Tag: Texas A&M Aggies Fooball

QB controversy brewing in Aggieland? Jimbo Fisher reveals ongoing competition between Conner Weigman and Max Johnson

During the 2023 SEC Media Days, Jimbo Fisher noted that the quarterback competition between Conner Weigman and Max Johnson is much tighter than many of us expected.

Texas A&M Head Coach Jimbo Fisher opened the 2023 SEC Media Day in his usual chatty fashion, speaking with reporters more casually before taking the stage for the annual Q&A with various members of the college sports media.

Aside from the apparent play-calling dispute involving new Aggie’s offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino, Fisher’s brief yet revealing comment regarding the quarterback competition between sophomore Conner Weigman and senior southpaw Max Johnson has re-opened the conversation on who will start under center during the 2023 season.

“They both had good springs. I’m very confident in both guys.”

First, nothing is set in stone when it comes to any starting postion under Jimbo Fisher, at least when you ask him about it in person. So yes, take this non-answer with a grain of salt. Still, when you break down both players’ 2022 seasons, Weigman’s end-of-season momentum and chemistry with the starting wide receiver core still places him in the lead, but as we all know, Max Johnson’s arm strength, accuracy, and proven experience with two full starting seasons at LSU is one of the many reasons this is still technically an ongoing competition.

Here are both players’ statistical performances in 2022:

  • Conner Weigman: 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
  • Max Johnson: 517 passing yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions for a 135.7 passer rating in four games during the start of the 2022 season before a season-ending hand injury in the loss to Mississippi State.

To further add to the debate, senior wide receiver Ainias Smith state that both Weigman and Johnson have displayed leadership qualities within the locker room, stating,

“I expect greatness.”

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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Is 2024 4-star DL T.A. Cunningham trending toward Texas A&M?

Through subtle social media hints, 2024 4-star DL T.A. Cunningham has indicated that Texas A&M is more than in play for his commitment.

Texas A&M’s 2024 recruiting class is flirting with a Top 5 team ranking when all is said and done, most recently adding 4-star wide receiver Ernest Campbell on Saturday afternoon, becoming the 18th prospect in the class.

Last Friday, 2024, four-star defensive lineman T.A Cunningham released his final program list ahead of his commitment scheduled for Saturday, July 22, which includes Penn State, Oklahoma, Miami, Michigan, and Texas A&M. According to 247Sports “Crystal Ball,” The Nittany Lions are currently the leaders for Cunningham, but as we’ve seen with several members of A&M’s 2024 class, take these predictions with a grain of salt.

This weekend, the rising defensive prospect dropped numerous clues via Twitter regarding where his mind might be during the final stages of his recruiting journey, and by the looks of it, the Aggies’ recruiting momentum may have caught the attention of Cunningham, who went on to post multiple Aggie related post including one dawning a Maroon and White jersey and a simple “thumbs up” emoji.

Take that as you will, as Cunningham has yet to take an official visit to College Station, while his last unofficial visit occurred last October. However, the Aggies have beaten the recruiting prediction odds; with offensive tackle Weston Davis (predicted to land with LSU) and safety Myles Davis (predicted to land with Texas), anything is possible, especially with a whole week remaining before his commitment.

From his limited tape, Cunningham has lined up as a 3-4 defensive end and a standing 4-3 outside linebacker while consistently showing a blend of high motor athleticism and the ability to convert speed to power in his pass rush, so in other words, he’s as versatile as they come.

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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Just how fast is new Texas A&M WR commit, Ernest Campbell?

After 2024 4-star WR Ernest Campbell committed to Texas A&M on Saturday, those unfamiliar with his skill set are in for a treat.

On Saturday, Texas A&M’s 2024 recruiting class is now 18 players deep after four-star wide receiver Ernest Campbell, currently one of the fastest human beings on the planet (it’s a long list), committed to the Maroon and White, joined fellow wide receiver commits in Cameron Coleman, Drelon Miller, Jaylan Hornsby, and Debron Gatling.

Don’t be fooled; Campbell isn’t just a Track & Field star but a darn good football player as well, recording 35 receptions for 597 yards in 15 games while running for 277 yards and two touchdowns during his 2022 junior season at Refugio High School.

Becoming the 2A 100-meter and 200-meter state champion, Campbell’s 10.22-second time in the 100 sets a new 2A record which ties him for the 6th all-time in Texas in the 100m, following all levels to competition.

Credit Good Bull Hunting Managing Editor Robert Behrens, who smartly noted that former Texas A&M running back Devon Achane’s 10.53 100m high school time pales in comparison to Campbell’s recent achievement, who is also one of the fastest players in the country, and already one of the fastest in the NFL before even taking a snap.

Yes, Campbell is only 5-8 and just over 150 pounds, but echoing Behrens, who cares when you possess speed like that, and just like Devon Achane, once he enters Texas A&M’s strength and conditioning program next spring/summer, adding healthy mass shouldn’t be an issue. As they say, speed kills, and in 2024, the Aggies’ wide receiver room will be loaded with it.

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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5 potential questions for Jimbo Fisher as Texas A&M heads into the 2023 SEC Media Days

Here are five potential questions Aggies Head Coach Jimbo Fisher will be asked during this week’s SEC Media Days (July 17-20)

The 2023 college football season is less than 50 days away. While Big 12 Media Days took place last week, it’s time for the SEC to take over the media landscape as all 14 Head Coaches in the conference head to Nashville, Tennessee, to preview the upcoming season.

At the same time, Jimbo Fisher and Texas A&M are likely to take center stage once again after coming off of their disappointing 5-7 (2-6 SEC) 2022 campaign, mainly due to the tremendously high preseason expectations, including a No.6 AP ranking.

More than a year removed from the now memorable Jimbo Fisher vs. Nick Saban “War of Words” after the Alabama Head Coach accused Fisher of “buying” the Aggies top-ranked 2022 recruiting class at an event in Birmingham, Alabama, last May, Fisher’s sharp response just days later led to a media fervor that lasted all the way to last year’s 2022 SEC Media Days, resulting in Fisher’s first four questions about Nick Saban’s mere existent as a human being.

This year, Fisher will be joined by three veteran players, including wide receiver Ainias Smith, Defensive tackle McKinnley Jackson, and defensive end Fadil Diggs, who are all scheduled to speak to the media on Monday at 1:55 p.m., which will air on the SEC Network.

Ahead of what should be a highly interesting back and forth, here are five potential questions Jimbo Fisher will be asked on Monday.

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.

2024 4-Star WR Ernest Campbell commits to Texas A&M

Boom! 2024 4-star WR and Track & Field star Ernest Campbell is now the 18th commit in Texas A&M’s 2024 recruiting class.

Boom! Texas A&M has secured its 18th commitment and fifth wide receiver in its 2024 recruiting class, landing four-star wide receiver Ernest Campbell, who joins fellow wide receiver commitments in Cameron Coleman, Drelon Miller, Jaylan Hornsby, and Debron Gatling.

Speed, speed, and more speed define Campbell’s on-field ability, and According to 247Sports Composite rankings, Campbell is currently the 66th-ranked wide receiver prospect in the 2024 cycle and the 77th-ranked player in Texas.

Campbell may be undersized at 5-8 and just over 150 pounds. Still, after posting at 10.22 second time in the 100-meter dash, Jimbo Fisher and newly minted offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino indeed have visions of Campbell lining up in the slot and outrunning every defender on the field while utilizing his versatility in the backfield with a mix of sweeps and bubble screens.

During his 2022 junior season at Refugio High School, Campbell caught 35 passes for 597 yards in 15 games while running for 277 yards and two touchdowns. Ernest Campbell is more than a track and field star but needs to add more bulk to his frame before entering the collegiate ranks. Texas A&M beat out Nebraska, Texas Tech, and Oregon, while his official visit to College Station on June 2 looked to have sealed the deal. Congratulations, Ernest! Gig ’em!

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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What Texas A&M is getting in 4-Star Safety, Myles Davis

After committing to the Aggies last Wednesday, 2024, 4-star Safety Myles Davis has tremendous potential in D.J. Durkin’s system.

Texas A&M once again defeated nearly every recruiting prediction involving 2024 four-star safety Myles Davis last week, as the Converse (TX) Judson defender chose the Maroon and White overly the heavily favored in-state rival Texas Longhorns on Wednesday, as Jimbo Fisher and his staff made sure that one of the more versatile defensive backs in the cycle made College Station his new home next year.

What exactly are the Aggies getting in Davis on the field? From the naked eye, Davis’s (6-1, 180 pounds) film shows a player with great instincts, natural ball skills, solid vision, and the ability to thrive in all three levels on the field due to his length and speed in coverage. During his time at Judson in the coverage-centric 3-3-5 scheme, Davis was asked to play the Mike linebacker role against the run in addition to his coverage duties at safety, resulting in 38 tackles, four interceptions, and six pass breakups during his 2022 junior season.

Focusing on ability against the pass, there’s a reason Jimbo Fisher reportedly told Davis that he “sees some Derwin James in me” after viewing a majority of his coverage snaps. Physically, his speed, clocked at 11.31 in the 100 meters during his 2021 sophomore year, aids in his downhill pursuit once he finds his target against the run or pass, while his length and large frame usually result in perfect form tackles.

As mentioned above, his vision and ability to read the quarterback pre-snap in his drop-back consistently eliminated passing lanes, forcing mistakes that resulted in 10 interceptions or pass breakups on Davis’s end. In a handful of snaps, Davis also could effortlessly flip his hips in coverage when asked to cover receivers on the boundary as a cornerback.

Overall, Myles Davis is the position versatile safety prospect Jimbo Fisher and Aggies Defensive Coordinator D.J Durkin have been looking for in the recruiting cycle, possessing the speed, vision, play processing, and athletic profile needed to make plays at all three levels while providing depth to what should be a loaded safety room 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 Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.

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2024 4-star Tight end Caleb Odom set to commit on Saturday (tonight) July 15

2024 4-star tight end Caleb Odom will announce his collegiate destination on Saturday night, with the Aggies squarely in play among multiple suitors.

Texas A&M’s 2024 recruiting class is ever-growing after landing its 17th prospect on Wednesday after four-star safety Myles Davis chose the Aggies over the rival Texas Longhorns, confusing several recruiting sites, while Rivals/Aggies recruiting insider Landyn Rosow stood as one of the only analysts to predict Davis’s decision correctly.

On Saturday night, another blue-chip prospect in the 2024 cycle is set to announce his collegiate decision at 8:00 p.m. CT. as four-star tight end Caleb Odom, one of the more elite receivers in the country, will choose between Alabama, Florida, Miami, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M.

Odom is the 64th-ranked player in the 2024 cycle, the 4th-ranked tight end, and the 11th-ranked player in Georgia per 247Sports Composite. He’s 6-5 and 215 pounds, with over 33 offers, and Texas A&M is still in the running. Odom is a versatile receiver and seam buster, blurring the line between tight end and wide receiver.

Jimbo Fisher and his staff, especially secondary coach Bryant Gross-Armiento, have assembled a class that could end up ranked in the Top 5 come February, and adding yet another elite tight end like Caleb Odom into the fold further couldn’t hurt.

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 DL T.A. Cunningham places Texas A&M in his Top 5 program list

Talented 2024 4-star defensive tackle T.A. Cunningham, whose commitment date is July 22, has placed the Aggies in his Top 5 list.

Texas A&M’s 2024 recruiting class is 17 players deep. Jimbo Fisher and his staff are still going strong as plenty of talent remains uncommitted. At the same time, one notable prospect out of Miami, Florida, has narrowed his final program list this week.

Four-star defensive lineman T.A. Cunningham, who, according to 247Sports, is currently positioned as the 28th-ranked defensive lineman, and the 34th-ranked player in Florida, released his Top 5 program list on Friday, which includes Penn State, Oklahoma, Miami, Michigan, and Texas A&M.

Cunningham has been on the Aggie’s radar since offering him in October 2021. Still, after two unofficial visits in 2022, Things have gone relatively quiet between both parties, but the fact that the Aggies have reached the finish line as his commitment date nears, anything is possible.

Standing at 6-5 and 270 pounds, Cunningham has been on the move for most of his high school football career, as he will play his final senior season at Miami Central High School for the 2023 season.

During his 2022 junior season at Los Alamitos (Calif), an eligibility issue disqualified him from finishing the season after five games, recording just 17 tackles. In 2021 while attending Johns Creek (Ga) High School, Cunningham performed at his best, recording 66 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, and seven sacks on the year.

From his limited tape, Cunningham has lined up as a 3-4 defensive end and a standing 4-3 outside linebacker while consistently showing a blend of high motor athleticism and the ability to convert speed to power in his pass rush, so in other words, he’s as versatile as they come.

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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50 days till the return of Texas A&M Football: The 2023 hype is real

Only 50 days before Texas A&M’s pivotal 2023 football starts! The slate is wiped clean, and expectations are higher than ever

Fear not, Aggies! Texas A&M’s 2023 college football season is just 50 days away. You don’t need me to tell you just how important the 2023 campaign is for the Maroon and White, as Head Coach Jimbo Fisher’s warm yet slightly hot seat may balloon into a full-flamed disaster if a rebound from the disastrous 5-7 season doesn’t come to fruition.

As we at Aggies Wire continue to provide as much context as possible regarding Texas A&M’s roster from a depth and talent perspective this summer, let me advise that preseason-hype superstitions are, yes, what makes college football fandom a joy to observe, but focusing on rival comments such as “but Appalachian State” or “5-7!” aren’t worth your time, folks.

With 16 starters returning on both sides of the ball, which leads the SEC in returning production, sophomore quarterback Conner Weigman, who threw for 896 yards and eight touchdowns without an interception 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.

Defensively, senior safety Demani Richardson and senior defensive tackle McKinnley Jackson will look to lead two of the deepest groups in the country, while several transfer portal additions, including cornerbacks Tony Grimes, Sam McCall, and Josh DeBerry, bring much-needed experience to the secondary.

Now, for the new hype video from Texas A&M’s navy social media team! Enjoy, and Gig ’em!

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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