new offensive coordinator, which after merely existing as a simple news story last December, has resulted in an apparent “battle of the egos.’ between Fisher and Petrino.

Earlier this week, CBS Sports writer Chip Patterson compiled an informative list compiled of every team he believes is the most difficult to place in the upcoming major preseason poll releases next month, and to no surprise, Texas A&M’s 2022 results put any progress on hold, making them one of the more confusing teams to gauge ahead of their Sept. 2 season opener.

To accurately create his list, Patterson utilized several trusted college football experts and magazines, who have already released their preseason rankings ahead of AP and USA Today Sports.

“For our research, we were not limited to only traditional preseason magazines but some early power ratings and rankings as well for additional input. What we’ve found are seven teams that will be receiving significant top-25 consideration heading into the year … but with enough question marks to spark some real debate on where they fall. We’ll begin near the top of the rankings and work our way down, analyzing the reasons no one can seem to agree on each team.”

Focusing on Texas A&M’s 2022 offensive woes, ranking 101st in the country last season, Patterson geared his focus toward just how successful Jimbo Fisher and Bobby Petrino’s pairing will transpire in 2023 and if both offensive mindsets can avoid clashing instead of fusing.

“Jimbo Fisher’s time at SEC Media Days already brought this unique pairing into focus, with neither confirmation nor a denial on whether he would be handing over the play-calling duties to Petrino, the high-profile offensive coordinator hire that many Texas A&M fans have called for in recent years. While Texas A&M has been recruiting at a high level since Fisher arrived, the results — aside from a top-five finish in 2020 — have been middling, with a 5-7 showing in 2022 providing the “rock bottom” moment that sparked the hire of Petrino.

If you believe that Texas A&M’s close losses will flip to wins with the change in offensive approach, then Texas A&M occupies a spot in the top 15, with Phil Steele positioning the Aggies as high as No. 11. But the Aggies also check in at No. 20 (Athlon) and No. 30 (Lindy’s) in other rankings as those publications take a wait-and-see approach to what should be a bounce-back year in College Station.”

Fisher may not have explicitly stated that he would relinquish the play-calling duties to Petrino, but look, he hired him for that reason, and for those who watched the Maroon and White Spring game, Bobby Petrino’s presence in both offenses was hard to miss.

2022, as Patterson reminded us, was indeed an all-time-low in Fisher’s tenure with the program, and let’s be honest; with a loaded returning roster, ranked 8th in the country in returning production with 16 starters coming back (eight offense, eight defense), outside of a complete catastrophe, a rebound from five measly wins is almost guaranteed.

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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TexAgs’ Billy Liucci previews Texas A&M’s 2023 CFB season on ‘That SEC Podcast’

On the third day of the 2023 SEC Media Days, TexAgs’ Billy Liucci appeared on “That SEC Podcast” to preview the Aggies’ 2023 CFB Season

The 2023 college football season is just 44 days away, as Texas A&M will kick off their pivotal campaign against New Mexico inside what should be a packed Kyle Field on Saturday, Sept. 2

This week, the 2023 SEC Media Days in Nashville, Tennessee, have taken over the airwaves as Aggies Head Coach Jimbo Fisher took the podium on Monday to preview the upcoming season while continuing to keep certain aspects of the team under wraps, providing plenty of fodder for many in media to utilize for the next two months.

The trio of players who represented the Maroon and White includes wide receiver Ainias Smith, defensive tackle McKinnley Jackson, and defensive end Fadil Diggs, whose memorable style and swagger painted a bright picture of what will hopefully be a successful rebound as their highly disappointing 5-7 2022 season.

As I could not make the trip to Nashville this week, TexAgs took the coverage reigns, as the consistently excellent trio of Billy Liucci, David Nuńo, and Olin Buchanan provided a litany of interviews and analysis during the week’s entirety.

On Wednesday, Liucci, who is part owner and Executive Editor for the site, sat down with the guys from “That SEC Podcast,” who gave his preview of Texas A&M’s crucial upcoming football season while providing a sneak peek into the Aug. 8 premiere of Netflix’s “Untold: Johnny Manziel” documentary.

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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2024 4-star CB Cai Bates sets his official commitment date

2024 4-star cornerback and Texas A&M recruiting target Cai Bates has set his commitment date for Wednesday, July 26.

Texas A&M’s 2024 recruiting class is one of the hottest growing cycles in the country. After adding 13 prospects since June, plenty of talented players remain uncommitted, including four-star cornerback Cai Bates, who recently announced his upcoming commitment on Wednesday, July 26.

Bates, who is currently positioned as the 103rd-ranked player in the 2024 cycle, the 9th-ranked cornerback, and the 17th-ranked player in Florida, released his Top 10 program list last month made up of Florida, Florida State, Tennessee, Alabama, LSU, Colorado, UCF, Ohio State, Maryland, and Texas A&M.

Standing at 6-2 and 180 pounds, Bate’s versatility as a former wide receiver is one of the primary reasons he has received over 43 offers so far, leading to his two-way player performance during his 2022 junior season, recording 17 receptions for 241 yards and one touchdown combined with four interceptions and seven pass breakups. His speed, length, and natural ball skills set him apart from an athletic standpoint, although he still needs time to adapt to the technical aspects of the position entirely.

After taking an unofficial visit to College Station on May 27, just six days after the Aggies fielded an offer, Texas A&M is on the outside looking in, as LSU holds a slight lead after recently hosting Bates in late June.

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 will host 2024 5-star Edge Colin Simmons for a third visit

Texas A&M will host 2024 5-star Edge Colin Simmons for a third visit this year as they stay in the hunt with LSU and Texas.

Even when you think Texas A&M is out of the running for 2024, five-star Edge Colin Simmons, Jimbo Fisher, and his staff continue to show just how much recruiting magic they have left after landing 13 prospects this summer for a total of 18 in their 2024 cycle.

On Monday, 247Sports National Recruiting Director Steve Wiltfong revealed that Simmons, coming off the visiting rounds with Miami, SMU, Alabama, Texas, and Oregon, will also take consecutive visits to LSU and Texas A&M.

Earlier this month, Wiltfong dropped a similar recruiting nugget regarding Simmons and the Aggies, revealing that the Duncanville, Texas native will be attending Texas A&M’s end-of-July recruiting pool party/barbeque, so if this is the visit Witfong is currently referencing, this is just more confirmation that the Maroon and White are clearly in the running for Simmons moving forward/

According to 247Sports, Simmons is currently positioned as the 27th-ranked player in the class, the 4th-ranked Edge, and the 6th-ranked player in Texas, while his Composite ranking places him as the 8th-ranked player and the No.1 Edge and No.1-ranked player in the Lone Star State.

Standing at 6-3 and 225 pounds, strength, bend, and speed to power define Simmons’s ability as a pass rusher, and like most high-end athletes coming out of the high school ranks, he’ll quickly develop his pass rush arsenal as soon as he enters a collegiate program.

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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According to On3, 2024 5-star Athlete/Wide receiver Terry Bussey is now heavily favored to land with Texas A&M

According to On3’s newest recruiting update, 2024 5-star Athlete/Wide receiver Terry Bussey is now a “heavy” favorite to land with Texas A&M.

Amid all the SEC Media Days chaos, recruiting, as we know, never slows down, even during the current dead period. Texas A&M’s 2024 recruiting class remains one of the hottest cycles in the country, as eighteen prospects have given verbals, including 13 players since June.

One of the Aggie’s high-priority prospects, five-star athlete/ wide receiver Terry Bussey remains uncommitted. In On3’s newest recruiting update, the No.19-ranked player in the country has a 94.5% chance to land with the Maroon and White, while Texas (2.0%) and Alabama (1.1%) are in a distant second and third place.

According to On3’s Industry Rankings, Bussey is the 2nd-ranked athlete in the class, and the 5th-ranked player in Texas, as his incredible stat line from his 2022 junior season at Timpson High School in Timpson, Texas, throwing for 2,177 yards and 26 touchdowns with a 64% completion percentage as the starting quarterback while rushing for 2,596 yards and 46 touchdowns with a 14-yard per rush average. Bussey recorded over 115 tackles and five interceptions as a two-way player, with four returned for touchdowns as a defensive back.

Bussey is being recruited by Aggies’ defensive backs coach TJ Rushing and defensive assistant Bryant Gross-Armiento as a cornerback. Still, due to his elite ability on offense, I wouldn’t be surprised if discussions surrounding a role at wide receiver are being discussed. Yet to announce a commitment date, we’ll be sure to announce any new developments.

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!

Former Texas A&M DB Smoke Bouie has parted ways with Georgia, according to Head coach Kirby Smart

Former Texas A&M DB Smoke Bouie, who recently transferred to Georgia in January, has reportedly parted ways with the program.

On Tuesday morning, Georgia Head Coach Kirby Smart, who spoke to the media on the second day of the 2023 SEC Media Days (July 17-20), released a bit of surprising information concerning defensive back Smoke Bouie, who transferred to the Bulldogs from Texas A&M in early January.

This summer, it was revealed that Bouie had not been in contact with Georgia, which led to intense speculation regarding his future with the Bulldogs. As of Tuesday, Kirby Smart confirmed that Bouie is no longer a program member.

“Smoke is no longer with our team. It’s been that way for a while,” Smart said Tuesday. “It was mutually agreed to part ways, and we wish him nothing but the best.”

As a member of the Aggies’ historic 2022 recruiting class, Bouie was ranked as the 46th player in the cycle, the 3rd-ranked safety, and the 7th-ranked player in Georgia, According to 247Sports. Bouie recorded three tackles and one pass deflection in seven games last season.

“It was very disappointing his stay was short,” Smart stated. “But it was a decision that was made by both parties, and we wish him nothing but the best. He’s from the same hometown that I’m from, and I know a lot of people back there. But it was the decision that was made.”

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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