Can Mike Elko Turn A&M Into a National Championship Contender?
After coming off an 11-2 season and securing a spot in the College Football Playoff, head coach Mike Elko is looking beyond just making the postseason. He is looking to contend for the SEC Championship and win a national title in College Station. With newly elevated offensive coordinator Holmon Wiggins bringing an explosive passing scheme and defensive coordinator Lyle Hemphill taking the reins of an aggressive defensive system, the Texas A&M Aggies will be looking to play deep into January.
Marcel Reed Leads a Dynamic Offense
Starting at quarterback, the offense belongs to dual-threat starter Marcel Reed. His accuracy and elite threat as a runner give this offense a dynamic edge, having thrown for 3,169 yards and 25 touchdowns while adding 493 rushing yards and 6 scores on the ground. What separates Reed is his composure under fire. Per PFF, when blitzed he recorded a stellar 82.7 offensive rating with an 8.8 YPA and 10 big-time throws. One thing he needs to improve is his decision making under pressure. When pressured he has an impressive 8:2 TD to INT ratio, but 7 big-time throw plays against 8 turnover-worthy plays and just a 43% completion percentage.
A Physical Backfield
Rueben Owens II (5.4 YPC), Jamarion Morrow (4.2 YPC), and Tiger Riden Jr. (4.1 YPC) round out a backfield group that will be very physical this season. Owens leads the unit after racking up 639 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns while averaging over 3 yards after contact per attempt. I am very high on Morrow to step up into a larger change-of-pace role after logging 2 TD receptions on just 6 catches. I expect Owens to handle the bulk of early-down snaps behind a physical offensive front as the Aggies seek a deep playoff push.
Wide Receivers and Tight Ends Bring the Explosiveness
The wide receiver and tight end group might be one of the most explosive units in the SEC. Mississippi State transfer Mario Craver leads the way after posting 58 receptions for 911 yards (15.7 YPR) and 4 touchdowns. Alabama transfer Isaiah Horton brings a massive 6'4 frame on the outside, coming off an 8-touchdown season, while Ashton Bethel-Roman proved to be a lethal deep threat with 21.0 yards per catch on 24 receptions. Five-star freshman Terry Bussey provides elite versatility with his speed in the slot. At tight end, UTSA transfer Houston Thomas (347 yards) and Fresno State transfer Richie Anderson (300 yards) gives Texas A&M two reliable pass-catching targets who excel at working the middle of the field.
The Offensive Line Is the Question Mark
The offensive line will be the shakiest part of this team. Yes, they brought in four transfers who all started in the SEC last year, but if you look at the numbers, this is probably the worst group I have talked about so far. Wilken Formby (Alabama) gave up 20 pressures and 3 sacks. Coen Echols (LSU) gave up 18 pressures and 3 sacks. Trovon Baugh gave up 19 pressures, 14 hurries, and 5 sacks in 354 snaps, which is not good. The last transfer brought in was Tyree Adams (LSU), who gave up 11 pressures and 1 sack. If Texas A&M wants to be elite, these four need to have a breakout year.
A Defensive Front That Should Create Havoc
Moving to the defensive line group, I think this can be a very good unit. Starting with the defensive ends, Anto Saka (Northwestern) and Marco Jones are going to be a very good duo. Saka is more of a speed-to-power rusher, while Marco is more technical with his pass rush and fluidity, showing a nice bend and hand work. In the interior you have CJ Mims (North Carolina) and DJ Hicks. I think both of these guys will be mainly on passing downs. Hicks is a good run defender, but Mims is pretty poor in that department. When these guys are in at the same time, expect havoc. This is a good quality group.
Linebackers Add Instinct and Speed
In the linebacker corps, Tulsa transfer Ray Coney comes in after an incredible 128-tackle season. Alongside him, senior Daymion Sanford is a very instinctive linebacker who totaled 57 tackles, 10 TFLs, and 4 sacks. I loved his tape against Florida. He's good at shuffling and staying square while not overcommitting to his responsibility, good at defeating blocks, and pretty fast for his 6'2, 230-pound frame. I am high on this group to thrive.
The Secondary Rounds Out a Strong Defense
Finally, the secondary, where I think this group will also be good. Returning starter Dez Ricks leads this group. His inch to kick step is pretty good, and when he latches onto you with two hands, it's over. In man coverage he had an NFL passer rating against of 48.3, allowing 8 receptions on 25 targets, a 32.3% completion rate. On the other side is Julio Hemprey, who in limited snaps I believe will be a very good pair with Ricks. The safeties have three players with 500-plus snaps and 60-plus tackles apiece.
Schedule Outlook and Final Prediction
The Aggies have a competitive SEC slate, but with 14 returning starters and elite transfer portal additions, they are positioned to contend. Looking at the schedule, I believe they will start 6-1, losing to LSU with their next game being Alabama. Even though it will be the middle of the season, I believe Alabama will lose this game, making it 7-1 for A&M. I expect the Aggies to defeat South Carolina after the bye week and then face an intense stretch versus Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Texas. A win versus the Vols will get them to 9-1, before they get tested in the final two games. If they finish 9-3, I believe that's enough to get them into the playoff as long as the games stay close but they are winnable.
