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Texas A&M Football: 5 players who must step up in spring 2018

By Andrew Miller

COLLEGE STATION, TX - SEPTEMBER 30: Kendall Bussey #25 of the Texas A&M Aggies avoids a tackle attempt by T.J. Brunson #6 of the South Carolina Gamecocks in the second quarter at Kyle Field on September 30, 2017 in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
COLLEGE STATION, TX - SEPTEMBER 30: Kendall Bussey #25 of the Texas A&M Aggies avoids a tackle attempt by T.J. Brunson #6 of the South Carolina Gamecocks in the second quarter at Kyle Field on September 30, 2017 in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /
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Texas A&M Football
CHARLOTTE, NC – DECEMBER 29: Christian Kirk #3 celebrates after scoring a touchdown with teammate Jhamon Ausbon #2 of the Texas A&M Aggies against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons during the Belk Bowl at Bank of America Stadium on December 29, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

The Texas A&M receiving corps loses it’s most important piece from the last couple seasons in former All-American wide receiver Christian Kirk. He’ll make the jump to the NFL while the Aggies need to find a replacement for the potential first round 2018 NFL Draft pick.

A prime candidate to not just get into the spotlight with a breakout season for the Aggies, but across the entire country, is the rising sophomore Jhamon Ausbon. Both Ausbon and fellow rising sophomore Camron Buckley should have the inside track to landing starting spots on the outside in 2018.

Those starting spots need to be won in Texas A&M’s Spring Practice and the Spring Game at Kyle Field. Texas A&M has very little returning experience in the receiving corps, as they also lose Damion Ratley, the second leading receiver behind Kirk from 2017.

The talent is still there for the Aggies to have a standout receiving corps in the SEC. They just need players like Ausbon, one of the most productive receivers returning to College Station this year, and Buckley to surprise some people. We’ll see how the receivers can support a young group of quarterbacks in the early part of the 2018 schedule.