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Aggies add ST/TE coach
This should come as a great relief to some of you (all of you?): A&M will have a special teams coach in 2024. Sort of.
Patrick Dougherty will be joining the staff as the TE/ST coach, coming over from Duke. For those of you who are interested, this is how Jeff Banks did things under Sumlin.
The Blue Devils were very good in the special teams department last year. They were 10th nationally in blocked kicks (3), and didn’t have a punt or a kick blocked. They were 15th in punt return defense, 45th in kickoff returns, and 70th in kickoff return defense (and that was still just 20.1 yards per return). They were second in the nation in net punting, with an average of 43.5 yards per punt.
That leaves A&M with the wide receiver coach job still open.
And maybe more
A&M has been announcing the new members of the staff today online and have also posted the hires on 12thMan.com. Trooper Taylor, who hasn't been announced, is on the staff on the website. Bryant Gross-Armiento, who was supposed to be staying as one of the DB coaches, is not. Neither is Tony Jerod-Eddie, though he's probably staying anyway, even if it's just in his old off-the-field role. Just something to keep an eye on.
Telling move
In the weeks leading up to the Texas Bowl and after Steve Addazio's firing, the analysts and grad assistants that took over the offensive line basically scrapped Addazio's scheme and implemented a different one. While the running game was still poor, the pass blocking was as good as it was all year, giving up just one sack.
Aggies going big for two pass rushing DEs
You've heard the names already -- Purdue's Nic Scourton and Miami (Ohio)'s Caiden Woullard. Scourton is a Bryan native, which should help A&M -- but reportedly, he's still pissed Jimbo Fisher didn't offer him out of Bryan High. All the same, I've heard A&M is going to try to put together a significant NIL deal to get him to come home. FSU and Louisville are the prime opponents here, and he will visit both.
Scourton led the Big 10 in sacks with 10 and added 15 TFL and 50 tackles total.
Woullard was first team All-Mac this year, with 41 tackles, 12 TFL and 9.5 sacks. He is really interested in A&M, I've heard, and is likely going to be in town on an official visit next weekend (Jan. 5-7).
Both Woullard and Scourton have multiple years of eligibility remaining, though they could both head to the NFL if they have repeat performances like they did this year.
Official visitors coming next weekend that we know of for sure
Stanford RB EJ Smith has set an official. Smith, who came close to being an Aggie out of high school, is said to be leaning heavily to A&M.
New Mexico State CB Andre Seldon will also be in, and I don't think he has any other visits scheduled.
New threat emerges for Terry Bussey
The 5-star A&M commit did not sign in the early signing period, and will be taking visits over the next month as he figures out what he wants to do. He's going to take officials to LSU and Alabama, but may also visit Georgia. The Bulldogs are, shockingly, desperate for corners as they've lost 19 players to the portal (not that you've heard about that; the national media is busy killing A&M). But, on the plus side, Bussey told Rivals this morning that his best relationships remain with the A&M staff, and they're talking to him every day.
Aggies looking at possibly controversial name in the portal
I mentioned former LSU corner Deuce Chestnut in my 10 Things for Tuesday segment as a player I could see A&M going after -- if they were convinced he wouldn't be an issue. Sure enough, A&M has at least checked in with him. I don't think they've offered and I don't know if they will. Chestnut was an All-ACC corner at Syracuse and seemed like he would be a starter at LSU (along with Denver Harris) this season. Instead, both Chestnut and Harris were essentially kicked off the team by midseason and both are back in the portal.
Chestnut has talent; that's undeniable. He's also been a problem. So if A&M proceeds, it will be with a lot of caution and he'll have to jump through a lot of hoops to assuage what have to be serious concerns.
No, there is no quarterback controversy
After Marcel Reed's really good showing in the Texas Bowl, I've seen some people online saying that there has to be an open quarterback competition this spring. I don't think you guys are that dumb, but I'm going to just put this out there: A&M has a starting quarterback and his name is Conner Weigman. Jaylen Henderson and Reed will fight for the backup job. As good as Reed was Wednesday night, let's keep in mind that Oklahoma State's defense sucks out loud.
Guys in the portal you may not have considered, but A&M is at least checking on..
Ashtyn Hawkins, WR, Texas State: 55 catches, 874 yards, 3 TD; Honorable mention All-Sun Belt
Luke Newman, OL, Holy Cross: FCS All-American
Antione Jackson, CB, East Carolina: 19 tackles, 1 INT
Ja’Quinden Jackson, RB, Utah: 161 carries, 797 yards (4.9 YPC), 4 TD
Stone Blanton, LB, South Carolina: 52 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble
Cameron Calhoun, CB, Michigan: 2023 4-star
Rod Heard, CB, Northwestern: 85 tackles, 4 TFLs and 1 INT
Jared Bartlett, LB/DE, WVU: 49 tackles, 6 TFL, 4.5 sacks
Junior Uzebu, OL, Vandy: Senior, played in 11 games with 5 starts at LT
Jaylen Varner, WR, Emporia State: RS Junior 90 catches, 1,008 yards, 12 TD
Tellek Lockette, OL, Louisiana Monroe: Sophomore, All-Sun Belt
Stefon Thompson, LB, Syracuse: Senior, 48 tackles, 4 TFL, 1.5 sacks
Joshua Celiscar, DE, UCF: 47 tackles, 4 TFL
Kempton Shine, CB, Eastern Michigan: 57 tackles, 2.5 TFL
Cashius Howell, DE/LB, Bowling Green: 28 tackles, 10.5 TFL, 9.5 sacks
Ta’Ron Keith, RB, Bowling Green: 63 carries, 390 yards (5.9 YPC), 4 TD
Elijah Alston, DE, Marshall: 45 tackles, 11.5 TFL, 6 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 INT
Louis Brown, WR, Colorado State: 47 catches, 481 yards (10.2 YPC), 5 TD
Dante Dowdell, RB, Oregon: 17 carries, 90 yards; former 4-star
Phone: 281-971-3362
Email: paul@westhoustonsf.com
Aggies add ST/TE coach
This should come as a great relief to some of you (all of you?): A&M will have a special teams coach in 2024. Sort of.
Patrick Dougherty will be joining the staff as the TE/ST coach, coming over from Duke. For those of you who are interested, this is how Jeff Banks did things under Sumlin.
The Blue Devils were very good in the special teams department last year. They were 10th nationally in blocked kicks (3), and didn’t have a punt or a kick blocked. They were 15th in punt return defense, 45th in kickoff returns, and 70th in kickoff return defense (and that was still just 20.1 yards per return). They were second in the nation in net punting, with an average of 43.5 yards per punt.
That leaves A&M with the wide receiver coach job still open.
And maybe more
A&M has been announcing the new members of the staff today online and have also posted the hires on 12thMan.com. Trooper Taylor, who hasn't been announced, is on the staff on the website. Bryant Gross-Armiento, who was supposed to be staying as one of the DB coaches, is not. Neither is Tony Jerod-Eddie, though he's probably staying anyway, even if it's just in his old off-the-field role. Just something to keep an eye on.
Telling move
In the weeks leading up to the Texas Bowl and after Steve Addazio's firing, the analysts and grad assistants that took over the offensive line basically scrapped Addazio's scheme and implemented a different one. While the running game was still poor, the pass blocking was as good as it was all year, giving up just one sack.
Aggies going big for two pass rushing DEs
You've heard the names already -- Purdue's Nic Scourton and Miami (Ohio)'s Caiden Woullard. Scourton is a Bryan native, which should help A&M -- but reportedly, he's still pissed Jimbo Fisher didn't offer him out of Bryan High. All the same, I've heard A&M is going to try to put together a significant NIL deal to get him to come home. FSU and Louisville are the prime opponents here, and he will visit both.
Scourton led the Big 10 in sacks with 10 and added 15 TFL and 50 tackles total.
Woullard was first team All-Mac this year, with 41 tackles, 12 TFL and 9.5 sacks. He is really interested in A&M, I've heard, and is likely going to be in town on an official visit next weekend (Jan. 5-7).
Both Woullard and Scourton have multiple years of eligibility remaining, though they could both head to the NFL if they have repeat performances like they did this year.
Official visitors coming next weekend that we know of for sure
Stanford RB EJ Smith has set an official. Smith, who came close to being an Aggie out of high school, is said to be leaning heavily to A&M.
New Mexico State CB Andre Seldon will also be in, and I don't think he has any other visits scheduled.
New threat emerges for Terry Bussey
The 5-star A&M commit did not sign in the early signing period, and will be taking visits over the next month as he figures out what he wants to do. He's going to take officials to LSU and Alabama, but may also visit Georgia. The Bulldogs are, shockingly, desperate for corners as they've lost 19 players to the portal (not that you've heard about that; the national media is busy killing A&M). But, on the plus side, Bussey told Rivals this morning that his best relationships remain with the A&M staff, and they're talking to him every day.
Aggies looking at possibly controversial name in the portal
I mentioned former LSU corner Deuce Chestnut in my 10 Things for Tuesday segment as a player I could see A&M going after -- if they were convinced he wouldn't be an issue. Sure enough, A&M has at least checked in with him. I don't think they've offered and I don't know if they will. Chestnut was an All-ACC corner at Syracuse and seemed like he would be a starter at LSU (along with Denver Harris) this season. Instead, both Chestnut and Harris were essentially kicked off the team by midseason and both are back in the portal.
Chestnut has talent; that's undeniable. He's also been a problem. So if A&M proceeds, it will be with a lot of caution and he'll have to jump through a lot of hoops to assuage what have to be serious concerns.
No, there is no quarterback controversy
After Marcel Reed's really good showing in the Texas Bowl, I've seen some people online saying that there has to be an open quarterback competition this spring. I don't think you guys are that dumb, but I'm going to just put this out there: A&M has a starting quarterback and his name is Conner Weigman. Jaylen Henderson and Reed will fight for the backup job. As good as Reed was Wednesday night, let's keep in mind that Oklahoma State's defense sucks out loud.
Guys in the portal you may not have considered, but A&M is at least checking on..
Ashtyn Hawkins, WR, Texas State: 55 catches, 874 yards, 3 TD; Honorable mention All-Sun Belt
Luke Newman, OL, Holy Cross: FCS All-American
Antione Jackson, CB, East Carolina: 19 tackles, 1 INT
Ja’Quinden Jackson, RB, Utah: 161 carries, 797 yards (4.9 YPC), 4 TD
Stone Blanton, LB, South Carolina: 52 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble
Cameron Calhoun, CB, Michigan: 2023 4-star
Rod Heard, CB, Northwestern: 85 tackles, 4 TFLs and 1 INT
Jared Bartlett, LB/DE, WVU: 49 tackles, 6 TFL, 4.5 sacks
Junior Uzebu, OL, Vandy: Senior, played in 11 games with 5 starts at LT
Jaylen Varner, WR, Emporia State: RS Junior 90 catches, 1,008 yards, 12 TD
Tellek Lockette, OL, Louisiana Monroe: Sophomore, All-Sun Belt
Stefon Thompson, LB, Syracuse: Senior, 48 tackles, 4 TFL, 1.5 sacks
Joshua Celiscar, DE, UCF: 47 tackles, 4 TFL
Kempton Shine, CB, Eastern Michigan: 57 tackles, 2.5 TFL
Cashius Howell, DE/LB, Bowling Green: 28 tackles, 10.5 TFL, 9.5 sacks
Ta’Ron Keith, RB, Bowling Green: 63 carries, 390 yards (5.9 YPC), 4 TD
Elijah Alston, DE, Marshall: 45 tackles, 11.5 TFL, 6 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 INT
Louis Brown, WR, Colorado State: 47 catches, 481 yards (10.2 YPC), 5 TD
Dante Dowdell, RB, Oregon: 17 carries, 90 yards; former 4-star
