Tag: Trey Zuhn

Texas A&M’s offensive line play will likely determine the final outcome vs. Miami

After a solid showing in the Aggies 52-10 win over New Mexico, Texas A&M’s experienced O-line will need to win, and win consistently in the trenches vs. Miami.

Texas A&M (1-0) and Miami (1-0) entered the 2023 season with clean slates after matching each other record-wise with dismal 5-7 finishes in 2022, both experiencing more lows than highs, with their worst finishes in over a decade.

After going head-to-head last season, the Aggies narrowly defeated Miami 17-9 after previously losing to Appalachian State. While many of us saw this as a potential turnaround going forward, the parity of college football took us all for a loop for the preceding nine weeks.

Turn the page to the first weekend of September, as Texas A&M’s took care of New Mexico 52-10 behind starting quarterback Conner Weigman’s five touchdowns, while Miami’s balanced offense and impressive ground game aided the Hurricanes to their 38-3 drubbing of the visiting Miami (OH) Warhawks on Friday night.

Off to solid and convincing starts, the Aggies will now travel to South Beach, which, by most of the Miami fanbase, has been dubbed as a “revenge game,” even though the Hurricanes failed to reach the endzone in their first meeting. Even though Texas A&M holds several advantages on paper, specifically from a talent perspective, I believe that the game will be determined in the trenches between the Aggies’ offensive line vs. Miami’s defensive line.

In years past, Texas A&M’s O-line under Fisher’s reign has benefitted in size but lacked the athleticism and versatility needed to win in the SEC consistently. Still, after several key recruiting gains paired with experienced veterans, things are finally looking up in 2023. Against New Mexico, the Aggies looked much improved in pass protection, only allowing two sacks on the night. While their run blocking is still a work in progress, there’s clear potential.

As Aggies Wire contributor Pete Hernandez recently pointed out, Hurricanes defensive lineman Leonard Taylor, outside of star safety Kam Kinchens, is by far the most dominant defender the program has to offer, recording 24 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, 1 INT last season.

While Texas A&M’s offensive line seems to emulate a revolving door after what the starting unit looked like on Saturday, this is simply a byproduct of the immense depth O-line coach Steve Addazio has at his disposal. Of course, I’m referencing offensive tackle Reuben Fatheree II, who was still recovering from a knee issue before surprisingly suiting up against New Mexico. Instead of lining up at his original right tackle spot, he would shift over as the second-string left tackle behind starter Trey Zuhn. In contrast, vaunted freshman tackle Chase Bisontis made his impressive debut in his place. Now that’s quality depth.

In the interior, the return of center Bryce Foster and right guard Layden Robinson, coupled with the sophomore duo of Kam Dewberry and Mark Nabou at left guard, will be counted on against the likes of Leonard Taylor, who Miaim defensive coordinator Lance Guidry will likely move around throughout the matchup.

This is the first real test for the Maroon Goons, and with everything I’ve just described, there’s simply no excuse for this unit not to find success against a stout opponent like Miami, no matter where the game is played.

Texas A&M will face the Miami Hurricanes on Saturday, Sept. 9, which will air on ABC at 2:30 p.m. CT.

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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Five players to watch in Texas A&M’s season opener vs. New Mexico

Texas A&M will kick off its 2023 rebound campaign against New Mexico, and these are the five players to keep on eye ahead of Saturday’s season opener

No more off-season hot takes and preseason “way-too-early” predictions; it’s time for real, meaningful college football! Texas A&M will jumpstart its critical rebound campaign against New Mexico on Saturday, Sep. 2, from Kyle Field in College Station.

Throughout the week, we at Aggies Wire have done our best to prepare you for the 2023 season opener. After providing the five storylines to look for on Saturday night, it’s time to shift focus on the five players who need to make an immediate impact to get the season off on the right foot and develop consistency before heading into SEC play.

While outside media will continue to focus on new OC Bobby Petrino’s new play-calling duties and impact on the offense, which, let’s be honest, folks, it will likely take some time to see the effect, the players on the field will always dictate the result.

Combining a mix of offensive and defensive playmakers, every player listed experienced the disastrous 5-7 2022 season in its entirety. After a productive fall camp, it’s time to finally kick things in high gear and prove that last season was just a blip on the radar.

Here are the five players to watch during Texas A&M’s season opener vs. New Mexico on Saturday, Sept. 2, which will air on ESPN at 6:00 p.m. CT.

Texas A&M’s Offensive line depth resembling shades of 2020’s elite unit

Texas A&M’s 2023 O-line returns all five starters from last season, including some highly versatile depth at all five positions.

Earlier this week, Texas A&M Head Coach Jimbo Fisher and Aggies starting left tackle Trey Zuhn took a multitude of questions from the local media before their eleventh practice of fall camp, and from this writer’s point of view, both Fisher and Zuhn’s beaming confidence regarding the progress the offensive line has made this offseason provides much-needed context with just two weeks before the Sept. 2 season opener.

For Fisher’s talented yet unproven roster to accomplish any of their lofty goals this season, it begins and ends in the trenches. For the first time since the memorable 2020 9-1 campaign, they might have the horses to compete, and the depth behind the starting five is a big reason why.

Fisher, who has consistently praised the versatility of freshman tackle Chase Bisontis and redshirt freshman guard/center Mark Nabou threw out another intriguing name from his list, as former tight end and current redshirt sophomore tackle Dametreous Crownover, who has continued to stand out this fall as yet another versatile depth piece.

“Chase Bisontis is doing a great job,” Fisher stated. “Dametrious Crownover is having a phenomenal camp. … Mark Nabou has really become a jack of all trades. He is playing center, guard and tackle. He is playing and playing well.”

In a snapshot view, the Aggie’s complete O-line, both starters and backups, is presently constructed as follows:

  • Left tackle: (RS) Trey Zuhn III. Backup: (FR)  Chase Bisontis
  • Left guard: (S) Kam Dewberry. Backup: (RS JR) Aki Ogunbiyi
  • Center: (JR) Bryce Foster. Backup: (RS FR) Mark Nabou
  • Right guard: (RS SR) Layden Robinson. Backup: (JR) Jordan Spacojevic-Moko
  • Right tackle (Jr) Reuben Fatheree II. Backup: (RS SO) Dametrious Crownover

The starting five is more than set, as Foster, Robinson, and Fatheree will hopefully handle the right side for all 12 (hopefully more) games this season, barring injury. Yes, injury is just an annoying part of the position, especially for the Aggies last season, so that versatility mentioned above, a bulk of the O-lineman has shown this month, will surely come in handy late in SEC play.

“We do it in practice all the time,” Fisher stated. “You are trying to get your best five guys across the board and where each guy can be to get your best five.”

In contrast, Kam Dewberry’s impressive play in the latter half of last season, especially his tape against Alabama, has more than solidified his spot at left guard.

Trey Zuhn, the most vital O-line member, was a sight for sore eyes during Monday’s presser, letting us all know that his previous injuries that hindered development have ceased to become a lingering issue this summer.

“Physically, right now, I’m at 110%. I’m stronger than ever. I’m faster than ever. During the season. I had a couple of nicks and knacks that forced me to miss spring ball, but right now, I’m ready to roll.”

Most importantly, the job of an offensive lineman is to move the body in front of them, something we haven’t seen from the Aggies O-line at a consistent pace since the 2020 season, but from top to bottom, freshman to senior, starter to backup, and according to Zuhn, the hog mollies have been doing just that all fall.

“Having everybody back this fall camp has been great. We’re moving guys around a lot because we want as many guys to play as possible.”

If anything, Fisher has been chasing the dream of recreating the 2020 offensive line for the last two seasons that returned 52 out of 65 career starts, including blue-chip guard Kenyon Green, who is now a starter for the Houston Texans.

So, how close is he to achieving that goal this season? We’ll have to wait and see till the games begin, but if continuity and a lack of reserve talent were an issue in 2022, the progress made by both the starters and depth pieces is a good sign that we might be calling the O-line the predominant strength on offense 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.

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‘I’ve been keying in on the small details.’ Demani Richardson speaks before 11th practice of fall camp

Texas A&M senior strong safety Demani Richardson details the progress the Aggies defense has made this fall ahead of the season opener.

As the 2023 college football season draws near, Aggie fans continue to get a glimpse into how the Maroon and White are mentally and physically preparing for a pivotal fall campaign.

On Monday afternoon, Texas A&M football Head Coach Jimbo Fisher and players Trey Zuhn III and Demani Richardson took to the podium to speak with the media before the team’s 11th fall camp practice. Senior strong safety Demani Richardson ended the presser after Jimbo Fisher’s 20-minute Q&A, shedding light on how the secondary fared during Saturday’s scrimmage.

Providing an informative update on how the entire defense has progressed this offseason, Richardson’s progress as one of the leaders in the locker room stood out the most. At the same time, he also touched on sophomore tight end Donovan Green’s season-ending injury and how the team will rally around him in 2023.

Below is Demani Richardson’s full press conference video ahead of Monday’s fall practice and notable highlights from his time at the podium.

‘Physically, right now, I’m at 110%. I’m stronger than ever.’ Trey Zuhn speaks before 11th practice of fall camp

Texas A&M offensive lineman Trey Zuhn details the progress he’s made so far this offseason both physically, and mentally.

As the 2023 college football season draws near, Aggie fans continue to get a glimpse into how the Maroon and White are mentally and physically preparing for a pivotal fall campaign.

On Monday afternoon, Texas A&M football Head Coach Jimbo Fisher and players Trey Zuhn III and Demani Richardson took to the podium to speak with the media before the team’s 11th fall camp practice. Taking for the first round of questioning, Trey Zuhn is set to enter his redshirt sophomore season on the offensive line. He will presumably open the season as the starting left tackle, one of the most important positions in the game.

Standing at 6-7 and 315 pounds, the only thing holding him back is nagging injuries after missing Spring football. Still, according to Jimbo Fisher, Zuhn is one of the toughest players on the roster regarding availability. At the same time, he spoke at length about his injury recovery process and his perspective as an Aggie legacy.

Below is Trey Zuhn’s full press conference video ahead of Monday’s fall practice and notable highlights from his time at the podium.

Texas A&M Football 2023 Position Preview: Offensive line; An elite unit if healthy

Texas A&M’s offensive line has the makings of an elite group, but the key will be keeping this unit healthy for the long haul of the 2023 campaign.

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.

Fisher has spoken at length about the offensive line being equipped to be one of the leading strengths of the roster, and outlets such as Pro Football Focus have echoed that confidence by grading them as a top-10 unit. While the upside is there, the key is that this unit stays healthy for the long haul of the 2023 campaign.

Returning production:  Senior guard Layden Robinson returns after logging 754 snaps last season, which included four sacks allowed, 11 QB hits allowed, and 20 QB hurries surrendered. Still, according to PFF, his best performance came during the 2021 season, in which his 85.0 run-blocking grade was a top-10 mark among Power Five guards.

Reuben Fatheree II recorded 785 snaps last season, allowing four sacks, six QB hits, and eight QB hurries in 2022. Fatheree will enter his third season as the starting right tackle and posted a 77.5 PFF pass-blocking grade in 2022, which marked a top-10 grade among SEC tackles.

Trey Zuhn III returns for his sophomore season to protect the blindside, as he earned a 69.3 grade last year as a redshirt freshman. Another returning sophomore who will join him is Kam Dewberry, who will start at left guard after earning a 63.4 PFF grade in 2022.

The only official 2022 starter that isn’t returning is center Bryce Foster, and that’s due to him having missed eight games last season due to a knee injury. However, he led all true freshman centers with a 73.0 run-blocking grade at PFF in the season prior.

Mark Nabou returns after logging just 77 snaps in 2022 (50 pass protection, 27 run protection) with an overall 67.4 PPF offensive grade. He should command more snaps and an increased role in 2023.

Departures:  PJ Williams is among the departures after appearing in one game for the Aggies in 2022. Joining him is center Matthew Wyckoff, who entered the transfer portal and subsequently joined Cal back in May.

Final Observation:  Injuries and inexperience were factors in the unit’s underwhelming performance in 2022, which showed in the numbers. Texas A&M finished with a dull 50.0 pass-blocking grade and an overall 53.1 passing grade, per PFF. But as long as they stay healthy, it’s hard to argue against the upside and continuity this unit has upfront relative to other positions on the roster.

Much like the team’s overall goal, the O-line must back up what looks like an elite unit on paper. But with a year under the belts of most of these starters, and with some added depth in transfer Finn Dirstine, Derek Ferraro, and the likes of incoming freshman Chase Bisontis, it’s possible this unit becomes of the strengths of the Aggies 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 Pete on Twitter: @PeteThreee.

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PFF ranks Texas A&M’s 2023 offensive line as a top-10 unit

PFF ranked the best offensive lines entering the 2023 season, and Texas A&M found themselves firmly within the top-10 rankings.

Texas A&M’s 2022 season was marred by a combination of inexperience, subpar play, and injuries, and the offensive line was no exception to this reality. However, the looming 2023 season offers a fresh slate with heightened expectations.

Max Chadwick of Pro Football Focus ranked the best offensive lines entering the 2023 season, and with a handful of experienced returners from the last few seasons, the Aggies found themselves firmly within the top 10 rankings. Now, even the most loyal Texas A&M fan should understand that while the praise and confidence in this unit is welcomed, this unit still carries some notable question marks given last year’s struggles.

According to Football Outsiders, the Aggies’ offensive line ranked 64th in sack rate (6.3%) and 101st in run stuff rate (19.9%) in 2022, which measures the percentage of carries by running backs that are stopped at or before the line of scrimmage. Injuries and inexperience played an influential role in the unit’s underwhelming performance and it showed in the numbers. Texas A&M finished with a dull 50.0 pass-blocking grade and an overall 53.1 passing grade, per PFF.

However, the hope is that the injury bug does not rear its ugly head once more in 2023, and coupled with the fact that last year’s trials gives this unit a bevy of experience to learn from, it does set them up nicely to bounce back. To aid in those efforts, the Aggies have added some depth up front after landing former Boston College lineman Finn Dirstine.

Additionally, as just one of eight FBS programs set to return all five starters, the offensive line could have the benefit of affinity in comparison to other programs, which seek to bolster their front units via the transfer portal.

Below is the breakdown of how every program that finished in Chadwick’s top 10 offensive line rankings stacks up against each other, based on projected starters as well as returners from the 2022 campaign.

Texas A&M 2023 college football season countdown: No. 60 Trey Zuhn III

60 days till the start of the 2023 season! We’re counting down each day with dedicated player profiles, starting with Texas A&M left tackle, Trey Zuhn III.

Fear not, ladies and gentlemen, meaningful college football is just around the corner, with the start of the 2023 season just under two months away! Here at Aggies Wire, we’ll be counting down by looking at each Texas A&M football player that corresponds to the number of days left till the start of the football season.

To kick things off, we’re looking at No. 60 for the Maroon and White: left tackle Trey Zuhn.

Expectations were high for Zuhn heading into last season. Still, inexperience and struggles played a big factor in an underwhelming 2022 campaign (which can be said for the larger team, in reality). Zuhn struggled in pass protection and missed the spring football program after recovering from an off-season procedure.

According to Pro Football Focus,2022, Zuhn logged 690 snap counts, with 410 coming in pass protection and 280 in run protection. The now third-year tackle finished with a 67.4 pass-blocking grade last year, giving up 14 QB hurries, nine hits, and three sacks.

Jimbo Fisher has advocated that the strength of this year’s Aggies team will be upfront, both on the offensive and defensive lines. If that stands to be true, A&M will need to rely on the o-line unit to take a leap in both run and pass protection, which necessitates Zuhn playing with more consistency and becoming a solid force on the edge.

Trey Zuhn’s Photo Gallery;

Texas A&M Spring Football 2023: Offensive line position breakdown

As spring ball for the Aggies moves forward, we break down the unit tasked with protecting the QB and opening up running lanes.

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, with this deep-dive focusing on the group tasked with protecting the quarterback and opening up running lanes.

The Maroon and White have a promising 2023 season ahead of them, so long as Conner Weigman takes another leap and the Aggies effectively replace the production left by the departure of Devon Achane. All those goals will be rendered moot if the five-man unit upfront struggles to improve from last year’s performance.

A combination of injuries and limited depth up front plagued A&M’s offensive line last season, setting up the unit to arguably be one of the biggest question marks heading into spring football.

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

Returners (2022 season stats)

  • LT – Redshirt sophomore Trey Zuhn III (played in 11 games last season)
  • LT – Redshirt sophomore Dametrious Crownover (played in 8 games last season, started 1 game)
  • LG – Sophomore Kam Dewberry (played in 7 games last season, started 5 games)
  • LG – Redshirt junior Aki Ogunbiyi
  • LG – Redshirt junior Josh Bankhead (played in all 12 games last season)
  • C – Junior Bryce Foster (played in 4 games last season, started all 4 games)
  • C – Redshirt sophomore Matthew Wykoff (played in all 12 games last season, started 9 games)
  • C- Redshirt sophomore Remington Strickland (played in 2 games last season)
  • RG – Redshirt senior Layden Robinson (played in all 12 games last season)
  • RG – Junior Jordan Spasojevic-Moko (played in 5 games last season, started 2 games)
  • RG – Redshirt freshman Mark Nabou (played in 2 games last season)
  • RT – Reuben Fatheree II (played in all 12 games last season)
  • RT – Redshirt freshman Hunter Erb

Departures

  • PJ Williams (appeared in one game last season)

Incoming additions

  • Chase Bisontis (early-enrolled freshman)
  • TJ Shanahan (early-enrolled freshman)
  • Colton Thomasson (early-enrolled freshman)
  • Naquil Bertrand (June-arriving freshman)

Key thoughts and predictions:

It’s time to infuse some positive vibes when assessing this unit by making the claim that last season’s struggles could reap rewards in 2023.

Yes, according to Football Outsiders, the Aggies’ o-line ranked 64th in sack rate (6.3%) and 101st in run stuff rate (19.9%), which measures the percentage of carries by running backs that are stopped at or before the line of scrimmage. But the argument can be made that with the growing pains behind them, the collective experience within the starting unit means there is nowhere to go but up.

The projected starting lineup seems to be set in LT Trey Zuhn, LG Kam Dewberry, C Bryce Foster, RG Layden Robinson, and RT Reuben Fatheree II. That’s a combined 75 game appearances between them, and I think this unit should only benefit from some creative playcalling with Bobby Petrino now helming the offense.

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

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Multiple Aggies make Mid-season Freshmen-All American Teams

Multiple Aggies make Midseason Freshmen-All American Teams

One of the bigger stories coming into Texas A&M’s 2022 season was the 2022 recruiting class finally hitting the field while looking to live up to their billing as the greatest recruiting class in history. At the midpoint of the season, the Aggies are 3-3 and 1-2 in the SEC, yet the weekly bright spot has consistently been the play of the freshman class, making a notable impact on both offense and defense six games in.

Earlier this week, freshman cornerback Denver Harris was added to The Athletic’s Midseason All-America Freshman Team after accumulating 14 tackles, and 10 solo tackles so far this season and playing a pivotal role in coverage against Mississippi State and Alabama.

On Thursday, freshman starting left tackle Trey Zuhn and freshman defender Shemar Stewart were selected to the Midseason Freshman All-American team’s 1st team Offensive line (Zuhn) and 2nd team Defensive line (Stewart) by College Football News. Trey Zuhn has started every for the team despite dealing with some recent injury issues, while Stewart has recorded 15 tackles, 6 solo tackles, and 1.5 sacks so far this year.

Lastly, Tight end Donovan Green was added to On3’s Midseason Freshman All-American Team on Thursday, as the highly athletic and versatile offensive weapon, accumulating 9 receptions for 107 yards, and scoring his first touchdown against Alabama in Week 6.

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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