Texas A&M QB Blake Bost causes confusion by warming up wearing Max Johnson's number

When Texas A&M takes on Mississippi State Saturday night, Max Johnson won’t be under center. Jimbo Fisher said the Aggies quarterback was “day by day” earlier this week after taking some “tough shots” a week ago.

That didn’t stop a left-handed quarterback wearing Johnson’s No. 14 from taking the field, though — and the conversation began.

A Texas A&M player wearing a hat and throwing passes with his left hand was on the field prior to kickoff, causing quite a stir on social media. Beat writers at Kyle Field determined it was likely walk-on Blake Bost, though, rather than a “decoy.”

There is a player on the field in No. 14 for Texas A&M who is throwing left handed, but consensus in the press box is that is not QB Max Johnson. Decoy?

Wearing a hat and everything. pic.twitter.com/tnoMCHVm1C

— 𝕋𝕣𝕒𝕧𝕚𝕤 𝕃. 𝔹𝕣𝕠𝕨𝕟 (@Travis_L_Brown) November 11, 2023

Bost is a junior this year and didn’t see any action last season for Texas A&M. As a freshman in 2021, he appeared in five games and completed 2 of 5 passes for 18 yards.

Johnson has looked the part after assuming the starting quarterback role following Conner Weigman’s injury against Auburn. In eight games, Johnson has thrown for 1,452 yards and nine touchdowns as Texas A&M continues its fight for bowl eligibility with a 5-4 record.

On3’s Pete Nakos later confirmed Jaylen Henderson would get the start for Texas A&M in Saturday’s game against Mississippi State. The Fresno State transfer appeared in five games for the Bulldogs over two years, completing 5 of 8 passes for 49 yards before entering the transfer portal and making his way to College Station.

Texas A&M has had its issues with injured quarterbacks over the years, and Weigman’s injury earlier this year is the latest in that line. Fisher noted that earlier this week and said he’s never seen anything like this run.

“Some of it’s freak accidents as much as anything. And it’s unfortunate luck,” Fisher said. “Like I said, I’ve never had that happen before in my life, but it’s bitten us here so hopefully we can get through it.”

Of course, all of Texas A&M’s quarterbacks over the last couple years have gotten some reps thanks to the absolute slew of injuries at the position.

“Guys get banged up. A couple of our guys have gotten hurt on quarterback sneaks, let alone on getting hit in the pocket,” Fisher said. “So some of the things, we’ve had a toe. We had a turf toe last year, where he bent his toe. He was running and stuck his toe in the ground and got a turf toe. This year we had an ankle. We got, he went to step up and the lineman came through and he stepped and hit an ankle. Max hit his thumb on a helmet. I mean some of them are freak, not good, accidents.”