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Texas A&M Football: 5 Position battles to watch this offseason

By Shelbie Warr

GAINESVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 14: Kellen Mond #11 of the Texas A&M Aggies attempts a pass during the game at against the Florida Gators Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on October 14, 2017 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 14: Kellen Mond #11 of the Texas A&M Aggies attempts a pass during the game at against the Florida Gators Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on October 14, 2017 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images)
(Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images) /

The Aggie safety situation

With the departure of Armani Watts, the center of the Texas A&M secondary, the Aggies have questions to answer. The team is blessed to have Donovan Wilson returning for a fifth year in Aggieland after an injury derailed his senior plans.

The announcement came as a relief to a new coaching staff. Having a senior presence in the secondary will be extremely important and entirely irreplaceable in 2018. Wilson is a given, at least in my opinion, as a starter in the 2018 season. The question now is who will serve opposite of him

The most obvious choice seems to be sophomore Derrick Tucker, one of the hardest hitting safeties that Texas A&M has seen in quite a while. After leaving Manvel High School, Tucker was one of the many true freshman to see action in Maroon and White in 2017. In all, he saw action in 10 games, making seven starts. He registered 43 tackles, an interception, four pass breakups and forced a fumble.

In the lone Texas A&M SEC victory in November, Tucker had a career game at Ole Miss. He was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week after notching 14 tackles, including a tackle for loss, a forced fumble and an interception, which was returned for 19 yards and a touchdown.

The other two options are senior Deshawn Capers-Smith and sophomore Keldrick Carper. One, quite obviously, has more experience than the other. However, neither seem to be extremely reliable. Of course, a new coaching staff means new decision makers. As a result, either of those two could make a run for the starting safety spot.