Texas A&M Football: 5 biggest stories entering 2018 season

With the Jimbo Fisher era beginning for Texas A&M football, there are many storylines blossoming. Here are the five biggest to follow into the 2018 season.

Texas A&M Football has undergone a makeover of epic proportions since Jimbo Fisher took over. This team is no longer the under-equipped and under-prepared, little brother of the big dogs of the SEC. They are under the guidance of a coach who has been there and done that both in the SEC and the ACC. That was clear as day during SEC Media Days, where he was ready and willing to answer questions about just about anything.

While they do have a new coach in play, that doesn’t automatically make the Aggies a competitor in the SEC. That will be determined by what is put on the field come the start of the season.

Of course, we still have a little time before that happens. However, we can follow along on a few storylines that will prepare you for what Texas A&M has to offer this season. From a quarterback battle to a new redshirt rule and a new head coach, Aggie Football is full of questions that are waiting for answers.

Starting with the most obvious storyline, a battle to start under center, let’s get underway with our own preparations and research for the 2018 season.

5. The Battle to Start Under Center: Starkel vs. Mond

Jimbo Fisher has yet to make any indication that a starter has been chosen. A big showing of that is the lack of a quarterback presence at SEC Media Days. Bringing one or the other, however, would have shown a clear favorite or a decision within the race.

During the spring game, it seemed that Kellen Mond put on a stronger showing than Nick Starkel did. Is that the end all be all though? As of right now, it doesn’t seem to be. Every time Fisher was asked who the starter would be, the answer seemed to be some level of “I don’t know.” An answer he did have, however, was how he is evaluating quarterbacks:

"First, a certain amount of arm talent. Then you have competitiveness. If you’re QB is not the toughest guy on the team, your whole team isn’t going to be tough. I’ve been blessed to have a number of guys who have laid it on the line."

Many fans are positive that either Starkel or Mond will be under center come the end of August against Northwestern State. Of course, Connor Blumrick or James Foster could surprise us all and find their way to the starting position.

At the moment, I am leaning toward Kellen Mond. He has the most experience as the starting quarterback for most of 2017. If Jimbo “The Quarterback Whisperer” Fisher can help him out with consistency and arm strength. Mond is mobile, quick and has flashes of good decision making. If he can hone in on those skills, he seems to be the clear-cut starter for the Aggies.

4. Jimbo Fisher brings a new style, and that changes things.

Kevin Sumlin is no longer at the helm of the Aggie Football program. He headed to Arizona after the Aggies called in Jimbo Fisher from Florida State. After a big contract, Fisher is $75 million richer and ready to take on the SEC once again.

The questions now are how far can Fisher take the Aggies and how his coaching style will change what is happening in Aggieland? Can he get the Aggies over the November hump? Can he push Texas A&M and transform this team into an actual contender in the SEC? A telling comment, shown below, was uttered during Dallas Coaches Night earlier this month.

The Aggie ring is a huge deal at Texas A&M. Earning and wearing the ring means everything to students and alumni of the university. After a ring ceremony, Fisher told the team that once your helmet means what the ring does to you, we will be champions.

Along with his screams, there is lack of pump up music that was central to the Kevin Sumlin era in Aggieland. However, Fisher isn’t focused on making practice fun. He has commented multiple times on how the music is distracting and makes practice less successful and focused.

The question of the Aggies becoming contenders remains unanswered. However, we do know that Jimbo Fisher is making big changes to the culture of Texas A&M Football and the players seem to be buying in, hook line and sinker.

3. How the redshirt rule changes the game for 2018

Despite a coaching change in the middle of recruiting crunch time, Jimbo Fisher and the Aggies managed to bring in a pretty hefty recruiting class for 2018. The question now stands as to how many will see the field for the 2018 season and how the new redshirt rule changes the game.

There are a few incoming freshman that will very likely redshirt for the upcoming season. For example, quarterback James Foster is sure to spend his first year on campus on the sidelines. Sitting behind Nick Starkel, Kellen Mond and Connor Blumrick is quite a bit to overcome.

However, will any of the players be used strategically for the season while still being able to take a redshirt season? The new rule allows players to play four games and still take a redshirt season.

It would make sense, to me, or some of the freshman defenders to be used later in the season as depth, especially in the defensive end position. The 2018 class includes four defensive ends, each of which could make a run at a starting position or could be used within the new redshirt rule.

Keep an eye out into fall ball and as the season begins to see how Jimbo Fisher and company use the new rule set to their advantage.

2. Fisher and Co. hot on the recuriting trail for 2019.

The Aggies already have 22 commitments for the 2019 class. That is no small feat and they aren’t anywhere near done. While the class is shaping up to be one of the best in the nation, the fight now is to keep those commitments on board until their name is signed on the dotted line.

This staff is strong and hot on the recruiting trail. The dead period has done nothing to deter this staff. The focus, according to Fisher during Media Days, is to pay attention to how the staff interacts with the players. He thinks that the Aggie football players recruit just as heavily as coaches do.

So far, the coaching staff has done a great job in filling holes that the Aggies need to be filled. A focus has been put on defense and the offensive line, that can be seen in both the 2018 and 2019 class. There are currently nine defenders and four offensive lineman.

Look for the recruiting focus to continue into fall ball and throughout the season, for both the 2019 and 2020 recruiting classes.

1. Who will emerge as a leader for the 2018 season?

Some guys are very obviously leaders for the 2018 season as they are some of the few seniors on this year’s squad. The most notable are Otaro Alaka, Kingsley Keke and even Daylon Mack. The question is who truly becomes the leaders that Jimbo and company need to make this 2018 season semi-successful.

Mack is a big question mark as he has yet to fully live up to his potential. However, as a senior, his time is now. Will he finally be the player he was supposed to be? Will he step up and lead the defensive line as many expect him to?

On the offensive side, we are still waiting on the annoucement of a quarterback. As a result, the Aggies are looking to running back Trayveon Williams to really step forward as the leader he is shaping up to be.

In addition, junior Erik McCoy is the most experienced offensive lineman within the Aggie program. With the transfer of Koda Martin, a big name for the Aggies, it is up to McCoy to keep the Aggies young guns of the offensive line. It truly is his time to shine.

The question now is who will emerge as a leader. Will it be who we expect or a young guy who just can’t wait to get involved? This is a storyline I am more than excited to follow.