Texas A&M football will have to replace several starters next season. Can the Aggies reload or will the rebuilding process begin once again in Aggieland?
Rebuilding vs reloading. Two similar words than take on vastly different meanings in the context of sports. The dissonance is alive and well in college football and separates the great programs from the elite. Alabama is an elite program, so are Clemson and Ohio State. Teams like Oklahoma, Florida and Michigan round out the strata of true national title contenders. Where does Texas A&M fit?
That’s the $75 Million question head coach Jimbo Fisher will be tasked with answering in Year 2 in College Station. 2018 was about establishing a baseline; the Aggies did, winning nine games for the first time since 2013. Now this team needs to take the next step.
The path to the pantheon isn’t easy. It’s particularly challenging in college football because of roster turnover every year. Texas A&M is no exception. The Aggies will have to replace a host of important pieces next year while still making progress.
- Trayveon Williams set the school single-season rushing record in 2018. He has declared for the 2019 NFL Draft.
- Jace Sternberger set the school single-season record in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns for a tight end. He has declared for the 2019 NFL Draft.
- Two other juniors, center Erik McCoy and linebacker Tyrel Dodson, were fixtures on their respective sides of the ball and have each declared for the NFL Draft.
- Seniors Donovan Wilson and Otaro Alaka have both exhausted their eligibility as well.
Every top school faces a similar problem. The elite programs face a similar level of turnover every year, but they replace outgoing playmakers with new stars year in and year out. Texas A&M has to prove they can reload rather than starting anew with a fresh rebuild.