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

Rounding out the secondary

The Aggies have struggled at cornerback for quite sometime. With all hope, Jimbo Fisher and Mike Elko will be able to fix that issue. The current question, however, is who the starters will be in the position for the 2018 season. At this point, no one really stands among the rest and as a result we will simply meet the starting candidates.

Travon Fuller

The sophomore from Athens, Texas isn’t a big name within the Texas A&M Football program as of yet. After redshirting in 2016, Fuller appeared in all twelve games of the 2017 season making only three solo stops. Those aren’t exactly eye-popping statistics, but a lot can change in one offseason.

He’s most well known as the Aggie who was ejected for targeting against Arkansas early in the season. From the video shown above, it is the right call. If he wants to make a move for a starting position in 2018, he will need to reign in that aggression and channel it into strong and legal hits.

Myles Jones

The sophomore from Magnolia is a more well known name for the Aggies. Jones appeared in all 12 games, registering 26 tackles, seven pass breakups and an interception. I could see him making the starting rotation as a reliable and soon to be lock down corner, although it may not be in 2018. However, like many other defenders for the Aggies, he will take quite a bit of coaching and work.

Debione Renfro

Renfro, the sophomore from Pearland, is known as a hard hitter for the Aggie secondary. He made 10 starts and saw action in all 12 games, registering 43 tackles, forced three fumbles with one recovery and broke up five passes. This level of experience and fight will be important in the attempt to lock up a starting cornerback position. While he is young, many players are in maroon and white. That won’t hold him back and I would bet that he earns a starting spot at corner come game one against Northwestern State.

Charles Oliver

Sophomore Charles Oliver appeared in 10 games making eight starts. He registered 22 tackles with a sack, two forced fumbles and seven pass breakups. He isn’t exactly as well known as Renfro, who almost doubled the level of productivity that Oliver had. Once again a sophomore, he isn’t on a short timeline in terms of learning and improving. It will be interesting to see where Oliver lands when the offseason is said and done.

Clifford Chattman

Chattman appeared in the 2016 season, playing mostly on special teams. He took a redshirt in 2017, sitting behind players like Oliver, Jones and Renfro. This will allow him to truly work under Jimbo Fisher and Mike Elko and focus on his craft. The biggest question will be where he fits in for the 2018 season. It doesn’t seem like they have much to go off of in terms of past film. For Chattman, this will be an extremely important offseason. He will need to prove he is worthy of a starting position.