Texas A&M will host longtime border rival LSU at Kyle Field for the first time since 1995 when the Aggies take on the Tigers in a nationally-televised 11 a.m. battle of Top 25 teams on Saturday at Kyle Field.
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- LSU leads 27-20-3 in the overall series between the two schools, and won the most recent meeting between the two teams at the 2011 Cotton Bowl (41-24).
- The two teams played an annual home-and-home series that ran from 1986-1995. A&M won the final five games in that series, and had the advantage in those 10 games with six victories to LSU's four.
- LSU will be the first top 10 team to come to College Station since No. 7 Oklahoma State in 2011 (L, 30-29). A&M's all-time record against Associated Press top 10 teams is 22-63. A&M's most recent win over a top 10 team came against No. 9 Nebraska (9-6) at Kyle Field in 2010.
- The last time LSU came to Kyle as a top 10 team was 1989 when the unranked Aggies handed the No. 7 Tigers as 28-16 loss in R.C. Slocum's debut game as a head coach.
- Since 1970, Texas A&M has forged a 9-8 advantage over the Tigers.
- LSU head coach Les Miles has a pair of former A&M coaches on his staff: Steve Kragthorpe and Steve Ensminger, who were both offensive coordinators and quarterbacks coaches during their time in Aggieland.
"Aggies Can" Canned food drive
The annual "Aggies Can" canned food drive is slated for this week, and monetary or canned food donations will be collected at a variety of Texas A&M athletic events, including Saturday's 11 a.m. battle with the Tigers. Sponsored by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), donations will be collected by student-athletes wearing the distinctive lime-green Aggies Can t-shirts at the soccer and volleyball matches (free admission with the donation of a can of food), and the football game on Oct. 20. Last year, Aggies Can collected over $24,000 and over two tons of canned food for the Brazos Valley Food Bank.
ABOUT THE BCS Standings, Top 25
Texas A&M was ranked No. 18 in the first Bowl Championship Series standings of 2012. The Aggies were one of seven SEC schools in the BCS top 20.
The Aggies were in the top 25 polls for the second straight week. After beating then-No. 23 Louisiana Tech last week, the Aggies climbed to No. 19 in the USA Today head coaches poll and No. 20 in the Associated Press media poll.
two of a kind
The Aggies are one of just two teams in the NCAA FBS that rank in the top 20 statisticallys in rushing, passing, total and scoring offense (other team is Oklahoma State). The Aggies rank No. 5 in scoring offense (47.0 points per game), No. 6 in total offense (543.7 yards per game), No. 13 in rushing (235.8) and No. 20 in passing (307.8).
The Aggies are on pace to set school records in total offense, passing offense and scoring offense, and A&M's current rushing average would be the highest since 1991.
Prolific Scoring
Texas A&M has scored 282 points in the first six games of 2012, which is the most prolific start in school history. The previous high six-game scoring total was 253 by Coach D.X. Bible's 1917 Aggies, which included a 98-0 victory over Dallas University.
The Aggies lead the SEC and rank No. 5 nationally with an average of 47.0 points per game.
Winning away from home
First-year Aggie head coach Kevin Sumlin's teams have won nine straight games away from their home field -- six at the University of Houston and three at Texas A&M. Sumlin's last road loss was at Texas Tech in the Cougars' regular season finale in 2010.
Milestones met
- Aggie head coach Kevin Sumlin tallied his 40th career victory as a head coach with last week's 59-57 victory over Louisiana Tech.
- Before getting knocked out of the game with an illegal hit against Louisiana Tech, senior WR Ryan Swope reeled in the 200th reception of his career. He became just the second A&M receiver to hit the 200-catch plateau.
Streaking Aggies
There are 14 teams in NCAA FBS with a longer winning streak than the Aggies' modest five-game string. Among those are three SEC teams (Alabama/W10, Mississippi State/W8 and Florida/W7). It is just the fourth five-game winning streak by the Aggies since 1998's Big 12 Championship season.
Kevin Sumlin is the first A&M head coach to post a five-game winning streak in his first season at Texas A&M since D.X. Bible in 1917.
freshman leader manziel
Aggie redshirt freshman QB Johnny Manziel is the NCAA's top freshman in six statistical categories: total offense (392.7 yards/G), points responsible for (24.0), passing efficiency (162.80 rating), scoring (10.0 points/G) rushing (112.7 yards/G) and passing yards (280.0 yards/G).
Moore in rare air
With 17 tackles against Louisiana Tech, junior DE Damontre Moore moved into the team lead in tackles with 52 stops. The last defensive lineman to lead the Aggies in tackles was Sam Adams, who led the way with 78 tackles in his All-America season in 1993. In fact, only two defensive linemen have led the Aggies in tackles in the last 40 years: Adams and Ray Childress in his 1983 All-America campaign.
Seniors within range of milestones
- Senior WR Ryan Swope needs just one TD catch to become the second player with 20 career TD receptions. Only Jeff Fuller, with 34 TD catches from 2008-11, has previously reached the 20 TD catch plateau.
- Senior WR Uzoma Nwachukwu is 87 receiving yards away from becoming the fourth Aggies to hit the 2,000-yard level in career receiving yards (Fuller, Terrence Murphy and Swope).
TRENDS AND NOTABLES
oFFENSE
- Redshirt freshman Johnny Manziel generates 392.0 yards of total offense per game, which more than 47 teams in the NCAA FBS.
- Johnny Manziel leads the SEC in rushing (112.7), total offense (392.7), scoring (10.0) and points responsible for (24.0).
- Johnny Manziel's per carry average is 7.4, which is just ahead of A&M's school record for yards per carry (7.3 by Dante Hall in 1997).
- Johnny Manziel has run or thrown for 36 20-yard plus plays in 2012 or 6.0 per game.
- The Aggie offense is converting 53.6 percent of its third-down tries (52-of-97), which is No. 8 nationally. Only three teams in FBS have more third-down conversions than the Aggies (Marshall 60, UNLV 56, Clemson 54).
- More than half of the catches by freshman receivers Mike Evans and Thomas Johnson have resulted in a first down or a touchdown (35-of-56, 62.5 percent).
- 24 of the Aggies' 30 total catches (80.0 percent) on third down have produced a first down or touchdown.
- Freshman Mike Evans leads the way with six first down or touchdown catches on eight third-down catches, and fellow freshman Thomas Johnson is right behind with five "money plays" on six catches.
- The Aggies have been dominant in the middle two quarters so far in 2012, but especially in the second quarter when they've outscored their opponents, 117-26. In the second and third quarters, A&M has outscored its opponents, 169-49.
- A&M already has three turnover-free games in 2012 (in six games). It's the most turnover-free games by the Aggies since 2010 when they had four.
- Texas A&M is completing 65.8 percent of its pass attempts in 2012, which is well ahead of the school record percentage of 61.6 set last season when NFL first-round draft pick Ryan Tannehill took the majority of snaps at quarterback.
- Sixteen Aggies have already made at least one catch in 2012.
- Despite the presence of accomplished senior receivers like Ryan Swope and Uzoma Nwachukwu, A&M has been led in receptions by freshmen in every game.
- A&M has rushed for 200-plus yards in five straight games.
Defense
- Junior DE Damontre Moore averages 1.42 QB sacks per game, which is more than 26 teams in the NCAA FBS.
- Damontre Moore is tied for the NCAA lead with an average of 2.5 tackles for loss (TFL). He leads the SEC in QB sacks and TFLs.
- Damontre Moore is averaging 1.42 QB sacks and 2.50 tackles for loss (TFL) per game, which is on pace for a 17 QBS and 30 TFL season. Von Miller led the nation with 17 sacks in 2009 on his way to All-America honors.
- Damontre Moore is the nation's leading defensive line tackler with 8.7 per game. In fact, only three defensive linemen rank among the nation's top 100 tacklers.
- The Aggies' top two tacklers off the bench (no starts) are Howard Matthews (13) and Floyd Raven Sr. (11).
- The only defensive back to start in every game is senior Steven Terrell.
- The defensive line has had the same four starters in every game: Damontre Moore and Julien Obioha at DE and Kirby Ennis and Spencer Nealy at DT.
- Senior LBs Sean Porter and Jonathan Stewart have also started every game.
- The Aggie defense is allowing 124.7 rushing yards per game (No. 35 nationally), but are allowing just 3.3 yards per opponent rush (No. 24 nationally).
- The Aggie defense allows 280.8 passing yards per game, which is near the bottom of the NCAA statistical rankings, but their passing efficiency defense rating is a respectable 120.18 (No. 40 nationally).
- The Aggies have scored TDs via fumble return, interception return and punt return in a single season for the first time since 2001.
- In his last 12 games, junior Damontre Moore has piled up 27.5 tackles for loss, and has had at least 1.5 in every game.
- The Aggie defense is limiting opponents to 30.8 percent in third-down situations (32 of 104).
- Opponents' high rush game is 165 yards (by Louisiana Tech) for the season.
- The Aggies have six pickoffs after six games, after making just seven in 13 games in 2011.
- Opponents are completing only 58.3 percents of their passes after connecting on 62.4 percent in 2011.
Special Teams
- The Aggies lead the nation in net punting with a 44.7 average, but Ryan Epperson fell out of the individual NCAA statistics because he doesn't have the requisite punts per game.
- In the kicking game, punter Ryan Epperson has no touchbacks on 21 boots and kicker Taylor Bertolet has registered a touchback on 35-of-51 kickoffs.
- Taylor Bertolet's 35 touchbacks in 2012 have already surpassed the 32 touchbacks produced by All-American Randy Bullock in 2011 (Bullock's boots began at the 30-yard line. Kickoffs in 2012 start at the 35 due to new NCAA rule).
- Taylor Bertolet booted a career-high three field goals against Louisiana Tech, including a career-long 54-yarder. The 54-yard three-pointer was the longest by an Aggie since Terrence Kitchens' 62-yard bomb against Southern Miss in 1999.
- Texas A&M is one of 11 teams in FBS without a touchback via punt.
- A&M opponents have just four punt returns in 2012 for a total of 11 yards with a long return of five yards, which is the ninth-fewest return yards allowed in the nation.
- To be ranked in the NCAA statistics, punters need to average 3.6 punts per game. Ryan Epperson has punted three or fewer times in each of last four games and currently is just shy of making the NCAA stats with 3.5 punts per game.
- Last season's NCAA punt return champ Dustin Harris is averaging 15.7 yards per return in 2012, which ranks No. 11 nationally.
- Dustin Harris had a record-setting day in game three with a school record 246 yards on eight punt returns vs. South Carolina State for a gaudy 30.8 average. Among his eight returns was a scintillating 96-yard TD return that was the second-longest in school history (98-yarder by Bob Goode vs. Ellington Field in 1945).
- In a bit of a rarity, starting OT Jake Matthews, son of NFL Hall of Famer Bruce, is the Aggies' deep snapper. Entering 2012, he had not snapped in a game since high school.
"maroon Goons" paving the way
Paving the way for the Aggies' record-setting offense is the biggest offensive front in school history, which features a pair of tackles that have been projected to be NFL first-round draft picks in the future. The starting five, self-titled the "Maroon Goons," of senior Patrick Lewis (C), juniors Luke Joeckel (OT) and Jake Matthews (OT) and sophomores Cedric Ogbuehi (OG) and Jarvis Harrison (OG) weigh in at 1,542 pounds or 308.4 per goon.
Joeckel and Matthews have been projected as first-round picks by several sources, and the pair are on the watch lists for the Outland Award (best interior lineman) and the Rotary Lombardi Award (best lineman or linebacker). Lewis is on the watch list for the Rimington Trophy (most outstanding center).
Here's the Beef
Lineman________________ Ht___ WT___ career starts
LT Luke Joeckel_________ 6-6___ 310___ 32 (32 consecutive)
LG Jarvis Harrison_______ 6-3___ 320___ 11 (7 consecutive)
C Patrick Lewis________ 6-2___ 312___ 41 (41 consecutive)
RG Cedric Ogbuehi 6-5_ 295 12 (11 consecutive)
RT Jake Matthews______ 6-5___ 305___ 26 (26 consecutive)
- With the Maroon Goons clearing the way, the Aggies have produced three 600-yard total offense games in 2012, including a season-high 716 yards against Arkansas.
- The Aggies are averaging 5.9 yards per carry, which is slightly higher than the school record of 5.8 set in 1990.
- The Aggies have rushed for 200-plus yards in five straight games, and are averaging 235.8 rushing yards per game. The last time A&M has rushed for more than 200 yards in five straight games was 1992 when R.C. Slocum's 12-1 Aggies closed out the regular season with six straight 200-yard rushing efforts.
evans added to Biletnikoff Watch lIst
Redshirt freshman WR Mike Evans, the Aggies' surprise receiving leader, was added to the watch list for the Biletnikoff Award on Tuesday, Oct. 16. The award, named for NFL Hall of Famer Fred Belitnikoff, is given annually to the nation's top wide receiver. Evans joins senior teammates Ryan Swope and Uzoma Nwachukwu on the list.
Evans leads the Aggies with 36 catches for 549 yards. His 6.0 catches per game and 91.5 yards per game rank No. 3 in the SEC.
Johnny football making mark
Redshirt freshman quarterback Johnny Manziel ranks among the nation's top 100 statistically in seven offensive categories. He is the top freshman in points responsible for, total offense, scoring, passing efficiency, passing yards and rushing.
Manziel in the NCAA Statistical Rankings
Category____________ NCAA Rk Avg. rank among freshmen
Rushing/G_____________ No. 17 112.7 No. 1
Passing Yards/G________ No. 20 280.0 No. 1
Passing Efficiency______ No. 10 162.80 rtg. No. 1
Total Offense/G________ No. 2 392.7 No. 1
Scoring/G______________ No. 13 10.0 pts. No. 1
Points Responsible For/G No. 2 24.0 pts No. 1
All-purpose Yards/G____ No. 71 112.7 No. 5
Nation's Top Dual Threat?
Aggie QB Johnny Manziel has firmly established himself among the nation's most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks. Among players ranked in the top 100 nationally in rushing, Manziel ranks No. 1 in total offense with an average of 392.7 yards per game.
2012 NCAA Total Offense Producers (Among Top 100 Rushers)
Rk. Player, School_____________ Total Off/G
1. Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M___ 392.7
2. Jordan Lynch, Northern Illinois___ 343.6
3. Cody Fajardo, Nevada____________ 331.0
4. Denard Robinson, Michigan______ 317.5
5. Braxton Miller, Ohio State_______ 311.9
Manziel has nose for endzone
Aggie QB Johnny Manziel has a knack for finding the endzone. After six games, Manziel ranks No. 2 nationally in points responsibility with an average of 24.0 points per game.
2012 NCAA Points Responsibility
Rk. Player, School___________ Pts resp for/G
1. Geno Smith, West Virginia________ 26.0
2. Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M____ 24.0
Nick Florence, Baylor_____________ 24.0
4. Seth Doege, Texas Tech__________ 21.0
5. Colby Cameron, Louisiana Tech___ 19.3
NEW FACES in New places
Texas A&M's depth chart is brimming with first-year players. The two-deep chart features 16 that are new to the team or redshirted last season, including 10 true freshmen.
Closer Look at the Depth Chart
Offense (8): WR Mike Evans, WR Derel Walker, WR Sabian Holmes, WR Thomas Johnson, OL Germain Ifedi, OL Mike Matthews, OL Joseph Cheek, QB Johnny Manziel
Defense (6): DL Julien Obioha, LB Michael Richardson, DB De'Vante Harris, DB Tramain Jacobs, DB Johntel Franklin
Specialists (3): PK Taylor Bertolet, PK Davis Plowman, KOR Trey Williams
Bold Caps denotes 2012 starter
New scheme, same results
Aggie defensive boss Mark Snyder's new 4-3 defensive scheme gets pressure from all over the front seven with a whopping 11 defenders with at least a half-sack, including five defensive linemen, five linebackers and a defensive back.
Similar to last year when they led the nation in sacks, the Aggies are again near the top of the NCAA quarterback sacks chart with 19 in the first six games (3.2 per game), which is tied for No. 11 in the FBS and No. 2 in the SEC. Last season the Aggies led the nation with 51 sacks (3.9 per game).
Moore on incredible defensive run
Texas A&M junior defensive end Damontre Moore is building on his strong play down the stretch in 2011 with an All-America-type beginning to 2012. In his last 12 games, Moore, in his first season at DE after lining up at LB his first two seasons, has compiled an incredible 13 sacks and 25 tackles for loss.
Damonster's Last 12 Games
Opponent_____________ QBS____ TFL
Missouri________________ 0.0_____ 1.5
at Oklahoma____________ 0.0_____ 2.0
at Kansas State_________ 2.0_____ 3.5
Kansas_________________ 2.0_____ 2.0
Texas__________________ 1.0_____ 1.5
vs. Northwestern _______ 1.0_____ 2.0
Florida_________________ 3.0_____ 3.0
at SMU_________________ 2.0_____ 2.0
South Carolina State____ 1.0_____ 3.0
Arkansas_______________ 0.0_____ 2.5
at Ole Miss_____________ 1.0_____ 2.0
vs. Louisiana Tech______ 1.5_____ 2.5
Total________________ 14.5___ 27.5
2012 NCAA Individual QB Sack Leaders
Rk. Player, School_______________ QBS/G
1. Scott Crichton, Oregon State________ 1.60
2. Damontre Moore, Texas A&M____ 1.42
Will Sutton, Arizona State__________ 1.42
4. Quanterus Smith, W. Kentucky______ 1.30
5. Chris Jones, Bowling Green_________ 1.29
2012 NCAA Individual TFL Leaders
Rk. Player, School_______________ QBS/G
1. Damontre Moore, Texas A&M____ 2.50
Khalil Mack, Buffalo______________ 2.50
3. Travis Johnson, San Jose State______ 2.25
4. Scott Crichton, Oregon State________ 2.20
5. Will Sutton, Arizona State__________ 2.17
NCAA Active Career QB Sacks/G Leaders
Rk. Player, School_______________ QBS/G
1. Jarvis Jones, Georgia_______________ 1.0
2. Scott Crichton, Oregon State_________ 0.8
3. Damontre Moore, Texas A&M_____ 0.7
Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina____ 0.7
5. Ten player_______________________ 0.6
net gain for epperson
Incumbent starter Ryan Epperson, who fought off a strong challenge from sophomore Drew Kaser to win the 2012 punting job, has opened the 2012 season with several eye-opening performances. He is averaging 45.2 on 21 boots..
Nine of his 18 punts have been downed inside the opponent 20 yard line with no touchbacks, and only four of his punts have been returned.
The Aggies' season net punt average stands at 45.5 and ranked No. 1 nationally. Last year, the Aggies were No. 94 nationally with a 35.0 net punt average.
2012 NCAA Team Net Punting Leaders
Rk. School__________________ net Avg.
1. Texas A&M_________________ 44.7
2. Oklahoma State______________ 43.2
3. Air Force___________________ 43.2
4. Florida _____________________ 42.8
5. Marshall___________________ 42.6
Swope Sets Sights on Receiving Records
- After breaking A&M's single season receptions record in back-to-back seasons, senior wide receiver Ryan Swope is within range of most of the career receiving standard in the Aggies' record book.
- For his career, Swope has 200 catches for 2,503 yards and 19 touchdowns.
- Swope posted a school record with six 100-yard receiving games last season, and has a school record 10 for his career.
- He set another school record with four touchdown receptions against Baylor in 2011. His 206 receiving yards (on 11 catches) against the Bears was the fifth 200-yard game in A&M history.
- Easily the team leader in offensive 20-yard plays last year with 16, including seven 20-yard plus TD plays.
- Was a running back at Austin Westlake High School, but lined up at WR from day one at Texas A&M.
- Aggies are 8-2 in Swope's 100-yard receiving games, and are 8-4 when he has 8 or more catches.
Career Receptions
Player Rec. Years
Jeff Fuller 233 2008-11
Ryan Swope 200 2009-
Terrence Murphy 172 2001-04
Uzoma Nwachukwu 137 2009-
Bethel Johnson 117 1999-02
Career Receiving Yards
Player Yards Years
Jeff Fuller 3,092 2008-11
Terrence Murphy 2,600 2001-04
Ryan Swope 2,503 2009-
Uzoma Nwachukwu 1,913 2009-
Bethel Johnson 1,740 1999-02
Career Touchdowns
Player TDs Years
Jeff Fuller 34 2008-11
Bob Long 19 1966-68
Ryan Swope 19 2009-
Uzoma Nwachukwu 16 2009-
Tony Harrison 14 1990-93
C-Mike returns
- Christine Michael's first name is pronounced: CHRIS-tin, not Christian or chris-TEEN
- Michael's last two seasons have been cut short due to season-ending injuries. He broke his right leg in game 8 in 2010 (vs. Texas Tech) and tore his left ACL in game 9 in 2011 (vs. Oklahoma).
- Despite missing nine games the past two seasons due to season-ending injuries, Michael is the SEC's second-leading active rusher with 2,478 career yards behind Marcus Lattimore of South Carolina.
- Has nine career 100-yard plus rushing games, including four in nine games last season. Aggies are 7-2 in games when C-Mike rushes for 100-plus yards.
- His 2,543 career rushing yards rank No. 11 in school history, and his 3,070 career all-purpose yards rank No. 13.
- Was well on his way to his first 1,000-yard season in 2011 with 899 yards in nine games, including a monster 32-carry, 230-yard, three-TD effort against Arkansas.
Aggies in the NFL
Texas A&M had 18 former players on NFL Opening Day active rosters.
Aggies on NFL Opening Day active rosters
#85 Martellus Bennett, TE, New York Giants
#71 Michael Bennett, DL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
#95 Rocky Bernard, DL, New York Giants
#79 Red Bryant, DL, Seattle Seahawks
#96 Ron Edwards, DL, Carolina Panthers
#25 Mike Goodson, RB, Oakland Raiders
#42 Cyrus Gray, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
#63 Geoff Hangartner, OL, Carolina Panthers
#96 Kellen Heard, DL, St. Louis Rams
#41 Jorvorskie Lane, FB, Miami Dolphins
#9 Shane Lechler, P, Oakland Raiders
#60 Kevin Matthews, OL, Tennessee Titans
#58 Von Miller, LB, Denver Broncos
#48 Don Muhlbach, DS, Detroit Lions
#32 Jordan Pugh, DB, Washington Redskins
#17 Ryan Tannehill, QB, Miami Dolphins
#74 Cody Wallace, OL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
#94 *Ty Warren, DL, Denver Broncos
* -- Injured in season-opener, placed on
Injured Reserve
Practice Squad
#79 Ben Bass, DL, Dallas Cowboys
#37 Terrence Frederick, DB, New York Giants
#83 Jeff Fuller, WR, Miami Dolphins
#63 Tony Jerod-Eddie, DL, San Francisco 49ers
#80 Jamie McCoy, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
#77 Lucas Patterson, DL, Kansas City Chiefs
Injured Reserve:
#4 Randy Bullock, PK, Houston Texans
NFL Coaching Staffs:
Dennis Allen, Oakland Raiders (Head Coach)
Dan Campbell, Miami Dolphins (Tight Ends)
Kyle Caskey, Cincinnati Bengals (Offensive Quality Control)
Jerry Fontenot, Green Bay Packers (Tight Ends)
Johnny Holland, Oakland Raiders (Linebackers)
Gary Kubiak, Houston Texans (Head Coach)
Kirk Parrish, Seattle Seahawks (College Scouting Coordinator)
Shawn Slocum, Green Bay Packers (Special Teams Coordinator)
TEam captains, leadership council
- Team captains, selected by player voting, are seniors LB Sean Porter, DB Steven Terrell, OL Patrick Lewis and WR Ryan Swope.
- Leadership Council, also selected by player vote, is comprised of SENIORS: LB Sean Porter, TE Michael Lamothe; JUNIORS: OL Jake Matthews, OL Luke Joeckel; SOPHOMORES: QB Jameill Showers, RB Brandon Williams; FRESHMEN: QB Johnny Manziel, WR Mike Evans.