Tag: Tony Grimes

Texas A&M Football 2023 Position Preview: Cornerbacks; Transfer additions will be key to success

Despite boasting a potential breakout star, key departures leave Texas A&M’s cornerback group with questionable depth heading into the new season.

Texas A&M kicks off the 2023 college football season in just under two months, and while the offseason is nearing its conclusion sooner than later, it’s time to preview what Jimbo Fisher and his staff will be working with from a roster perspective.

The cornerback unit is coming off an impressive 2022 campaign in which they allowed just 162.1 yards per game through the air, which was the best mark in the SEC. However, some key departures leave this unit with questionable depth heading into the new season.

Returning production:  Junior Tyreek Chappell returns after appearing in 11 games last season, having logged 44 total tackles and eight pass breakups. According to Pro Football Focus, he finished with a 65.9 overall defensive grade and a 69.8 coverage grade.

Sophomore Bryce Anderson returns for what could shape up to be his breakout season, having appeared in 11 games last season while recording 28 total tackles, two fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble. As a true freshman, Anderson finished with a 66.9 overall defense-grade and an 80.9 run defense grade.

Rounding out the returning production is redshirt sophomore Deuce Harmon, who appeared in four games last season while logging nine total tackles.

Departures:  Junior Jaylon Jones departed Aggieland after declaring for the 2023 NFL Draft. Jones was selected in the seventh round by the Indianapolis Colts after appearing in 10 games for Texas A&M last season, recording 33 tackles with two pass deflections and one fumble recovery.

Incoming sophomore Denver Harris transferred to LSU, Marquis Groves-Killebrew transferred to Louisville, Myles Jones transferred to Duke, Brian George transferred to Houston, and Josh Moten entered the portal but has yet to find a new program. Defensive back Smoke Bouie had transferred to Georgia but has since departed the team.

Final Observation:  With the exception of Anderson’s likely breakout campaign as the nickel corner, the Aggies will rely on transfer additions Tony Grimes and Sam McCall to lead the group. Boston College transfer Josh DeBerry adds some veteran depth behind them, but otherwise, the unit does not boost nearly as many experienced players as the other positions on the roster.

To put it gently, it’s less than ideal for an Aggies team heading into a significant 2023 season. However, with fall camp just around the corner, it provides a perfect opportunity to build a good rapport with the new faces on the roster. That, coupled with a string of good health for the long haul of the season, should put Texas A&M in good shape.

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 Pete on Twitter: @PeteThreee.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=5]

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.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=5]

Ranking the Top 5 new players on Texas A&M’s 2023 football roster

Texas A&M will have a plenty of new faces joining the football roster this season, and these are the five players who should have the most impact in 2023.

Texas A&M will rely on a promising core of returning talent to assemble a comeback season in 2023, but they’ll need help to shoulder the load.

While much conversation has been made about the number of departures from this Aggies team throughout the offseason, the Maroon and White have bolstered the roster with some key additions. As we’ve seen in an ever-evolving college football landscape, the emergence of the transfer portal can genuinely make or break a season.

That sentiment has been echoed by head coach Jimbo Fisher throughout “talkin’ season” over the last few weeks, who noted that Texas A&M would continue to remain aggressive regarding adding names to the roster.

While there is still a door open for moves to be made, the roster as it stands now is more or less situated for the coming fall season.

With that in mind, we’re ranking the top five additions to the Aggies football roster. Our ranking combines talent, experience, and impact on the area of need for this year’s team. So while one transfer addition may boast a high potential, another may be ready to play meaningful snaps come Week 1.

Here are the eligible Texas A&M Aggies and projected big board for the 2024 NFL Draft

After just three Aggies were selected in this year’s NFL Draft, the number of eligible prospects for Texas A&M could increase exponentially for the 2024 class.

The 2023 NFL Draft has come and gone, and while Texas A&M had only three prospects declare for this year’s draft, it was encouraging to see all three hear their names called last weekend. Fast forward to the 2024 draft, and the volume of Aggies looking to go pro could exponentially increase.

If last year’s performance was any indication, A&M’s underwhelming 5-7 record could have potentially played a role in the likes of Devon Achane, Antonio Johnson, and Jaylon Jones slipping relative to their 2023 projected draft positions. But if the Maroon and White organize a resounding comeback season in the fall, it wouldn’t be surprising to see NFL scouts taking notice of eligible prospects.

With an eye toward the future, the Aggies have a handful of names on the offensive line, in the receiving room, and on the defense that could declare for next year’s draft. And unlike this year’s trio of prospects, there’s a chance for the Maroon and White to boast a potential first-rounder.

Below is the early big board for eligible Texas A&M prospects for the 2024 NFL Draft, including their current projected draft position according to NFL Mock Draft Database.

Texas A&M Aggies cornerback unit shows promise, but questions still remain following spring football

Plenty of questions surrounded the Aggies cornerback group heading into spring. But with a key transfer addition, is there clarity with the 2023 season just months away?

Heading into their spring football program there were plenty of questions surrounding Texas A&M‘s cornerback unit, following a handful of key departures. But now with the Aggies’ Maroon and White game in the books and the transfer portal nearly closing, did the unit provide some clarity heading into next season?

Let’s quickly recap how much of an overhaul this unit has dealt with since the close of the 2022 season. First off, the Maroon and White lost five corners to either the NCAA transfer portal or via the NFL Draft heading into the spring. To remedy those losses, the Aggies added Tony Grimes from North Carolina and Sam McCall from Florida State, along with early enrollee Jayvon Thomas.

The aforementioned three joined the reliable Tyreek Chapell, who appeared in 11 games for A&M last season and recorded 44 tackles (31 solo) with eight pass breakups and one fumble recovery.

Still, those additions alone couldn’t soften the blow of losing reliable talents like Antonio Johnson and Jaylon Jones. More reinforcements would have to be on the way, and the fact that many of the new faces were sidelined through spring football only heightens the ambiguity at the position.

Chappell, Grimes, and Thomas all missed large parts of the Aggies’ spring football program, and all three, coincidentally, missed the spring game as well. From what has been observed in practice, Chappell remains the best cover option due to his physicality and refined form in tracking the ball. Grimes has quick feet and a nice recovery speed that should help in defending against wideouts over the top, while McCall possesses even better speed and length.

Yet the biggest x-factor could be the addition of Boston College transfer Josh DeBerry, who committed to the Aggies back on April 18. The former Eagle saw playing time as both a slot corner (286 snaps) as well as on the outside (364) according to PFF, although he graded better at the nickel position during the 2021 season versus last year.

DeBerry’s veteran experience and ability to slide into the slot could prove huge dividends for a backend unit that, while not inexperienced based on age, still boasts a handful of unknowns given the new faces on the roster.

Additionally, there remains an opportunity for some of the younger talents to see playing time like Class of 2022 four-star prospect Bobby Taylor, who recently opted to stay with the Aggies after removing his name from the transfer portal.

Ultimately, this backend unit has plenty of promise heading into next season, but questions still linger given the lack of time on the field through spring. At the of the day, those questions will only be answered once the 2023 season officially kicks off, which makes it a reality that the Aggies will have to swallow for now.

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 Pete on Twitter: @PeteThreee

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=5]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01fvdd4pnb49trk727 player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=]

Everything Texas A&M safety Demani Richardson had to say before the Aggies’ 13th spring football practice

The Aggies safety spoke on topics including the Maroon and White game, QB Conner Weigman, and what factored into his decision to return to College Station.

As spring football begins to wind down for Texas A&M a few key members of the football program took a few minutes to sit down with the media ahead of the team’s 13th practice.

In addition to head coach Jimbo Fisher and tight end Max Wright, safety Demani Richardson answered questions for roughly five minutes on Tuesday. With the Aggies entering a pivotal 2023 season in a matter of months, Richardson chimed in on a variety of topics to touch on from the factors that went into his decision to return to College Station, to how his fellow teammates inspire him to perform at a high level.

The full video of Demani Richardson’s press conference can be found below, as well as our breakdown of each key topic covered during his session with the media.

Texas A&M Spring Football 2023: Cornerback position breakdown

As spring football for the Aggies nears its end, we assess the current state of the cornerback unit which spotlights as a big question mark for the Maroon and White.

Spring football for Texas A&M is well underway, which means it’s every fan’s obligation to parse through the depth chart ahead of what will be an important 2023 season. Thankfully, we’ve got you covered by breaking down each positional battle, and up next is taking a look at what arguably is a big question mark for the Maroon and White in their cornerback unit.

It’s amazing how quickly the narrative can change over the course of 12 months. A season ago the Aggies boasted a unit of loaded talent on the backend, and that belief translated into production on the field. A&M finished the 2022 season allowing the fewest passing yards per game (156.2) through the air in the FBS.

Now that once highly-lauded unit is arguably one of, if not, the biggest question mark for Jimbo Fisher and this football program as spring football nears its end.

The departure of Jaylon Jones to the NFL certainly stings, and an inconvenient timing of injuries means that valuable snaps could be given to the newcomers and transfers to College Station. Unless some big moves are taken, it could spell early-season trouble for the Maroon and White.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at how the current cornerback group is shaping up for the Aggies:

Returners (2022 season stats)

  • Junior Tyreek Chappell (11 games, 44 total tackles, 8 pass breakups)
  • Redshirt sophomore Deuce Harmon (4 games, 9 total tackles)
  • Sophomore Bryce Anderson (11 games, 28 total tackles, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 forced fumble)
  • Sophomore Jarred Kerr (11 games, 22 total tackles, 2 pass breakups)

Departures

  • Junior Jaylon Jones (declared for the 2023 NFL Draft)

New additions

  • Transfer senior Tony Grimes
  • Transfer sophomore Sam McCall
  • Freshman Jayvon Thomas
  • Freshman Bravion Rogers

With Chappell and Thomas not being on the field since the start of spring training, and with Harmon rehabbing from ankle surgery, the Aggies are greatly lacking experienced players at the cornerback position. That spells trouble heading into next season, and if the injury bug continues to persist, then that would mean defensive coordinator DJ Durkin would be handing the starting reigns over to the likes of transfers Tony Grimes and Sam McCall.

To put it gently, that’s very much less than ideal for an Aggies team heading into a significant 2023 season. Jimbo Fisher would be wise to explore every avenue possible when the transfer portal reopens in May, and offering former Boston College corner Josh DeBerry only illustrates how this position group is likely top of mind for Fisher.

It’s not a stretch to claim that the state of the cornerback room today makes it the most uncertain positional group for the Maroon and White. Thankfully there’s still some time ahead of the fall season, and the Aggies will likely need a combination of good health and transfer portal additions to bring some added assurance to this unit.

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 Pete on Twitter: @PeteThreee

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=5]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01fvdd4pnb49trk727 player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=]

Two Aggies are listed among 150 of the ‘best transfers in college football’

With the additions of cornerback Tony Grimes and safety Sam McCall, the Aggies are loaded with experience in the defensive backfield ahead of the 2023 season

Texas A&M’s 2023 football season is still more than five months away, but with spring practices officially starting on Monday, March 20th, it feels like the beginning stages of what could be a complete revamp of what we all had to painfully witness during the 2022 season, where the Aggies went 5-7, and a dismal 2-6 in SEC play.

Even worse, the Aggies lost over 25 scholarship players to the transfer portal, and although a majority of them were not starters, depth on both sides of the ball took a massive hit. Well, with attrition comes addition, as Head coach Jimbo Fisher secured commitments from North Carolina transfer cornerback Tony Grimes, and Florida State transfer safety Sam McCall, who will immediately fill the void left after both highly productive defensive backs Antonio Johnson and Jaylon Jones both declared for the NFL Draft just a mere month ago.

This week, 247Sports writer Chris Hummer listed over 150 college football transfers who have landed with a new program going into 2023, and low and behold, both Tony Grimes and Sam McCall were included in the rankings, as Hummer briefly explained both selections, starting with McCall at 39:

“Sam McCall left FSU abruptly. But his departure is A&M’s gain. McCall is going to help the Aggie secondary greatly.”

Tony Grimes who land at 132, played his last three seasons under Head coach Mack Brown at North Carolina, Hummer perfectly described just has impactful the senior corner can be for the maroon and white this season:

“Was it the system/coaching at North Carolina or Tony Grimes’ play that contributed to the former five-star never living up to the hype? We’ll find out in College Station. Personally, I’d bet on the talent to win out.”

Among all the questions surrounding Texas A&M’s roster that we will of course cover in-depth during most of the offseason, both Grimes and McCall are two players that will simply do their jobs to help the Aggies achieve their goals in 2023.

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

[mm-video type=playlist id=01fvdd4pnb49trk727 player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

ESPN lists the “Top Storyline” heading into spring football for Texas A&M

Ahead of Texas A&M’s April 15th Maroon and White spring game, ESPN lists the “Top Storyline” ahead of the game, and the 2023 season

The 2023 college football season will be here before you know it, but ahead of all the summer chaos and news dumps that will surely prepare you for what should be a highly entertaining campaign, Spring Football is already underway for nearly every FBS program in the country to preview what we may see from a lineup perspective ahead the regular season.

For Texas A&M, their April 15 Maroon and White spring game will not only introduce a host of new talent from the underrated 2023 recruiting class but also provide much-needed tape to in evaluating key areas on offense and defense while identifying weak spots, especially concerning the linebacker depth chart.

This week, ESPN writers Chris Low and Harry Lyles Jr. released their own comprehensive SEC spring football preview, most notably listing Texas A&M’s biggest storyline, and incoming players to watch from both the transfer portal and recruiting. For their “Top storyline”, no surprise as both agreed that now sophomore quarterback Conner Weigman’s first year as the full-time starter, combined with Wide receiver Ainias Smith’s return and Bobby Petrino’s hiring as offensive coordinator led the discussion:

Nobody in College Station wants to go through what the Aggies did a year ago. They finished 5-7, lost at home to Appalachian State, lost six straight games at one point and had a handful of their most coveted signees from the No. 1-ranked 2022 signing class get in trouble off the field and ultimately leave the program. So finding some solidarity and regaining their focus will be paramount for the Aggies this spring. Talented quarterback Conner Weigman is back, and Texas A&M got a pleasant surprise when receiver Ainias Smith decided to return to school. What will the offense look like in 2023 after a dreadful year last season? After calling his own plays in the past, Jimbo Fisher didn’t sit pat this offseason. He brought in former Arkansas and Louisville head coach Bobby Petrino, one of the best playcallers in the business, and is turning those duties over to him.

When discussing who will end up being the most impactful “newcomer” this season, Low and Lyles Jr. took the transfer portal and recruiting route with their choices:

Texas A&M added what should be immediate help at cornerback in the portal with the addition of North Carolina’s Tony Grimes, a former five-star recruit who played the past three seasons for the Tar Heels. And on offense, freshman running back Rueben Owens has the versatility and speed to fit perfectly into Petrino’s offense. Owens signed with Texas A&M after originally committing to Louisville.

After cornerback Myles Jones transferred to Duke and cornerback Jaylon Jones departed for the NFL, the addition of an experienced vet like Tony Grimes is as “plug and play” as you can get that this stage, and while the Aggies running back room could end up being a three-headed monster made up of Amari Daniels, LeVeon Moss, and 2023 5-Star recruit Reuben Owens, the freshman could end up being one of the more dynamic playmakers in his first season compared to his counterparts.

While the possibilities are endless for what Bobby Petrino could bring to this offense compared to D.J. Durkin’s make-or-break season heading the defense, Head coach Jimbo Fisher has a lot on his plate, yet a ton of tools in his belt to get the job done in 2023.

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

[mm-video type=playlist id=01fvdd4pnb49trk727 player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

North Carolina transfer Tony Grimes gets USC fans’ attention with a short tweet

UNC transfer DB Tony Grimes has #USC fans buzzing after posting a simple emoji. The Trojans are in the mix for a veteran defensive player.

The USC Trojans aren’t done playing football yet. Just a year after a four-win campaign, the Trojans are preparing for the Cotton Bowl against Tulane right after New Year’s. 

However, that hasn’t stopped Lincoln Riley and his staff from working the transfer portal with an eye toward the 2023 season.

There has been a ton of movement across the country, although the Trojans have been somewhat quiet on the transfer front until this point, though the cycle is just getting started.

North Carolina transfer defensive back Tony Grimes has reportedly been a target for USC, and Grimes sure got USC fans buzzing by posting a simple emoji on his Twitter feed.

247Sports national recruiting analyst Brian Dohn also mentioned USC as a possibility for Grimes, who was a five-star player coming out of high school:

“That’s kind of how this transfer portal is built right now. It’s not built for quick decisions for kids that haven’t long planned going in. … There’s some schools — Penn State is involved with him, Florida State, USC, Colorado, Oregon, Virginia Tech, Georgia, Texas A&M, South Carolina. I was also hearing that Syracuse was involved because of defensive coordinator Tony White. I am sure you guys read the reports that there is a chance he winds up at Nebraska. So if Tony White winds up at Nebraska, maybe Tony Grimes takes a look there.”

The market appears robust for Grimes, but the tweet sent USC fans into a whirlwind of excitement and hope.

Grimes has a ton of talent and has 97 tackles and an interception during three years with the Tar Heels. If Alex Grinch and the Trojans can land Grimes on the defensive side, that would be a huge step in the right direction.

[mm-video type=video id=01gkscw7d8dfrcy52vdz playlist_id=none player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gkscw7d8dfrcy52vdz/01gkscw7d8dfrcy52vdz-eb11f97406c4ddb7e08aa50e4355fd54.jpg]

[listicle id=53979]