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Mark Passwaters

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Dec 4, 2003
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Can Rueben Owens return for Texas?
Coach Mike Elko has been saying since shortly after running back Rueben Owens was hurt in training camp that he wouldn't be back unless A&M got well into the postseason. But I had heard rumors that Owens was ahead of schedule and had started to practice last week. Still, I was surprised that he was listed as "doubtful" for Saturday's game at Auburn, because that meant that there was at least some chance he could play. Not much (25%), but still. This weekend is not "well into the postseason".
And neither is the Texas game.
Still, we've been told that Owens has been pushing himself extremely hard to get back on the field for Texas. He was working hard in his rehab before, but once Le'Veon Moss went down, he kicked things into an even higher gear. He really is trying to do everything he possibly can to play in that game. That seems to say an awful lot (in a good way) about what kind of teammate Owens is.

Receiver rotation for this weekend (probably) looks like...
Noah Thomas, Jabre Barber and Jahdae Walker (starting); Terry Bussey, Moose Muhammad and Jake Bostick. For those of you looking for more Bussey time and targets, this may be your weekend. Someone has to step in and replace Cyrus Allen's ability to get down the field, and he's most likely to do that.

Two players who may get more playing time
Defensive end Malick Sylla and wide receiver Ashton Bethel-Roman both looked really good in second half action Saturday and both -- Sylla especially -- could see more playing time this weekend. Auburn's offensive line has struggled in pass protection, and Vanderbilt's ends were just using a flat speed rush to get Auburn's tackles on their heels. A&M really has an opportunity to come with power (Scourton and Stewart) and speed (Sylla, Cashius Howell and Rylan Kennedy) and really keep the tackles off balance.

A&M's position with two top tackle prospects
The Aggies will host 5-star OL Michael Fasusi next weekend, and he'll be in Austin this weekend for their game against Kentucky. Fasusi has been committed to Oklahoma for several months, but their crumbling has him looking around again. Coach Brent Venables said this week that he doesn't consider a player taking visits to be committed, which may end up backfiring in a big way.
Landyn has been told that OU considers A&M, and not Texas, to be the primary threat for Fasusi. He had a lot of good things to say about Adam Cushing before he committed to OU, and the work he's done with the Aggie offensive line can only have helped Cushing's standing.
Lamont Rogers appears to be the proverbial silent commit, and he may just wait until the early signing period to announce it. But there's one hangup: he may not want to play the same place Fasusi does. If Fasusi flips to A&M, they may have a hard time getting (or keeping) Rogers. I don't think it's going to come to that and Fasusi sticks with the Sooners, but it's something to watch.

Some big names expected to be at Kyle next weekend
Fasusi
Rogers
5-star CB and Alabama commit Dijon Lee Jr. (Allegedly; Alabama is trying to shut that visit down)
5-star DE Javion Hilson
2026 4-star OL/DL Lamont Brown

There are a ton more. This is just a very, very small portion of the players expected. This has the possibility of topping the LSU game in terms of recruit attendance.

Does A&M have an edge for 4-star DE Tobi Haastrup?

Haastrup, a native of London (yes, that one), is playing his first American football season and has absolutely wrecked shop at Katy Mayde Creek. So much so that he's become an international sensation, with a big story on him in the London Daily Mail. And that's where I found out his sister is already at A&M studying, if I recall correctly, Biochemsitry.
If you like Rylan Kennedy, you'll love Hasstrup. They've got the same career trajectory (only one season of high school football), but Haastrup is bigger and faster.
 
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