Installment number six takes us to the land of the Khaki Brigade.
Coach: Kevin Sumlin (44–21 in five seasons at TAMU; 21–19 in SEC)
2016 record: 8-5 (4-4 in SEC, 4th in West Division)
CB969 2016 Prediction: 8-4 "...Oklahoma transfer Trevor Knight should bring some solidity and maturity to the quarterback position for the first time in quite awhile...”
Looking back: It looked like the Aggies were heading towards a dream season reeling off six straight wins over the likes of UCLA, Auburn, Arky and Tennessee until their ran smack into the behemoth that is the Crimson Tide. After the hammering in Tuscaloosa, TAMU finished a paltry 2-5 with the only wins coming over New Mexico and UTSA. If they could have beaten Missy State and Ole Miss like they should have, they would have gone into the final weekend against LSU at 10-1 and likely ranked in the top 10, maybe 5. Defeat a beat-up LSU team and they might’ve been in the playoffs! But they just could not shake losing to the Tide. Sounds like operator error to me.
Returning starters: 5 on offense, 6 on defense, punter & kicker.
Key losses: DE Myles Garrett (Round 1, Browns), S Justin Evans (Round 2, Buccaneers), DE Daeshon Hall (Round 3, Panthers), WR Josh Reynolds (Round 4, Rams), OG Jermaine Eluemunor (Round 5, Ravens), OT Avery Gennesy, WR Speedy Noil, WR Ricky Seals-Jones QB Trevor Knight, projected starting LB Richard Moore (transferred to SMU).
Top returnees: WR Christian Kirk (83-928, 9 TD), RB Trayveon Williams (156-1057, 8 TD), RB Keith Ford (126-669, 6 TD), FS Armani Watts (2 INT, 2 FF), CB Priest Willis, CB Nick Harvey, PK Daniel LaCamera, DT Kingsley Keke (4.0 sacks), LB Otaro Alaka.
Top newcomers: LB Anthony Hines (Plano, TX), WR Jhamon Ausbon (Bradenton, FL), QB Kellen Mond (Bradenton, FL), DB Derrick Tucker (Manvel, TX), WR Hezekiah Jones (Stafford, TX), OL Grayson Reed (Houston, TX), DE Jayden Peevy (Bellaire, TX), LB Santino Marchiol (Bradenton, FL), Oklahoma grad transfer OT Christian Dailmer.
Strengths: Much of the starting secondary is back (FWTW)... Both kickers return... Other than Bama and Fla back-to-back, the schedule is not too brutal... Christian Kirk is one of the best kick returners in the land...
Weaknesses: Aggies AD Scott Woodward dropped a big ultimatum on Sumlin that will surely amp up the pressure on him to win and make the fan base much less patient... DC John Chavis is getting paid a bunch of money and he ain’t doin’ diddly! (Side Note: I wonder if Chavis at age 60 is winding down his career. This could be his last stop.)... Need more depth at WR behind Kirk... OL and DL have some big shoes to fill... And finally, see below...
Outlook: QB Jake Hubenak has had spot duty over the last two campaigns to iffy results. Now the team is his to lead. That is not encouraging. True freshman Kellen Mond may be thrust into the starting role. The Aggs have some nice pieces on defense but need to bring it all together.
2017 SCHEDULE:
Sept 3 @ UCLA 6:30pm CT FOX - L - This Sunday night game is a MUST win for this program.
Sept 9 vs Nicholls 6pm CT ESPNU - W
Sept 16 vs La Lafayette 11am CT SECN - W
Sept 23 vs Arkansas (Arlington) - L - The Hogs are due but this could go either way.
Sept 30 vs South Carolina - W - Some folks are high on SC. I am skeptical.
Oct 7 vs Alabama - L
Oct 14 @ Florida - L
Oct 21 bye week
Oct 28 vs Mississippi St. - W - I don’t feel MSU is strong enough to win in this atmosphere.
Nov 4 vs Auburn - L - winnable but where is the team’s state of mind at this point?
Nov 11 vs New Mexico - W
Nov 18 @ Ole Miss - W - This could go the other way if the Aggies start losing, Sumlin is shopping for realtors, and the team quits.
Nov 25 @ LSU - L
Let's go Bowling! Yes, Offensive Coordinator Noel Mazzone will probably be Interim Coach as TAMU stumbles into Shreveport.
We will get a real feel for the Aggies on September 3, but it is not looking good for Sumlin. If my blind dart-throwing is accurate, he might be gone before turkeys hit dining room tables across the country.
#RollTide
Poll
TAMU Regular Season Wins:
This poll is closed
-
18%
9 or more
-
27%
8
-
32%
7
-
14%
6
-
7%
5 or less, wheels go all squirrelly
Previous Predictions: