Texas A&M comes into the 2015 season with little faith from pundits and fans, but the low expectations may propel the Aggies to new heights this year.
Finally, after conference realignment, Heisman trophies, and new stadiums, things seem to be settling down in Aggieland. Head coach Kevin Sumlin and his Aggies were mysteriously left out of the AP and Coaches Poll and were picked to finished sixth in the SEC West during media days. The Aggies are being underrated and the players know it.
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Sumlin is one of the best offensive minds in football, couple that with new defensive coordinator John Chavis and you may have one of the best coaching duos in college football. Chavis consistently churned out NFL prospects at LSU and was always among the leaders in total defense. Chavis’ defense ranked fifth in scoring defense and ninth in yards last year, to put that in perspective, the best defense on a Sumlin team was in 2012 when the Aggies ranked 26th in scoring and 57th in yards.
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In that 2012 season, the Aggies finished third in the SEC, Johnny Manziel won a Heisman trophy, and A&M dominated Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl. That was with an average defense so just imagine what Sumlin is capable of with one of Chavis’ squads.
A&M’s offense will likely post lofty numbers, but will the defense be able to keep up?
Freshman All-American Myles Garrett and standouts Kyle Allen and Speedy Noil are all entering their sophomore year. These players are three of the best in the entire 2014 recruiting class, not just A&M. With a year of experience under their belts, they should be ready to shine in 2015.
At Allen’s disposal is one of the best receiving units in the nation. Led by record-breaking receiver Josh Reynolds, who landed on the Biletnikoff watch list, athletic freak Ricky Seals-Jones, and spark plug Noil, the Aggies are locked and loaded at the position. These three are the stars, but keep an eye out for the freshman from Arizona, Christian Kirk who is one poised for stardom. An early-enrollee, Kirk has turned a lot of heads during spring and fall camp and will likely earn a lot of targets this fall.
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Even though A&M is known for its air-raid offense, don’t be surprised to see Tra Carson put up big numbers in the running game. Carson was the team’s leading rusher last season while splitting carries with Brandon Williams and Trey Williams; however, the backfield is a lot less crowded this season. Brandon Williams was moved to cornerback and Trey Williams is fighting for a roster spot with the Washington Redskins.
This is the deepest group of defensive lineman the Aggies have had since joining the SEC. The group is headlined by Garrett, but ends Julien Obioha and Daeshon Hall will be able to apply pressure to the quarterback. Alonzo Williams and Hardreck Walker will play the two tackle positions and strengthen the middle of the defense. Former five-star recruit Daylon Mack should have an impact on passing downs at the three-technique. Winning in the trenches is imperative for success in the SEC, and A&M is more ready than they’ve ever been.
A deep defensive line and the combination of Chavis’ coaching and should benefit the linebackers and secondary.
However, the best attribute the Aggies have this season is the lack of expectations. 2012, their first season in the SEC, was the last offseason they’ve had low expectations and A&M shined. This is a team that feeds off being an underdog, and I believe they will prove a lot of people wrong this season.
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