Junior running back Isaiah Spiller earned All-Southeastern Conference honors last season and was a Doak Walker Award semifinalist aer rushing for 1,036 yards. (AP photo)
continued from page 9 Spiller can’t rest on his laurels because of Devon Achane, who opened eyes in the Orange Bowl as the freshman rushed for 140 yards and two touchdowns to be the game’s most outstanding player. The emergence of Spiller and Achane gives A&M the option of using versatile Ainias Smith more in the passing game. Smith, who moved to running back somewhat out of necessity late in the 2019 season, rushed for 300 yards on 49 carries with four touchdowns last season. He might have been more valuable in the passing game, with 43 receptions for 564 yards and six
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touchdowns. Smith and fellow junior tight end Jalen Wydermyer are difference-makers in the passing game. Wydermyer had 46 receptions last season for 506 yards and six touchdowns to be a finalist for the John Mackey Award, which goes to the nation’s top tight end. Much is expected from A&M’s defense, which returns all but two starters from a unit that allowed only 317.3 yards per game to rank ninth in the country. The defense could have as many as five senior starters – tackle Jayden Peevy, end Micheal Clemons, linebacker Aaron Hansford, cornerback Myles Jones and safety
Leon O’Neal Jr. “The guys that we have coming in and the guys that we have that are staying, man, it’s going to be crazy,” junior defensive end DeMarvin Leal said. “I just can’t wait to see it.” Leal blossomed last season with 37 tackles to lead the linemen. He also had several big plays, including a 43yard interception return against Alabama. The 6-4, 290-pounder is a tough matchup because he can play inside or on the edge. “I feel very comfortable at playing both positions,” Leal said. “We have our packages, and certain packages require me to be in the inside.”
A&M’s defense was featured on the cover of this year’s Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Magazine, which labeled it the “New Crew,” a spinoff of Aggie great defenses in the past called the “Wrecking Crew.” Sophomore tackle McKinnley Jackson, who showed flashes as a freshman, will join Leal, Peevy and Clemons in what should be an active and disruptive front four in the fourth year of defensive coordinator Mike Elko’s system. Clemons and Leal shared the spring training most valuable player award. The concern on defense is who replaces linebacker Buddy Johnson, who was the
AGGIELAND PRIMER
leading tackler and the unit’s heart and soul. Redshirt freshman Edgerrin Cooper had a good spring, but he has competition. “Tarian Lee has played great all spring and Edgerrin Cooper,” Fisher said. “All of those guys have done a really nice job. They are the next generation of guys that have to step in and that’s what they’re here for. I think we have good talent there, we just have to get them to master everything that they’re doing, but you can see the ability they have.” A ball-control offense has helped the defense stay on the sideline. The Aggies ranked third last year in the country in time of possession (34
minutes, 49 seconds), which helped an offense that averaged 32.6 points per game to rank 37th. A&M will be able to continue to use a ballcontrol approach if the revamped offensive line pans out, but the Aggies could be able to become more of a big-play offense this year with so many veteran weapons. “It’s crazy, and just to see their growth, both Isaiah and Ainias from their freshman to sophomore year,” Mond said. “One thing that’s pretty special and makes them a lot different from a lot of other people, they’re all versatile in both the pass and the run game. We were able to this year do a lot of diverse things with each one of those guys, and we were able to execute at a high level.” Mond was a big factor in helping the offense limit mistakes. A&M had only eight turnovers to rank 19th in the country. Turnovers might rise with inexperience at quarterback along with A&M possibly willing to take more chances. A potential plus for A&M this season could be a favorable schedule that includes playing defending national champ Alabama at Kyle Field on Oct. 9. The Aggies’ only road games before that are facing Colorado in Denver on Sept. 11 and Arkansas at Arlington’s AT&T Stadium on Sept. 25. Those teams were a combined 7-9, which is why many believe the Aggies will be 5-0 when the Crimson Tide comes to town.
T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E
