Game Notes: Texas A&M at Missouri
Nov 26, 2013 | Football
KICKOFF/DATE: 6:45 p.m. (CT), Saturday, Nov. 30, 2013
SITE Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field, Columbia, Mo. (Cap. 67,124)
TV ESPN (national)
Brent Musberger, play-by-play
Kirk Herbstreit, commentary
Heather Cox, sideline reporter
RADIO Compass Media (National)
Gregg Daniels, play-by-play
Dale Hellestrae, commentary
Drew Bontadelli, studio host
Texas A&M Sports Network
Dave South, play-by-play
Dave Elmendorf, commentary
Will Johnson, sideline
(Mizzou feed on SiriusXM channel: Sirius 91 / XM 91)
RANKINGS Texas A&M (No. 21 - BCS / No. 19- AP / No. 21 - USA Today)
Missouri (No. 5 - BCS / No. 5 - AP / No. 6 - Usa today)
SERIES HISTORY Texas A&M leads series, 8-5 (Last meeting: at Texas A&M 59, Missouri 29)
LIVE AUDIO aggieathletics.com, radioaggieland.com
STATS tamu.statbroadcast.com (contact SID for password)
Aggies set to visit SEC East-leading Tigers
Texas A&M will close out the regular season with a road trip to Columbia, Mo., to take on the SEC East-leading Missouri Tigers on Saturday. Kickoff for the game, which will be nationally televised by ESPN, will be 6:45 p.m. Missouri and Texas A&M both joined the SEC in 2012 after 16 seasons together in the Big 12 Conference.
• A Texas A&M win over the Tigers, ranked No. 5 in the AP Top 25, would mark the second-highest AP road win in school history after last year's upset of top-ranked Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
• It will be A&M's first trip to Columbia since 2007 after three straight contests between the Aggies and Tigers in College Station.
• The Aggies lead the series, 8-5, with a 4-0 record as non-conference opponents, 3-5 as Big 12 members and a 1-0 mark as SEC foes.
• The Aggies are 2-2 vs. the Tigers in Columbia with wins in 1992 and 1999 and losses in 2003 and 2007.
TAMU vs. Mizzou (Last 10)
2012 College Station W 59-29
2011 College Station L 38-31
2010 College Station L 30-9
2007 Columbia, Mo. L 40-26
2006 College Station W 25-19
2003 Columbia, Mo. L 45-22
2002 College Station L 33-27 (2OT)
1999 Columbia, Mo. W 51-14
1998 College Station W 17-14
1993 College Station W 73-0
What to Watch For
• The Aggies are a perfect 11-0 in night games in the Kevin Sumlin era (2012 to present).
• A win by the Aggies over AP No. 5 Missouri would rank as the second-highest road victory in school history behind last year's upset of top-ranked Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
• Johnny Manziel needs 208 passing yards to break Ryan Tannehill's A&M season passing record of 3,744 yards from 2011. Manziel currently has thrown 175 fewer passes than Tannehill did in his record-setting season.
• Drew Kaser's current season punt average is 1.0 yard ahead of Shane Lechler's school record of 47.0 from 1997.
• A win by the Aggies would give A&M at least nine wins for a second straight season and for 22nd time in school history.
• A win by the Aggies would be the 20th of Kevin Sumlin's time at Texas A&M. No other head coach has won more than 18 games in their first two seasons in Aggieland.
• As a team, the Aggies lead the SEC in scoring (45.6 points/game), total offense (552.6 yards/game), passing (365.1 yards/game) and first downs (28.0/game).
• In the SEC individual statistics, sophomore QB Johnny Manziel leads in passing yards (321.5/G), passing touchdowns (32) and total offense (382.0/G); sophomore WR Mike Evans leads in receiving yards (119.5/G) and receiving TDs (12); sophomore punter Drew Kaser leads in punt average (48.0).
Aggies contend for Major Awards
Mike Evans: Biletnikoff Award finalist (Top WR),
Drew Kaser: Ray Guy Award finalist (Top punter)
Johnny Manziel: Davey O'Brien Award finalist (Top QB), Maxwell Award finalist (Top player), Walter Camp semifinalist (Player of the Year), Manning Award finalist (Top QB)
Jake Matthews: Outland Trophy finalist (Top interior lineman)
#JohnnyRepeat
Sophomore QB Johnny Manziel has followed up his Heisman Trophy-winning freshman season with an even more impressive sophomore campaign.
Manziel through 11 Games / 2012 vs. 2013
2012 2013 +/-
Yards per attempt 8.5 9.9 +1.4
Completion percentage 67.7 69.1 +1.4
Passing yards 3,047 3,537 +490
Passing YPG 277.0 321.5 +44.5
Passing touchdowns 21 32 +11
Passing efficiency 155.13 174.92 +19.79
4+ passing TD games 1 5 +4
400+ passing games 1 4 +3
3+ total touchdown games 6 8 +2
400+ total offense games 4 5 +1
All-Purpose Aggies
For the first time in school history, seven Aggies have surpassed 500 all-purpose yards in the same season.
Aggies with 500 All-Purpose Yards
500-yard Receivers
The Aggies need 31 receiving yards by senior WR Travis Labhart to have four receivers with 500 or more receiving yards on the team for the second time in school history. The 2002 quartet of Jamaar Taylor, Terrence Murphy, Bethel Greg Porter all had 500-plus receiving yards.
Elite Balance
Schools with 29 Rush TD / 29 Pass TD
School rush TD Pass TD
Baylor 41 29
Florida State 37 34
Ohio State 36 33
Texas A&M 29 35
“Fast Start”-ers
One of the opening periods of head coach Kevin Sumlin's practices is called “fast start.” Occurring just after warmups, “fast start” features several live-action 11-on-11 series just like a game situation. He started implementing the period when his teams at the University of Houston were getting off to slow starts.
• Texas A&M has scored nine or more points in the first quarter of nine of 11 games in 2013. In 24 games under Sumlin, the Aggies have scored at least 14 first-quarter points 14 times.
• Texas A&M has scored first in 22 of 24 games under Kevin Sumlin. The only games when the Aggies didn't score first in 2013 were against Rice and LSU.
• On opening offensive series under Sumlin, the Aggies have scored 18 of 24 times with an impressive 17 touchdowns.
• In first quarters under Sumlin (24 games), the Aggies have outscored their opponents 291-113 or an average of 12.0-5.0.
• Mark Snyder's Aggie defense has forced a punt, turnover or turnover on downs on 17 of 24 opening series.
• A&M has yielded a touchdown on an opponents' first chance with the ball after halftime just once this season (SHSU), while the Aggie defense has notched a defensive score twice.
Offense / Defense / Special Teams
Offense
• Texas A&M is one of four teams in FBS that ranks in the top 10 nationally in passing, scoring and total offense. The others are Baylor, Clemson and Fresno State.
• The Aggies lead the SEC in passing, total and scoring offense.
• Texas A&M has already passed for 4,016 yards, which is the just the ninth 4,000-yard passing season in SEC history. With two games to play, Texas A&M is within range of the SEC record of 4,534 yards set by Kentucky in 1998.
• It's the second straight year that the Aggies have passed for 4,000+ yards, which makes A&M just the third SEC school to throw for 4,000 in consecutive seasons -- Florida (1995-96) and Kentucky (1997-98).
• With 6,079 total yards through 11 games, the Aggies are the 11th team in SEC history to surpass the 6,000-yard plateau. The Aggies set the SEC record with 7,261 total yards in 2012 so Texas A&M just the second team to gain 6,000 yards in consecutive years. Florida did it in 1995-96 under Steve Spurrier and again in 2008-09 under Urban Meyer.
• The Aggies are averaging 552.6 total yards per game in 2013, which trails only last year's 558.5 average in SEC history.
• Texas A&M has already produced 308 first downs in 2013, making the Aggies the 13th team in SEC history with 300+ first downs in a season. A&M set the SEC record with 357 in 2012.
• The Aggies are completing 68.5 percent of their passes in 2013, which is on school record pace and is tied for No. 3 in SEC history.
• Texas A&M has scored double-digit points for 39 consecutive games dating back to a 9-6 win over Nebraska in 2010.
• Only twice in the last 39 games have the Aggies failed to reach 20 points, and both times were against LSU -- 19 in 2012 and 10 in 2013.
• Texas A&M has scored 502 points through 11 games, which gives the Aggies three straight seasons with 500+ points. The Aggies set their school record with 578 points in 2012, which ranks No. 2 in SEC history.
• The Aggies 45.6 scoring average is on a school record pace (current record is 44.5), and ranks No. 2 in SEC history behind's Florida's 46.6 scoring average in 1996.
Defense
• Since moving into the starting lineup at middle linebacker in game 4 vs. SMU, true freshman Darian Claiborne has been the team's most productive tackler. In the last seven games, Claiborne has made 66 tackles or 9.0 per game.
• Claiborne's 79 tackles already ranks No. 3 among freshman defenders in school history.
Freshman Tackle Leaders
Mike Little, 1978 105
Dat Nguyen, 1995 94
Darian Claiborne, 2013 79
Erik Mayes, 2004 69
Jaxson Appel, 2002 69
• Claiborne has four double-digit games in 2013, which leads the team. He posted his career high of 12 vs. Auburn and UTEP.
• Junior safety Howard Matthews leads the team with 81 tackles and three pickoffs. Matthews has had five or more tackles in 10 of 11 games, including a pair of double-digit efforts -- 10 vs. Rice and a career-high 14 vs. Vanderbilt.
• In last year's Missouri game, Matthews posted a game-high and then career-high 13 tackles against the Tigers, while also contribuing a tackle for loss and breaking up a pass.
• Texas A&M has gained just one takeaway in its last two games. The Aggies were held without a takeaway for the first time in 2013 by LSU.
• Junior DE Gavin Stansbury had a career total of 29 tackles in the first 27 games of his career, with a career high of four stops (once). In his last six games, however, Stansbury has generated 40 tackles with at least four in every game. During that span, Stansbury had a career-high 10 stops vs. Auburn and also nine vs. Vanderbilt. Three of Stansbury's four career QB sacks also came during the last six games.
• Nine first-year defenders have contributed 10 or more tackles in 2013, including seven freshmen (six true freshmen). Included among the nine defenders are JC transfer Tommy Sanders and converted WR Nate Askew.
• The Aggies have three “pick-six” interceptions and a fumble return for a touchdown.
• Ten Aggies combine for the team's 15 interceptions. Those 10 players combined for just three pickoffs prior to 2013.
Special Teams
• Ray Guy Award finalist Drew Kaser leads the SEC with a 48.0 punt average, and the Aggies rank No. 5 nationally in net punt average (40.8).
• Among Kaser's 36 punts in 2013 are 14 “coffin corner” boots, 10 fair catches and 14 50-yard-plus boots, including a career-long 76-yarder against Rice.
• Walk-on junior PK Josh Lambo won the starting job in game 4 vs. SMU. He's responded by connecting on 7-of-8 field goals and 40-of-41 extra points. He enters the Missouri with five straight made field goals.
• Lambo's BACKSTORY: Lambo was a first-round pick (8th overall) as a goalie by FC Dallas in the MLS SuperDraft in 2008.
• Lambo is 2-of-2 on field goals of 40 yards or longer, with a long FG of 41 yards. He hit a walk-off game-winner from 33 yards against Ole Miss.
• Sophomore KO specialist Taylor Bertolet has 101 career touchbacks on 187 kickoffs, including 36 in 2013. Bertolet handled the Aggies' FG/PAT duties in 2012 and for the first portion of 2013 (2-of-3 on FGs, 23-of-26 on PATs).
• Bertolet has a long FG of 44 yards in 2013, and also booted three 50+ FGs in 2012 with a career long of 54 vs. Louisiana Tech. Last year against Missouri, he connected on a 50-yarder.
• The Aggies lead the SEC in kickoff coverage with a net average of 41.7 .
• After 11 games, the Aggies are averaging 48.0 yards per punt, which is just a tick off the SEC record of 48.1 set by Georgia in 2009.
• The Aggies have blocked three kicks in 2013. Junior Floyd Raven has blocked a punt and a field goal attempt, and sophomore 12th Man Sam Moeller has blocked a punt. Moeller's block marked the first time in school history that a 12th Man has blocked a punt.
• Running back Tra Carson has nine special teams tackles, which is second-best on the team. He is the only offensive player among the top seven special teams tacklers.
• In a bit of a rarity, starting left tackle Jake Matthews handles the deep snapping duties for the placekicks. Walk-on junior Alex Freeman handles the snaps on punts.
• Sophomore WR Mike Evans has two of the SEC's top five receiving games -- 287 vs. Auburn, 2013 and 279 vs. Alabama, 2013. He is the only SEC receiver with multiple 225-yard plus receiving games.
• Evans had 279 receiving yards vs. Alabama. Throwing out A&M, the next highest receiving yards total AS A TEAM against the Tide is 241 by LSU.
• Evans' mammoth 279-yard effort against the Crimson Tide shattered Ken “Dude” McLean's school record of 250 receiving yards (13 catches) against Texas in 1965.
• Against teams currently ranked in the AP Top 25, Evans leads the FBS with a 617 total yards, five TDs and a per game average of 205.7.
• Evans' 95-yard catch against Alabama was the second-longest catch in school history and the seventh-longest in SEC history.
• Evans' 561 yards on 22 catches (25.5 per catch) in the first quarter in 2013 ranks No. 1 among FBS receivers.
• He leads the nation in catches of 30+ yards (17) and and ranks second with 26 catches of 20 yards or more.
• His 12 receiving TDs leads the SEC and ranks No. 4 in FBS.
• His four receiving TDs vs. Auburn tied the school record originally set by Ryan Swope against Baylor in 2011.
• Evans has at least one 20-yard catch in 22-of-24 career games.
SEC's Top 5 Receiving Games
303 Cobi Hamilton, ARK vs. Rutgers, 2012
293 Josh Reed, LSU vs. Alabama, 2001
287 Mike Evans, A&M vs. Auburn, 2013
281 Jarius Wright, ARK vs. A&M, 2011
279 Mike Evans, A&M vs. Alabama, 2013
FBS Receiving TDs Leaders
19 Davante Adams, Fresno State
15 Brandin Cooks, Oregon State
13 Willie Snead, Ball State
12 Four players
FBS Receiving Yards Leaders
1,560 Brandin Cooks, Oregon State
1,314 Mike Evans, Texas A&M
1,310 Allen Robinson, Penn State
1,296 Willie Snead, Ball State
1,289 Paul Richardson, Colorado
Most 30-Yard-Plus Catches
15 Brandin Cooks, Oregon State
14 Antwan Goodley, Baylor
12 Three players
Yards Per Catch Average
(minimum of 40 catches)
21.5 Mike Evans, Texas A&M
20.6 Antwan Goodley, Baylor
19.7 Dres Anderson, Utah
19.7 Odell Beckham Jr., LSU
18.9 Allen Hurns, Miami (Fla.)
Texas A&M Record Book:
Season Receptions
89 Ryan Swope, 2011
72 Ryan Swope, 2012
72 Jeff Fuller, 2010
72 Ryan Swope, 2010
Closing in...
Season Receiving Yards
1,207 Ryan Swope, 2011
1,066 Jeff Fuller, 2010
913 Ryan Swope, 2012
Season Receiving TDs
12 Jeff Fuller, 2010
11 Ryan Swope, 2011
8 Four times
Career Receptions
252 Ryan Swope, 2009-12
233 Jeff Fuller, 2008-11
172 Terrence Murphy, 2001-04
152 Uzoma Nwachukwu, 2009-12
Career Receiving Yards
3,117 Ryan Swope, 2009-12
3,092 Jeff Fuller, 2008-11
2,600 Terrence Murphy, 2001-04
2,239 Uzoma Nwachukwu, 2009-12
Career Receiving TDs
34 Jeff Fuller, 2008-11
24 Ryan Swope, 2009-12
19 Uzoma Nwachukwu, 2009-12
19 Bob Long, 1966-68
• Sophomore QB Johnny Manziel has five career games with more than 500 total yards. The rest of the SEC has nine.
• Manziel ranks No. 4 nationally in yards per pass attempt at 9.9.
• Manziel has generated 300-plus total yards in 20 of 23 career starts, and rushed or passed for two or more TDs in 21 of 24 career games. .
• Manziel has rushed for 100 yards and passed for 200 yards in a game eight times in his career. He's had four 100/300 games.
• According to ESPN Stats & Info, Manziel has 11 career games with at least 200 passing yards, one passing TD and one rushing TD, which is the most by any player in FBS since the beginning of 2012.
SEC's Top 5 Total O Games
576 Johnny Manziel, A&M vs. LTech, 2012
562 Johnny Manziel, A&M vs. Bama, 2013
557 Johnny Manziel, A&M vs. ARK, 2012
540 Archie Manning, UM vs. Bama, 1969
540 Rohan Davey, LSU vs. Bama, 2001
FBS Total Offense
4,202 Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M
4,052 Derek Carr, Fresno State
3,894 Sean Mannion, Oregon State
3,852 Jordan Lynch, Northern Illinois
3,809 Connor Halliday, Washington State
FBS Points Responsibility
246 Shane Carden, East Carolina
246 Derek Carr, Fresno State
234 Jordan Lynch, Northern Illinois
222 Taj Boyd, Clemson
FBS Pass Efficiency
194.50 Jameis Winston, Florida State
194.05 Bryce Petty, Baylor
176.05 Zach Mettenberger, LSU
174.91 Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M
172.74 Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville
FBS Pass Touchdowns
39 Derek Carr, Fresno State
34 Sean Mannion, Oregon State
32 Shane Carden, East Carolina
32 Jameis Winston, Florida State
32 Rakeem Cato, Marshall
Texas A&M Record Book:
Season Total Offense
4,085 Jerrod Johnson, 2009
4,050 Ryan Tannehill, 2011
3,509 Reggie McNeal, 2004
Season TD Responsibility
38 Jerrod Johnson, 2009
33 Ryan Tannehill, 2011
24 Jerrod Johnson, 2008
Season Passing
3,744 Ryan Tannehill, 2011
3,579 Jerrod Johnson, 2009
2,791 Reggie McNeal, 2004
Season Passing TDs
30 Jerrod Johnson, 2009
29 Ryan Tannehill, 2011
21 Jerrod Johnson, 2008
Season Completion %
.650 Ryan Tannehill, 2010
.620 Stephen McGee, 2006
.616 Ryan Tannehill, 2011
Career Total Offense
9,318 Johnny Manziel, 2012-Present
8,888 Jerrod Johnson, 2007-10
8,876 Reggie McNeal, 2002-05
7,225 Stephen McGee, 2005-08
6,888 Corey Pullig, 1992-95
Career TD Responsibility
87 Johnny Manziel, 2012-Present
83 Jerrod Johnson, 2007-10
59 Reggie McNeal, 2002-05
57 Ryan Tannehill, 2008-11
53 Kevin Murray, 1983-86
Career Passing
8,011 Jerrod Johnson, 2007-10
7,243 Johnny Manziel, 2012-Present
6,992 Reggie McNeal, 2002-05
6,846 Corey Pullig, 1992-95
6,506 Kevin Murray, 1983-86
Career Passing TDs
67 Jerrod Johnson, 2007-10
58 Johnny Manziel, 2012-Present
48 Kevin Murray, 1983-86
47 Corey Pullig, 1992-95
44 Reggie McNeal, 2002-05
Career Completion %
.685 Johnny Manziel, 2012-Present
.625 Ryan Tannehill, 2008-11
.595 Stephen McGee, 2005-08
.586 Jerrod Johnson, 2007-10
.577 Kevin Murray, 1983-86
First Sophomore to 2,000 Rush / 7,000 Pass
Aggie QB Johnny Manziel reached the 2,000 rushing yards/7,000 passing yards in his 23 career game to become the first FBS player to hit 2,000/7,000 in his first two seasons of action. He is the 14th player in FBS to reach the elite level.
NCAA FBS players with 2,000 rushing/7,000 passing
Player, School Years Rushing Passing
Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan 2006-09 2,948 12,905
Robert Griffin III, Baylor 2008-11 2,254 10,366
Colin Kaepernick, Nevada 2007-10 4,112 10,098
Tim Tebow, Florida 2006-09 2,947 9,285
Chandler Harnish, Northern Illinois 2008-11 2,983 8,944
Brad Smith, Missouri 2002-05 4,289 8,799
Matt Grothe, South Florida 2006-09 2,206 8,669
B.J. Daniels, South Florida 2008-12 2,068 8,433
Juice Williams, Illinois 2006-09 2,557 8,037
Antwaan Randle El, Indiana 1998-2001 3,895 7,469
Joshua Cribbs, Kent St. 2001-04 3,670 7,169
Tyrod Taylor, Virginia Tech 2007-10 2,196 7,017
Taylor Martinez, Nebraska 2010-present 2,975 7,258
Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M 2012-present 2,075 7,243
Johnny 500
500-Yard Total Offense Games (SEC history)
Johnny Manziel, A&M 576 vs. LTech, 2012
Johnny Manziel, A&M 562 vs. Ala., 2013
Johnny Manziel, A&M 557 vs. Ark., 2012
Archie Manning, UM 540 vs. Ala., 1969
Rohan Davey, LSU 540 vs. Ala., 2001
Tim Tebow, UF 533 vs. Cinci., 2009
Eric Zeier, UGa. 527 vs. USM, 1993
Jared Lorenzen, UK 525 vs. UGa., 2000
Whit Taylor, Vandy 521 vs. UT, 1981
Chris Nickson, Vandy 517 vs. UK, 2006
Johnny Manziel, A&M 516 vs. OU, 2012
Steve Taneyhill, USC 512 vs. MSU, 1995
Peyton Manning, UT. 508 vs. UK, 1997
Johnny Manziel, A&M 502 vs. AU, 2013
Road Warriors
• Texas A&M has compiled a 9-1 record in 10 games away from Kyle Field during the Kevin Sumlin era. Last week's 34-10 road loss at LSU was the first of Sumlin's career at Texas A&M.
Offense under Sumlin
• The Aggies have gained 400 or more yards in 22 of 24 games under Sumlin.
• The Aggies have hit 500 total yards in 17 of 24 games under Sumlin.
• In the last two seasons (24 games), A&M has scored 70 points once, 60 or more points three times, 50 ore more 10 times, 40 or more points 18 times and 30 or more 20 times. The lowest point total was 10 last week against LSU.
Texas A&M in the Rankings
The Texas A&M football team was ranked No. 21 in the sixth edition of the Bowl Championship Series standings on Sunday. The 8-3 Aggies were one of six Southeastern Conference school including in the BCS standings, joining No. 1 Alabama, No. 4 Auburn, No. 5 Missouri, No. 10 South Carolina and No. 17 LSU.
• The Aggies entered the 2013 season with a top 10 preseason ranking in The Associated Press poll for the 13th time in school history. The Aggies were No. 7 in the AP poll, and No. 6 in the USA Today coaches poll.
• It was the highest AP preseason rank since starting No. 7 in 1999, and the No. 6 ranking by the coaches was the highest since bing ranked No. 6 in the 1995 poll.
• With this week's No. 19 AP/No. 21 USA Today ranking, the Aggies have been ranked in 24 straight editions of the polls.
Aggies in the Rankings (2013 week by week)
Poll PrE S3 S8 S15 S22 S29 O6 O13 O20 O27 N3 N10 N17 N24 D1 Final
AP #7 #7 #6 #10 #10 #9 #9 #7 #14 #12 #11 #10 #9 #19
USA Today #6 #7 #6 #9 #9 #9 #9 #7 #15 #14 #13 #11 #10 #21
BCS -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- #16 #12 #15 #11 #12 #21
Maroon Goons Clear the Way
Paving the way for the Aggies' offense is one of the biggest offensive fronts in school history, which features a pair of tackles that have been projected to be NFL first-round draft picks in the future. The projected starting five, self-titled the “Maroon Goons,” of senior All-American Jake Matthews (OT), juniors Cedric Ogbuehi (OT) and Jarvis Harrison (OG), sophomore Mike Matthews (C) and redshirt freshman Germain Ifedi (OG) weigh in at 1,526 pounds or 305.2 per goon.
Matthews shifted from right tackle to left tackle to replace Outland Trophy winner Luke Joeckel, while Ogbuehi moved from guard to right tackle.
Here's the Beef
Lineman Ht WT Career starts
LT Jake Matthews 6-5 305 44 (44 consecutive)
LG Jarvis Harrison 6-3 325 29 (25 consecutive)
C Mike Matthews 6-2 285 11 (11 consecutive)
RG Germain Ifedi 6-5 311 11 (11 consecutive)
RT Cedric Ogbuehi 6-5 295 28 (2 consecutive)
Matthews Ranks Among Elite
• Returning All-America offensive tackle Jake Matthews was listed No. 1 on the top 100 college seniors list compiled by NFL.com senior analyst Gil Brandt.
• On a pair of 2014 NFL mock drafts, Matthews was projected to be selected fifth overall (first offensive lineman) to the Arizona Cardinals.
• On Sports Illustrated NFL Draft analyst Chris Burke's Big Board, Matthews was ranked No. 3, and he was joined by teammates Mike Evans (No. 14) and Johnny Manziel (No. 37).
Midseason Honors
• Sports Illustrated named three Aggies to its Midseason All-America team -- sophomore WR Mike Evans and senior OT Jake Matthews to the first team and sophomore QB Johnny Manziel on the second team.
• Phil Steele named six Aggies to his Midseason All-SEC team. On the first team were Manziel, Evans and Matthews. Sophomore punter Drew Kaser was named to the second team. Junior OG Jarvis Harrison was named to the third team.
Youth Movement
• The Aggies have used 17 true freshmen, four redshirt freshman, two four-year transfers and two junior college transfers for a total of 25 players that have made their maroon and white playing debuts in 2013.
• Since 1972, the Aggies have awarded varsity letters to 10 or more true freshman in a season only a handful of times: 18 in 2009, 16 in 1980, 11 in 1973 and 10 in 1972 and 2008.
• Kevin Sumlin's 2013 signing class included a whopping 31 players.
Sumlin Coaching Tree
Kevin Sumlin served as an assistant coach under under Bob Stoops at Oklahoma, R.C. Slocum at Texas A&M, Joe Tiller at Purdue and Wyoming, Jim Wacker and Glen Mason at Minnesota and Mike Price at Washington State.
Since becoming a head coach in 2008, four of his assistant coach hires have joined the head coaching ranks: Dana Holgorsen at West Virginia, Tony Levine at Houston, Kliff Kingsbury at Texas Tech and Brian Polian at Nevada.
Sumlin vs. Top 25
In his sixth season as a head coach, second -year Aggie coach Kevin Sumlin has a career record of 7-6 against ranked teams (in the Associated Press poll).
Sumlin vs. the AP Top 25 (at Texas A&M)
Opponent, Year AP rank Result
Florida, 2012 No. 24 L, 20-17
vs. Louisiana Tech, 2012 No. 22 W, 59-57
LSU, 2012 No. 6 L, 24-19
at Mississippi State, 2012 No. 17 W, 38-13
at Alabama, 2012 No. 1 W, 29-24
vs. *Oklahoma, 2013 No. 11 W, 41-13
Alabama, 2013 No. 1 L, 49-42
Auburn, 2013 No. 24 L, 45-41
at LSU, 2013 No. 18 L, 34-10
Sumlin vs. the AP Top 25 (at Houston)
at East Carolina, 2008 No. 23 W, 41-24
Tulsa, 2008 No. 25 W, 70-30
at Oklahoma State, 2009 No. 5 W, 45-35
Southern Miss, 2011 No. 24 L, 49-28
