Texas A&M football announces 12th man for the 2021 season

Texas A&M football named long snapper Connor Choate as the 12th Man for the 2021 season. He replaces Braden White.

The 12th Man is a Texas A&M tradition that dates back to 1922. Each year a player is given the privilege of wearing No. 12 to honor the late E. King Gill. Nearly 100 years ago, Gill was just a squad player on the Aggie football team.

On Jan. 2 of that year, Texas A&M had a game against No. 1 Centre College. Gill, who did not plan to play, was in the press box helping reporters identify players. Injuries decimated the Aggies bench in this particular game, and coach Dana X. Bible grew increasingly worried.

He called for Gill to come down to the field.

Gill ran down and put on injured running back Heine Weir’s uniform under the bleachers. He then ran back to the sideline and stayed on the bench for the rest of the game.

The Aggies went on to upset Centre College in that contest, 22-14. Gill was the only player left on the bench at the end. Thus began the legend of the 12th man at Texas A&M.

The 12th man has come to embody the spirit of the A&M fan base as well. In 1988, “Home of the 12th Man” was added to Kyle Stadium.

In 2015, Texas A&M completed the largest and most extensive stadium redevelopment project in the history of college athletics. With a staggering capacity of 102,512, including the largest student section in the country, the 12th Man continues to make Kyle Field one of the nation’s most intimidating college football venues.

The Aggies are coming off of a 9-1 season that included an Orange Bowl victory. They enter the year at No. 6 in the AP poll.

Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher announced on Wednesday that freshman Haynes King will get the nod at starting quarterback on Sept. 4 against Kent State.

And we now know that when Choate takes the field, he will represent the most revered number in College Station on his jersey.