A change in DE alignment?
During the spring, defensive coordinator John Chavis talked about how he was pleased with the talent he had inherited on the defensive line and how he was looking for ways to utilize the speed he had in order to attack the offensive backfield. Now, he’s talking in even bigger terms, saying he may have the two best defensive ends in the nation in Myles Garrett and Daeshon Hall.
That’s some big talking, but it looks like he’s going to give the duo a chance to prove it by putting them on the field at the same time. We already know that Julien Obioha will be moving inside to utilize his quickness (in comparison to some of the bigger bodies) there, and Hall will apparently move to what was once considered the “defensive end” slot (the other being the “rush end”) and take over there. Qualen Cunningham, no slouch himself in getting after the quarterback, will likely back up Hall, with Darrell Jackson, who showed some real promise in limited snaps last year, backing up Garrett. What Chavis intends to do with James Lockhart and Jarrett Johnson remains to be seen, but don’t be surprised if we see more shuffling as the summer goes on. Chavis is making it clear that he has very different ideas about how to utilize his players than what we’ve gotten used to the last three seasons.
LT Gennesy’s to lose
Even though a lot of scouts really like the future prospects of Germain Ifedi, he’ll go in to fall practice as the guy looking to make up ground in the competition to replace Cedric Ogbuehi at left tackle. That’s not because he performed poorly in the spring — he didn’t — but a credit to JUCO transfer Avery Gennesy. We’ve told you since last season that the plan was to redshirt Gennesy and give him a full year to prepare to replace Ogbuehi, and that work paid off in the spring. When prompted for some of the players he was most impressed with this spring, coach Kevin Sumlin immediately cited Gennesy, saying he had a “great” spring. With Mike Matthews at center and Gennesy and Ifedi at the tackle spots, it looks like A&M can be comfortable with 3/5 of their line, no matter the alignment, before summer practice begins. The battles where jobs will be at stake will be the two guard spots.
How’s that LHN working out for y’all?
The SEC made a record $455 million last year, which means that each of the 14 teams in the conference will receive between $31.4 million and $31.7 million, depending on who you ask. In other words, Texas A&M will make approximately $15 million more this year than they would have with the best offer the Big 12 made before Bowen Loftin and the board of regents told them to pound sand.
Visitors visiting:
This weekend, the Aggies will host one of the top safeties in the nation and a heavy lean in Nacogdoches S Brandon Jones. Cibolo Steele’s Mark Jackson is also expected in, which is a big deal for the Aggies, who are making a very strong push to overcome his long-standing inclinations towards Texas and Baylor (they’re doing a good job of it to date). Georgia 2017 ATH Jamyest Williams will also be in town today and will leave in the morning to continue his swing throughout the state.
The Aggies also got some very big, and very good, news last night. 2016 LB Michael Divinity, one of their very top targets, set his first official visit and will be coming to A&M the weekend of Sept. 11.
A Look Ahead To Baltimore (Rob)
The annual Rivals Five Star Challenge is next week in Baltimore and as can be expected there are a number of players we will be looking to touch base with to get the latest in their recruitment. Check-in will run Friday all day and we will have a live thread on the board during check-in as well as a landing page for all of the content from the event.
For now, a quick glance a few players we know we will be looking to get updates from and watching during the camp:
Byron Murphy (CB) - Everyone knows the story here, Murphy is the top rated prospect in the state or Arizona, a title the Aggies have been collecting over the last couple of recruiting cycles. Kyle Allen, Christian Kirk and next on the list is Murphy.
Jeffrey Okudah (ATH working out at DB) - This 2017 Metroplex standout has offers from just about every major team in the country. These are the battles the Aggies need to win more often than they lose.
Isaiah Pryor (CB) - He has the size at cornerback that John Chavis covets. He has seen interest from the Aggies but has not been offered. He is still young (c/o 2017), so there is still time. He's also a teammate of Jamyest Williams.
JoeJuan Williams (S) - Here is another guy we will check in with. He was offered by A&M early this year and seemed to be excited to learn more other than Chavis who had recruited him at LSU.
Xavier Kelly (DE) - The standout defensive end from Kansas has seen his stock explode since the beginning of the year and the Aggies have extended an offer.
Rashard Lawrence (DT) - Another standout from Louisiana, the Aggies got in on him this spring and the interest is mutual.
Marvin Wilson (DT) - The 2017 standout has amassed quite the offer list, including the Aggies.
Michael Divinity (LB) - The rumblings have the Aggies in the driver's seat on this one but Divinity has kept it pretty quiet publicly.
Anthony Hines (LB) - The 2017 Plano stud has offers from everyone already and will be near the top of the Rivals list for the 2017 class. Another battle the Aggies need to win.
Keion Joyner (LB) - This was one the Aggies were thought to be leading for at one point but some of the pack has made up ground.
Devin White (ATH working out at LB) - If linebacker is where he is to end up he might fit the bill for a quality middle linebacker. THe Aggies have offered and we'll get the latest from him.
Greg Little (OL) - We're pretty sure things have not changed much but we'll go through the process to get it straight from his mouth.
Shawn Robinson (QB) - The top QB in the state from the 2017 class and recent A&M offer will get to go head to head with some good ones. We'll see how he stacks up.
Tate Martell (QB) - He just released his top schools at this point and A&M made the top 3. He is participating in the QB Challenge which is sandwiched in to the camp but we'll still get a shot to talk with him.
Dylan Moses (RB) - He's been committed to LSU for a while but it's worth checking in with him to see what the latest is.
Nate Craig-Meyers (WR) - It's worth checking in to see where A&M falls in his re-opened up recruitment.
N'Keal Harry (WR) - Another top player from Arizona and thought to be a package deal with Murphy.
(More in the next post)
During the spring, defensive coordinator John Chavis talked about how he was pleased with the talent he had inherited on the defensive line and how he was looking for ways to utilize the speed he had in order to attack the offensive backfield. Now, he’s talking in even bigger terms, saying he may have the two best defensive ends in the nation in Myles Garrett and Daeshon Hall.
That’s some big talking, but it looks like he’s going to give the duo a chance to prove it by putting them on the field at the same time. We already know that Julien Obioha will be moving inside to utilize his quickness (in comparison to some of the bigger bodies) there, and Hall will apparently move to what was once considered the “defensive end” slot (the other being the “rush end”) and take over there. Qualen Cunningham, no slouch himself in getting after the quarterback, will likely back up Hall, with Darrell Jackson, who showed some real promise in limited snaps last year, backing up Garrett. What Chavis intends to do with James Lockhart and Jarrett Johnson remains to be seen, but don’t be surprised if we see more shuffling as the summer goes on. Chavis is making it clear that he has very different ideas about how to utilize his players than what we’ve gotten used to the last three seasons.
LT Gennesy’s to lose
Even though a lot of scouts really like the future prospects of Germain Ifedi, he’ll go in to fall practice as the guy looking to make up ground in the competition to replace Cedric Ogbuehi at left tackle. That’s not because he performed poorly in the spring — he didn’t — but a credit to JUCO transfer Avery Gennesy. We’ve told you since last season that the plan was to redshirt Gennesy and give him a full year to prepare to replace Ogbuehi, and that work paid off in the spring. When prompted for some of the players he was most impressed with this spring, coach Kevin Sumlin immediately cited Gennesy, saying he had a “great” spring. With Mike Matthews at center and Gennesy and Ifedi at the tackle spots, it looks like A&M can be comfortable with 3/5 of their line, no matter the alignment, before summer practice begins. The battles where jobs will be at stake will be the two guard spots.
How’s that LHN working out for y’all?
The SEC made a record $455 million last year, which means that each of the 14 teams in the conference will receive between $31.4 million and $31.7 million, depending on who you ask. In other words, Texas A&M will make approximately $15 million more this year than they would have with the best offer the Big 12 made before Bowen Loftin and the board of regents told them to pound sand.
Visitors visiting:
This weekend, the Aggies will host one of the top safeties in the nation and a heavy lean in Nacogdoches S Brandon Jones. Cibolo Steele’s Mark Jackson is also expected in, which is a big deal for the Aggies, who are making a very strong push to overcome his long-standing inclinations towards Texas and Baylor (they’re doing a good job of it to date). Georgia 2017 ATH Jamyest Williams will also be in town today and will leave in the morning to continue his swing throughout the state.
The Aggies also got some very big, and very good, news last night. 2016 LB Michael Divinity, one of their very top targets, set his first official visit and will be coming to A&M the weekend of Sept. 11.
A Look Ahead To Baltimore (Rob)
The annual Rivals Five Star Challenge is next week in Baltimore and as can be expected there are a number of players we will be looking to touch base with to get the latest in their recruitment. Check-in will run Friday all day and we will have a live thread on the board during check-in as well as a landing page for all of the content from the event.
For now, a quick glance a few players we know we will be looking to get updates from and watching during the camp:
Byron Murphy (CB) - Everyone knows the story here, Murphy is the top rated prospect in the state or Arizona, a title the Aggies have been collecting over the last couple of recruiting cycles. Kyle Allen, Christian Kirk and next on the list is Murphy.
Jeffrey Okudah (ATH working out at DB) - This 2017 Metroplex standout has offers from just about every major team in the country. These are the battles the Aggies need to win more often than they lose.
Isaiah Pryor (CB) - He has the size at cornerback that John Chavis covets. He has seen interest from the Aggies but has not been offered. He is still young (c/o 2017), so there is still time. He's also a teammate of Jamyest Williams.
JoeJuan Williams (S) - Here is another guy we will check in with. He was offered by A&M early this year and seemed to be excited to learn more other than Chavis who had recruited him at LSU.
Xavier Kelly (DE) - The standout defensive end from Kansas has seen his stock explode since the beginning of the year and the Aggies have extended an offer.
Rashard Lawrence (DT) - Another standout from Louisiana, the Aggies got in on him this spring and the interest is mutual.
Marvin Wilson (DT) - The 2017 standout has amassed quite the offer list, including the Aggies.
Michael Divinity (LB) - The rumblings have the Aggies in the driver's seat on this one but Divinity has kept it pretty quiet publicly.
Anthony Hines (LB) - The 2017 Plano stud has offers from everyone already and will be near the top of the Rivals list for the 2017 class. Another battle the Aggies need to win.
Keion Joyner (LB) - This was one the Aggies were thought to be leading for at one point but some of the pack has made up ground.
Devin White (ATH working out at LB) - If linebacker is where he is to end up he might fit the bill for a quality middle linebacker. THe Aggies have offered and we'll get the latest from him.
Greg Little (OL) - We're pretty sure things have not changed much but we'll go through the process to get it straight from his mouth.
Shawn Robinson (QB) - The top QB in the state from the 2017 class and recent A&M offer will get to go head to head with some good ones. We'll see how he stacks up.
Tate Martell (QB) - He just released his top schools at this point and A&M made the top 3. He is participating in the QB Challenge which is sandwiched in to the camp but we'll still get a shot to talk with him.
Dylan Moses (RB) - He's been committed to LSU for a while but it's worth checking in with him to see what the latest is.
Nate Craig-Meyers (WR) - It's worth checking in to see where A&M falls in his re-opened up recruitment.
N'Keal Harry (WR) - Another top player from Arizona and thought to be a package deal with Murphy.
(More in the next post)
