Stronger: Fall Camp Preview
Will Johnson, 12th Man Productions
In 2022 the Aggies suffered through a 5-7 season.
But through the pain comes strength.
A lot of what ailed A&M was youth and inexperience. Those thrust into action have now aged and gained valuable experience from their trials.
The numbers put up by true or redshirt freshmen were staggering. That grouping accounted for almost 100 catches in the pass game and right at 100 tackles in the secondary. Across the defensive front there were 22.5 tackles for lost yardage. Across the offensive front four started at least one game and six saw action at some point.
There was a youth movement with Aggie Football a season ago, and this could have them moving in the right direction in 2023.
Conner Weigman was a true freshman that stepped in as the starter at quarterback and threw eight touchdowns against zero interceptions. He’s working with Max Johnson as August camp looms. Johnson played often, and didn’t throw a pick either. That’s a good place to start with the signal callers, protecting the football. Now what’s next?
“There’s a term I use called ‘aggressive intelligence’”, says Jimbo Fisher. “When you make throws, understanding what the coverage is, there’s a safe zone. Don’t miss inside, miss outside.”
The head coach explains to put it where only your guy can catch it--not the other guy.
“Learning those things, they took a lot of steps because they made a lot of plays and still protected the football really well in the spring,” Fisher added.
Donovan Green caught 22 passes last season for 233 yards, scoring touchdowns against Alabama and LSU.
If they have to throw to tight windows, reliable targets are there. And they’re targets that can get open, and get deep, too.
Wide receivers Ainias Smith, Moose Muhammad and Evan Stewart are all back and feature explosive potential. The emergence of Noah Thomas this spring is reason for excitement as well.
Mix the wideouts with an abundance of tight ends to choose from and it truly becomes a ‘who do we cover?’ situation for the opposition.
Max Wright, Donovan Green, Jake Johnson and Theo Melin Öhrström all could prove to be valuable.
Green caught 22 balls in his first year and can even stretch the field from the tight end position. But tight ends also have to be chain movers. Jimbo stressed they need to work in tight windows when working past the sticks.
“Our coach always talks about catch radius,” Green said. “The bigger it is, the easier it is. We’re looking to help out the quarterback in every way. It’s only a fraction of a second he (has to) see us and try to put a ball on us.”
Veteran Layden Robinson is an anchor of the offensive line who has played in 34 games entering the 2023 campaign.
When distributing downfield the quarterbacks will need time, meaning the offensive line will need to improve at slowing the pass rush. Many of those youngsters competed because injuries mounted. Staying healthy always matters.
It’s important that Bryce Foster is set to work with the O-Line again in August. The Aggies’ center, who spends springs with the track & field team, is the key piece in the middle.
“Bryce is a great aspect,” states guard Layden Robinson. “He’s a very smart guy. If you sit down and talk with him about the game of football he could wow you. When he gets back in there it’s gonna be like he didn’t miss a beat.”
The running backs will have to replace Devon Achane--and that’s no small task. Not only was he a 1,000-yard rusher, he could make plays in the pass and return game. It’ll take more than one body to make up for the speedster that’s now a Miami Dolphin rookie who’s already turning heads in NFL workouts.
Fortunately, there’s a quality stable in the backfield. Le’Veon Moss and Amari Daniels notched some carries as freshman last year. Reuben Owens, an incoming freshman from El Campo, will be in the mix as well.
Chris Russell Jr. started all 12 games in 2022, finishing third on the team with 66 tackles (7 for loss).
On the other side of the ball, the Aggies are looking to go ‘next level’ on defense--this after finishing in the Top 25 nationally in scoring defense and No. 1 in the country in against the pass, even with considerable youth on the field.
The guys capable of rushing the passer are back across the defensive front. Young and talented last year, that talent comes with experience this season. So do expectations. A&M could boast one of the best defensive lines in college football in 2023.
The group runs deep. As many as 12 gifted yet massive bodies could contribute.
Behind them there’s not as much depth, but a good foundation to start with at linebacker. Edgerrin Cooper and Chris Russell Jr. have played plenty of football for the Aggies. This group will have a chance to roam free, and flourish, playing right behind that stout line.
“We’ve got a great defensive line,” says Russell Jr. with a smile. “Some new people coming in, Mac (McKinnley Jackson), Fadil (Diggs), LT (Overton). I could keep going.”
Russell Jr. knows he becomes better when playing behind what could be the best.
“The defensive line, I can’t wait to see what they’re going to do,” he says. “The sky’s the limit really.”
The secondary has returners in the form of Demani Richardson, Bryce Anderson, Tyreek Chappell and others. But the intrigue comes with an influx of newcomers from the ACC. Three transfers from that conference step into an Aggie uniform, and into the SEC, in time for 2023.
Josh DeBerry (Boston College) is now in College Station. As an Eagle, he was All-Conference. Tony Grimes once played against the Aggies, for North Carolina, in the 2021 Orange Bowl. Grimes had a sack and broke up a couple passes. Despite his activeness A&M clipped the Heels, 41-27. And Sam McCall has transferred to A&M from Florida State.
Where and how will they fit in the back end of the defense?
Finally, the Aggies have their key specialists back. The third phase could be first rate in 2023. Nik Constantinou is an all-conference punter. At placekicker, Randy Bond made 13-of-17 field goal attempts a season ago. Smith is valuable in the return game.
With August Camp starting up the Aggies are off and running into a new season. They’ll look for improvement this Fall. Young players went through trials and tribulations a year ago.
They’re stronger, and wiser, from it.
And, most importantly, they believe they’re flat out a better football team too.
