Feel like the 2023 season is getting closer and closer? You’re not alone. First stop, Texas A&M’s Maroon and White Spring game on April 15th, which happens to be just three days away! Here at Aggies Wire, we’ve covered spring football practice in tireless fashion while providing position group previews along the way, so one question remains before Saturday’s festivities; What will the headlines be?
Well, for many of you, the impending quarterback battle between sophomore and presumed starter Conner Weigman and senior veteran southpaw Max Johnson essentially dominates the offseason headlines no matter the circumstances, while Texas A&M’s offensive line will also take center stage after its worst performance in a number of years during the Aggies’ horrific 2022 season.
Yes, I said quarterback “battle”, because according to head coach Jimbo Fisher during his first offseason press conference, every position is up for grabs, so prepare to see both young men show just how much they’ve improved this spring on Saturday afternoon.
During the 2022 season, Conner Weigman went 73-132 (55.3%), 896 yards, 8 TD, 0 INT in 5 games, including his nearly flawless performance in the season finale victory over the then 5th-ranked LSU Tigers. Max Johnson’s 43-71 (60.6%), 517 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT 2022 stat line paints a picture of lost opportunities after sustaining a season-ending hand injury against Mississippi State in only his third state on the year. Look for both to show off their accuracy and potentially go deep when the time is right this weekend.
Texas A&M’s offensive line was an utter disaster during the 2022 campaign mainly due to injury issues and a severe lack of depth, but with a much-needed infusion of young talent from both the 2022 and 2023 recruiting cycles, one of those problems (depth) should be solved as soon as fall camp. As of today, the starting lineup from left to right is projected to be occupied by redshirt sophomore Trey Zuhn III (absent) (Left tackle), sophomore Kam Dewberry (Left guard), junior Bryce Foster (absent) (Center), senior Layden Robinson (Right guard), and junior Reuben Fatheree II (Right tackle).
Due to multiple offseason injuries, offensive line coach Steve Addazio has experimented with the line, most notably the switch at both tackle spots where Reuben Fatheree moved to left tackle, while four-star freshman Chase Bisontis played at right tackle. Bisontis, who was the No.1 ranked player in New Jersey, will receive as many snaps as possible during the spring game at right tackle, while redshirt freshman Mark Nabou and redshirt junior Josh Bankhead will also move around the line and receive valuable experience heading into the rest of the offseason. So out of the five projected starters on the line, expect Dewberry, Robinson, and Fatheree to play.
There you have it! if Texas A&M is indeed primed for a bounce-back season, both quarterback and the offensive line will need to gel because, in the SEC, every game is a dogfight in the trenches. The Maroon and White Spring game will kick off at 3:00 p.m. CT. on Saturday, April 15. Gig ’em!
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