Texas A&M Football: 5 reasons Kevin Sumlin should be on the hot seat

5 of 6

Nov 7, 2015; College Station, TX, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel is interviewed before a game between the Texas A&M Aggies and the Auburn Tigers at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Lack of QB production

In Sumlin’s first season in College Station in 2012, Johnny Manziel had a Heisman trophy season as a redshirt freshman. The Aggies went 11-2 and set up unrealistic expectations for Sumlin. Since then, the Aggies went 9-4 and three 8-5 seasons. Manziel’s final season at Texas A&M was in 2013. The Aggies lost three SEC games by a combined 18 points, including a 49-42 shootout with Alabama.

Since Manziel left College Station, the Aggies haven’t had much at quarterback. Kenny Hill had a promising start in 2014 but was replaced midseason by Kyle Allen. Later, he was suspended for violating team rules and eventually he transferred to TCU.

Allen fizzled midway through the 2015 season, prompting Sumlin to name Kyler Murray the team’s starter. Murray and Allen announced at the end of the season they would transfer elsewhere. Sumlin earned a breather in 2016 by securing Oklahoma transfer Trevor Knight.

Still, the pressure is on in 2017. The odds are good Mazzone uses a quarterback he recruited to guide his offense. That is a delicate situation, since it would require a freshman to lead a team with high expectations.