Gig ‘em: A&M Ranked # 4
By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter
COLLEGE STATION – Seriously? Texas A&M is really ranked #4? So, what you’re telling me is if the college football season ended on Nov. 4, the Fightin’ Texas Aggies would be in the NCAA College Football Playoffs (CFP) along with Alabama, Clemson and Michigan?
Yep, you read that right. In the first CFP poll of the season, A&M leap frogged Washington, Ohio State and Louisville in the AP and coaches’ poll to slide into the number four spot. The question that begs to be asked, however, is do they deserve to be there?
The final answer is yet to be revealed but with a record of 7-1 that includes wins over UCLA, Auburn, Arkansas and Tennessee, the answer on Nov. 4 is … yes! Make no mistake, the boys over in College Station are perfectly capable of slipping up against Mississippi State, Ole Miss or LSU and bringing the dreams of Aggies everywhere crashing to the turf of Kyle Field. They also have a game against the UTSA Roadrunners, but odds are they win that one.
Other than being a Former Student at A&M, there are legitimate arguments for the Aggies to be in their current position. The reasons start at the QB position, and not with Trevor Knight. One cause of the Texas A&M success is the lack of diva-esque behavior from the signal caller’s spot.
After Johnny Manziel left the friendly confines of Kyle Field, the quarterback position at A&M was a sought after spot, nationwide. Kenny Hill gave it a shot, as did Kyler Murray and Kyle Allen. Hill gave himself a nickname “Trill” and was benched three games later. Allen stepped in and did ok, but with Murray waiting in the wings as the heir apparent, things went south in a hurry. The two, five-star recruits became known as good, not great QBs, and bad – not even average – teammates.
The fallout from this saw Hill head to TCU where he’s been average. Allen went to Houston and Murray went to Oklahoma. Both had to sit out this season because the NCAA had to play momma to the spoiled little brats and say “No, you can’t have that candy and no, you can’t go outside and play (this year)!”
In addition to those three, some kid named Tate Martell got in a Twitter war and de-committed because he was afraid they actually might hit his scrawny butt in the SEC. Check out the You Tube video of Martell gettin’ lit up in high school. Now imagine a linebacker with 4.6 speed, from LSU or Alabama, drawin’ a bead on him. His momma certainly appreciated the de-commitment!!
In walked Trevor Knight, as cool as the other side of the pillow. He had a win against the Crimson Tide while he was at OU. When he lost his starting role, he saw the handwriting on the wall. It seemed all he wanted was a chance to compete for the QB’s job in Norman.
When it became obvious Bob Stoops was sold on Baker Mayfield, he quietly transferred to A&M to play out his eligibility. The OU transfer won the job in spring practice and showed the A&M coaching staff an intangible quality that can’t be measured. Knight showed leadership.
In OT wins against UCLA and Tennessee, he praised his teammates. In the Aggies loss against the Crimson Tide, he shouldered the blame. Knight has a presence, both on and off the field, which just seems to work at the Home of the 12th Man.
Of course Knight wouldn’t be able to have the success he has had in maroon and white if not for some talent surrounding him. The receiving corps is among the best in the nation and boy, are they deep! Ricky Seals-Jones, Josh Reynolds, Christian Kirk and Speedy Noil are the main threats. After those four, you still have Edward Pope, Frank Iheanacho, Jamal Jefferey and Jeremy Tubayo. Pick your poison, arsenic or cyanide?
Joining Knight in the backfield are running backs Trayveon Williams and Keith Ford. Williams has gained nearly 800 yards on the ground and is averaging 7.84 yards per rush. Ford has carried the ball 71 times for 352 yards and a 4.96 average per rush. Throw in Knight’s yardage on the ground (529 with a 6.37 average) and you have a ground attack which has produced an average of nearly 250 yards per game. Coupled with Knight’s passing average of 250 yards per contest and you have a balanced attack of nearly 500 yards per game (498.75).
On the defensive side of the ball, the Aggies still have a little ways to go. While the statistics aren’t spectacular, the A&M “D” has caused quite a few restless nights for offensive coordinators. It all starts up front with defensive ends Myles Garrett and Daeshon Hall. Defensive tackles Zaycoven Henderson and Hardreck Walker have benefitted from the success of Garret and Hall as opposing offenses have had to the two All-Americans in order to prevent them from running amok in the backfield. Throw Daylon Mack into the middle of the line and you have the makings of a ferocious “D”. Mack has really started to come on strong as the season progresses and has drawn comparisons to Hall of Famer Warren Sapp.
Linebackers Shaan Washington, Otara Alaka and Richard Moore along with Claude George have done a more than an adequate job in both pass coverage and in stuffing the run. In the secondary, Nick Harvey and Priest Willis have shown they can make big plays from their corner positions which has allowed safeties Armani Watts and Justin Evans the freedom to prowl the field in both run support and pass coverage.
The A&M special teams’ play has also been exceptional throughout the year. Shane Tripucka has continued a long tradition of outstanding Aggie punters and is averaging nearly 45 yards per kick. Daniel LaCamera has been solid, but not spectacular as the A&M placekicker. He has hit 13 of 18 field goals this season and converted all 38 extra point attempts. La Camera missed a potential game winning field goal against Tennessee earlier this year, but redeemed himself in OT when he hit a FG to send the game into the second overtime period. Kick returners Speedy Noil, Christian Kirk, Keith Ford and Trayveon Williams just flat out scare the opposition.
So, with all that being said, the answer to the original question of does A&M deserve the number four spot in the CFP rankings is a definite yes. A caveat to the argument is A&M lost to Alabama in Tuscaloosa after leading well into the third quarter. Move the game to Kyle Field, the Aggies win. Move the game to a neutral site, like the Georgia Dome, and A&M wins. While the Tide fans have a much closer proximity to Atlanta, the Aggies travel well. Plus, Alabama is fast developing a rabid fan base of Crimson Tide haters, so the Dome could possibly show a little more maroon than crimson.
Besides, the Cubs just won the World Series – once again proving that, yes, anything is possible. Gig ‘em!!!
Will Johnson may be reached via e-mail at [email protected]
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