AggieYell Mailbag

It’s time for this week’s edition of the AggieYell Mailbag, sponsored by Tipton Auto Group:

Q: Where do we stand with offensive line recruiting? Seems to be lacking overall. Better question, how many do we need compared to what we have committed. Thanks. (Syoungblood)

A: I don’t know if it’s necessarily lacking — they have three really good players in Zaden Krempin, Avery Morcho and Samuel Roseborough. Roseborough and Morcho are definitely tackles, while Krempin looks like he could play inside or out given his frame. 

Honestly, I think they’re fine with high schoolers — what they need are some guys out of the portal. It’s possible, though unlikely, that Texas A&M has to replace all five of its starting offensive linemen next year. They have talent; what they don’t have is experience, and if they can find someone who can fill in for a season (especially at the tackle spots), it wouldn’t be a bad thing.

Q: In Monday thoughts, you seemed a little higher on our CB room than I remember you being in the past. Am I misremembering that or did something change to give you a little more confidence in them? (Biromeag)

A: I’m more confident in them moving forward — unfortunately, that’s starting next year. Will Lee, obviously, is a really good corner, but I’m not sure who starts on the other side and an injury to Lee would be a disaster. Of course, I’m just phobic of throwing freshmen out there who aren’t ready because they have to play, but maybe that’s not the case with some of these guys and they’ll earn playing time. At this point, though, Will Lee, Julian Humphrey and Dezz Ricks are the only guys I see playing consistently — unless they move Tyreek Chappell outside on occasion too.

Q: Lamar Brown seems to be the only true DT we are targeting or in on currently. Do the coaches only take one DT? If we miss on Brown what is the back-up option. Of course he is committing before you release Mailbag so this may not matter. (Aggiecadet03)
A: He was the only one they were in on, and he committed to LSU. They’ll still recruit him anyway and see what happens. I don’t really know if there is a backup option, though Bryce Perry-Wright could be a hybrid DE-DT type like we’ve seen in recent years. I think they’re going to have to dig into the portal at defensive tackle as well, unless they’re incredibly happy with Landon Rink, DJ Sanders and Chace Sims. 

Q: How many recruits do you end up seeing us take this year?

A: Depends on how a few things play out, but I could see them taking as many as 30.

Any chance of getting back our # of posts/likes, etc.?

I think that will eventually happen.

Will the DELETE option come back on posts?

I think so.

Any changes on how you’re leaning with certain recruits who are committing over the next 2-3 weeks? (TSip Despiser)

Nope. Still feel good about Tamarion Watkins and Tylan Wilson, who should announce their decisions in the next week or so (in the case of Wilson, eight days). Those are the only two I think are on the immediate radar.

Q: Will the old Rivals archive files ever make it over to the new site? (TAMU-83)

A: I believe that’s the plan (update: That IS the plan. Message boards should be imported by sometime tomorrow — Friday — and maybe before.)

Q: Assuming no midseason flips, which of the remaining prospects, that we’re legit contenders for, do you think would be needed to finish with the #1 spot in team recruiting rankings? Would we need to flip Feaster or Keys? (BlackdogAggie)

A: Watkins and Wilson would, of course, help. Getting Tank Jones would be a big one too, and that one seems to be an Alabama-A&M fight. But getting a flip of one of those receivers — I think Keys would be the more likely — would probably be needed to get it over the top. All the same, this is a pretty remarkable stacking of 4- and 5-star talent.

Q: Who do you think are the most overrated and underrated SEC teams going into fall camp this year? 

A: Overrated? Texas. They may be really good, but people are overlooking the turnover they’ve had on both lines.

Underrated? Maybe…Alabama? I know that’s weird, but they’re not getting much attention and they’ve still got a ton of very good players.

Which coach at SEC media days do you think is the funniest? Who’s the most boring? (MC9008)

The funniest is tough, because Steve Spurrier had that on lock for years, then Mike Leach was. And now they’re both gone (RIP Pirate). Most of the coaches now are of the “I’m just happy to be here and help the team” mode, though Mike Elko can be pretty funny if he gets the right question to parry. So, to answer the question, I really don’t know anymore.

The most boring? Eli Drinkwitz. 

Q: What’s your take on

CStat -> NY -> Miami 

A: Just win games. The rest takes care of itself.

Have there ever been more absurd Heisman odds for a QB with fewer starts than this year? 

Maybe Jameis Winston? I don’t remember what his odds were, but they were pretty high.

And our boy Reed at #15 +4000, does that seem about right? Any idea where JFF’s odds started in his magical year? (EliCrow)

Johnny wasn’t even on the radar when 2012 started.

Q: What is more grueling. Navy SEAL hell week or watching grandchildren for 3 weeks. (Richard23)

A: I haven’t gone through either. Let’s go through the pros and cons, from my perspective.

Hell Week

Pros: Consistent schedule. You’ll get two hours of sleep and you know it.

You can tap out and go home.

Cons: You may die.

Grandkids

Pros: They probably love you and you can have some fun with them.

Cons: Inconsistent schedule and crying.

Q: Is it just me, or does Elko seem to want to recruit lighter DL? It seems like he prefers guys who can move over big guys that can plug holes. (Travster23)

A: It does seem like he’s leaning towards some lighter, faster guys this recruiting cycle. And the roster this year at the position looks very different compared to last year; the defensive ends are about 30 pounds lighter, if not more, than last year.

Q: Do you think any of our DE commits can grow into a DT? (Superag1000)

A: Bryce Perry-Wright may be able to. He’s got the frame for it.

Q: Do you think Boobie’s relationship with Peyton Houston may have influenced his commitment to USC? Looks like they are good friends and have talked about playing together at the next level. Houston has also been linked to USC for some time now. (AggieAppraiser)

A: It may have something to do with it. But he’s also already signed a huge NIL deal out there, which may also have something to do with it.

Q: From our defensive commits here in ’26 and the ones we are still in on, it really seems Elko is going after a lot of different types of players. Do you foresee a defense that has multiple looks to confuse? The latest kid that seems like a LB/safety hybrid and the multiple types of DEs coming in seem to indicate some really different looks we could spring on offenses. (Tsmith3001)

A: I think you’re absolutely right. He wanted to do that last year and it turned out he didn’t have the personnel for it. Trey Jones was supposed to fill the safety/linebacker role and it just didn’t work. But I definitely think he wants more versatility and the ability to throw multiple looks at an offense.

Q: What are the chances that the coaches can get a commit to flip to the Aggies?

A: I don’t see one happening right now, but it could happen a little farther down the line as we close in on the early signing period. As long as there’s NIL, there’s a chance of a flip.

How firm do you feel our commits are? (Have Gun Will Travel)

The last sentence from above applies here too, but I don’t have any concerns about any right now.

Q: What is the deal with the media and Marcel Reed? He is getting absolutely no love at all from the media. He is not named in any of the lists by any of the pundits. What is it that they know that our staff doesn’t know, or that our coaching staff knows that they don’t know? (Aggdoc)

A: Right now they see him as a running quarterback and not a passer. If he shows more in the passing department, and the coaches certainly think he will, then he’ll get more attention. 

Q: In the modern recruiting era, what is our best class in terms of actual production on the field? (TAMU-83)

A: Probably 2019. You had two All-Americans in Kenyon Green and DeMarvin Leal, All-SEC players in Isaiah Spiller, Ainias Smith, Nic Constatinou, Layden Robinson, Demani Richardson and Jalen Wydermyer, a starter in Andre White and a key backup in Chris Russell. It also had the guy who beat Alabama in Zach Calzada and Chase Lane, who definitely was a contributor. They took 27 kids and had eight All-American or All-SEC players. That’s not a bad day at the office, and a big reason why Jimbo had his best season in 2020.

Q: Can you take a look at the DE / Edge / LB / Combo safety recruits and speculate on how each might contribute? (Richard23)

A: I love this question, because there’s so many possibilities. But here’s how I think it’s going to play out.

The “big DEs” are Perry-Wright and Jermaine Kinsler. They’re the ones I can see playing outside on running downs and getting spun inside in passing situations. Jordan Carter and Tristian Givens are definitely ends. Samu Moala is probably a JACK, and Storm Miller, Tank King and DaQuives Beck are linebackers. That’s a change of opinion on Miller, but I’ve been told they see him more as a MIKE than a JACK. 

Chance Collins and Tylan Wilson (should he commit) are regular safeties, but Tamarion Watkins would be one of the hybrid linebacker/safety types (in my opinion). 

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