Jimbo Fisher reveals what traits he looks for from players during early part of camp

Preseason practices are underway for college football teams across the country, including College Station. Where Texas A&M is off and running. A few days into preseason work, Fisher met with the media to discuss how the team looks.

One reporter in particular asked the Aggies head coach what exactly he looks for during the initial practices and workouts, even without pads. To which Fisher was quick to correct any misgivings about whether practice was physical, even though the pads are off.

“I’m gonna say this: you say without pads. We aint tackling. When you’re in shells, you stay up, you can still be physical and play and do this like you can in pads. I mean, the only time we ever tackle, go to the ground, is if you’re in a scrimmage. Other than that we’re never on the ground. We don’t want to be on the ground in what you’re doing.”

Fisher then went on to answer the guy’s question, detailing exactly what he is looking for out of his players as the preseason gets underway.

Jimbo Fisher on abilities he looks for in practice

“So, I mean, I’m looking for consistency. I’m looking for mental and physical toughness. Can you give effort? Are you disciplined? That’s the thing, man. We talk about all the things you do — your discipline, your mental and physical toughness — and that allows you to have discipline, give an effort. You know what I’m saying? Consistency.”

Part of that consistency is consistently being available, per Jimbo Fisher.

“Are you available? Listen, availability is the best ability you can have. Then dependability and accountability. Then intangibles of how you play and are you there every day? Those things are what it gets down to.”

Lastly, Fisher explained how crucial it is to understand his players developmental habits. How quick they are to adapt or pickup different things.

“Then, how you’re learning. The ability to comprehend information and process information, and not make the same mistakes daily. And as you add new things — you also can judge a player when you add new things how much can he hold and how quickly does he pick things up? Is he a total rep guy? Is he shorter reps? And some guys can take it from the meeting room to the field and get it. Some guys have to rep it. And that doesn’t mean anything.

“But you’re learning that from your guys. Which is important when you get to weeks of game planning and what you do and how much you change a guy and what you ask him to do.”