AggieYell Mailbag
Here’s your SEC Media Days week edition of the AggieYell Mailbag, sponsored by Tipton Auto Group:
Q: I know which game is the most important, which game do you figure will be the toughest for us to win? (H273)
A: LSU. They may not be the best team A&M plays, but you know that will be a night game, the crowd will be insane and they’ll want revenge after the Aggies thumped them last year.
Q: Please explain NIL to me after this court case settlement.
A. Is there a cap? In total for the school or per sport or both?
A: Both.
B. Is it the school that can pay or is it still a separate entity like the 12th man or some other collective that pays.
Again, both. Are you sufficiently confused yet? There is a capped amount that must be paid by the athletic departments, but outside entities can still sign players to NIL deals — but those deals have to be approved by a new clearing house (the CSC).
C. Are contracts signed and how binding on the contracts? If someone transfers, is there some kind of pay back or claw back on monies already paid or just stop paying.
You would think so, but it seems to vary from one contract to another.
D. Any other insight on how it works (SYoungblood)
I’m not sure it does work. I guess we’ll see.
Q: Who are our top class of 2027 football targets? (chickennugget666777)
A: Interesting question that could go in a bunch of different directions.
They need a quarterback, and it looks like they’re after Jayce Johnson and Peyton Houston. Johnson seems to be the guy they’re in the best shape with, so he’s likely a top target, if not the top target.
Offensive lineman Kennedy Brown is in contention for the number one spot in the rankings and he’s relatively local in Kingwood, so he’s definitely a top target. One guy I really like is Ismael Camara out of Gilmer, who is listed as an interior lineman but was outstanding as a tackle at the Dallas Rivals camp this spring.
John Meredith II, a corner, is already getting the press. They like Jalen Brewster out of Cedar Hill — as they should, considering he’s the top D-lineman in the class. Cooper Witten’s a target at linebacker, and they’re after Eli Johnson at safety.
They’re in on a lot of topflight guys early on. The challenge will be closing them.
Q: OK, you can tell us….it was you who queued up the Aggie War Hymn for Sark wasn’t it.
A: As much as I would love to take credit for that, I can’t. Wasn’t me.
Give us your take on our QB recruit dropping so dramatically in the latest rankings. Warranted IYHO?
They don’t talk to me about these things, but it does seem contradictory for a guy to do very well at the Elite 11 and then slide.
What’s your take on Shemar and the other 30 NFL 2nd rounders holding out?
Shemar Turner actually signed this morning with the Bears, so that deal’s done. But the situation with Shemar Stewart is farcical. Only the Bengals could screw things up as badly as they have, over contract wording. This has to be a situation where agents had picked up on it before and were waiting for Cincinnati to try it again. It’s bizarre.
Maybe this has been asked before, but I’m going to ask again as my grey matter has patinaed a bit, will our D this Fall be more aggressive? Do you see more man D, more blitzes, etc.?
I just asked Will Lee this very question and he said yes, he expects them to be more aggressive. He would know better than I.
How’s mom & Arie? (TSip despiser)
A: Not good. Mom is in the hospital with blood clots in her lungs from the cancer and chemo, and she’s having trouble swallowing. Arie is just in a lot of pain. Things are…difficult right now.
Q: Rate our current staff on:
– Talent Evaluation
– Recruitment
– Player Retention
– Player Development
– Gameplanning
– Gameday Coaching
– Halftime Adjustments
- Clock Managment (TAMU-83)
A: It’s kind of tough to do that, considering they’re only a year into the gig. It’s kind of tough to judge off of what is a relatively short period of time. I think when it comes to the first three, they’ve done extremely well. They’ve kept guys they want to keep, have done well in the portal and they have the number four class in the nation at the moment. Hard to argue with those results.
Player development? We can revisit that after the season.
Gameplanning was just ok last season, but they were also working with a lot of parts from someone else’s toy. This year should give us a better idea of how they are in this area.
Gameday coaching was up and down. They called a great game against Missouri and Florida; Elko recognized the need for a change in the LSU game and that turned that game on its head. Texas and Auburn weren’t good. South Carolina was terrible.
Halftime adjustments and clock management? I don’t know. I thought they were ok.
Q: Did the baseball draft have any impact on next years team? (Tnags)
A: Oh, certainly. I don’t think you can get through a draft without taking some hits. I had hoped Myles Patton would drop far enough he’d consider returning, but he’s very likely gone. Kaiden Wilson going as high as he did was a surprise. Losing Maddox Latta after the draft is a disappointment; I though he could be a key piece to the puzzle next year.
On the plus side, A&M got Shane Sdao back and a good portion of their highly regarded signees are going to get to campus. So, in spite of some losses, I thought they actually came out pretty well.
Q: What is your opinion on our QB situation at this point? We have a good one for 2026 and are the favorite for a highly rated 2027.
By all indications Reed is QB1. As such who do you think sits at QB2, Miles O’Neil or Zeno? I’m kinda surprised Zeno transferred to A&M.
A: At the end of the spring, I had O’Neill as the number two guy. But I think Zeno was brought in for two purposes: to have an experienced backup if something goes wrong with Marcel Reed and to buy another year of development for O’Neill.
Do you think Miles is a transfer danger if he feels he’s not getting a good shot at QB? BTW, I like O’ Neil’s potential with his strong arm. (Have Gun Will Travel)
I don’t know. That’s something that can’t be evaluated right now. We’ll have to see what happens this fall, and then he’ll have to decide for himself.
Q: I’m still a little fuzzy on our TE room.
Lots of options, but can you talk about who gets on the field and how they might be used. (Richard23)
A: The only guy I’m absolutely sure will see the field is Theo Ohrstrom. He’s the only returning tight end and he’s one of the ones who seems to block and catch the ball equally well. They have some block-first tight ends in Nate Boerkircher and Micah Riley, brought in to get that yard on fourth down. Then they have a pair of pass catchers in Kiotti Armstrong and Amari Niblack. I think they will all play, and I’m most excited about Armstrong. Having said that, Elko seems most excited about Niblack, and he could be the guy having the ball coming his way most often out of this group.
Q: From what you’re hearing, how is the basketball team coming along in the early practices? (chuck[g])
A: It’s too early to say. They’re not doing anything really serious at this point. But I have been told that the guys who were supposed to be able to shoot can shoot. That alone means a break with the last few years.
Q: Can you do an analysis of the baseball commits (High School and Transfer) that we have coming in next year? (Mojoy2k1)
Transfers first.
Wesley Jordan (OF/DH): Hit .317 with 19 HR and 73 RBI over two seasons with Baylor. Had a .960 OPS last season (.308/10 HR/41 RBI). Good combination of power and average from the right side. Possible new DH.
Chris Hacopian (SS): Hit .375 with 14 HR and 61 RBI for Maryland last season. All-Big Ten selection. New starting shortstop.
Carson Bailey (LHP): 3-3, 4.89 ERA in his freshman season at Baylor. 56 Ks in 53 1/3 innings. Potential Sunday starter for A&M.
Travis Chestnut (UTIL): .308, 11 HR, 54 RBI at St. Edwards in 2025. Do I really need to tell you any more about him?
Juan Vargas (RHP): 3-2, 3.19 ERA, 8 SV at Tennessee Tech. Power arm for the back of the bullpen. Struck out 56 in 42 1/3 innings.
MJ Bollinger (RHP): 3-3, 2.01 ERA, 10 SV at FAU. Walked 13, K’ed 39 in 44 2/3 innings. Good command, keeps the ball down. Possible closer.
Jake Duer (OF): .428, 2 HR, 27 RBI in 34 games for FAU. Only struck out 10 times in 163 plate appearances. Lefty who (to me) is a perfect fit in the 2 hole and is the likely new left fielder.
Zane Becker (C): .258, 1 HR, 6 RBI at Arkansas. Backup catcher there, likely backup catcher at A&M for a season before taking over for Bear Harrison.
Ethan Darden (LHP): 4-2, 6.08 ERA in 9 starts for Clemson. Possible long reliever or midweek starter.
Signees (ones I think could make it to campus, at least)
Nic Partida (IF): Right hander hits for average and power, was one of the top high school prospects in the country but pulled his name out of the draft pretty early on. Possible third baseman next year.
Boston Kellner (IF): Similar to Partida, but a little bigger (205 to 190). A lot of pop, should compete for a job this spring.
Blaine Bullard (OF): I don’t think we’ll see him, as he was drafted in the 12th round, but he’s a switch hitter who makes solid contact from both sides of the plate. Toronto thinks he could eventually develop into a power hitter as well.
Matthew Boughton (IF): Drafted in the 11th round by the White Sox, who raved about his “five tool” ability. Definitely has the bat, with a .455 average and 7 home runs this season. Could also play center.
Cooper Fulbright (RHP): Fastball currently sitting in the low 90s, power slider.
Cole Hubert (LHP): 5-1, .76 ERA, 76K, 11 walks; tossed back-to-back no-hitters. Low 90s fastball, excellent command. Has to make the jump from the Lehigh Valley to the SEC, so it may take a year.
David Ramirez (LHP): The Kemah native flipped his commitment from Texas to A&M. Fastball sits around 90, good secondary pitches. Also plays the outfield.
Jorian Wilson (OF): Hit .449 with 10 homers with Hallettsville this past season. A lefty with big pop. Big guy (6-4, 235), likely a corner outfielder.
Chase Bentley (RHP): Drafted by the Brewers in the 19th round, so he’s iffy. His stats aren’t: 10-0, .94 ERA, 62 K, 5 walks in his senior year. Devastating off speed stuff, with a solid slider and a filthy 12-6 curve.
Q: Are you surprised by how little attention A&M got during SEC Media Days? There’s been a ton of hype around guys like Sellers, Lagway, and Manning, with LSU and Alabama also getting plenty of spotlight. But A&M seems overlooked by the media despite returning a lot of production, going 7-1 at one point, and finishing with Reed at QB in a system not really built for him. Even with the season’s rough ending, you could argue they were in position to beat both Auburn and USC. Coaches reportedly have A&M circled so why do you think the media doesn’t? (MC9008)
A: Because the vast majority of reporters are intellectually lazy and consume what’s put in front of them. Alabama good. LSU good. Georgia good. Arch wonderful. A&M is not a sexy team right now. They have a chance to be a very good and efficient team, which would be a nightmare for national reporters. I hope it happens.
Q: Been seeing rumors that Shemart Stewart has been practicing with Texas A&M football team. Is that real? I didn’t think team was practicing right now? (Etxaggie)
A: Those reports, are, as they say in the Arabic, hra’. (Look it up) The team isn’t practicing, they’re working out and that’s it. And coach Elko said today that there is absolutely no chance of him returning.
Q: Considering it’s year 2 for Elko, what do you want to see that would demonstrate (to you) that we are on the right path? (Barseven7)
A: More wins. Let’s keep it simple.
Q: How does playing at a juco affect eligibility at a 4 year school now? Are Chestnutt and the Vandy QB unique COVID deals? (QuickDrawMcGraw77)
A: No, this isn’t a Covid deal. This is an NIL deal. Pavia got an injunction saying that counting his JUCO seasons against him cost him NIL opportunities and violated anti-trust laws. He got an injunction, so that allowed players like him and Chestnut and some others to get another season of eligibility.
Q: Looking at SEC schedules, what teams do you think got the easiest draws and the toughest? I have MO, Auburn maybe tu on the easy side and OU, FL, AL, Vandy on the tough side. (map87)
A: Texas has a really easy schedule, if there can be such at thing in the SEC. A&M goes to Austin, and they have to go to Georgia and Florida. If you believe in Oklahoma, then OU can be a tough game. That’s about it. Auburn’s isn’t bad, but that three-game stretch of at OU, at A&M and Georgia is not something to sneeze at. Mizzou’s could go either way. South Carolina and A&M come to them, but the Aggies crushed them last year and South Carolina beat them too. And they have to deal with Alabama. Add in a roadie to Auburn and that could be a bear.
Florida’s schedule is considered the toughest in the country, and it’s hard to dispute it. A stretch of LSU, at Miami, Texas, at A&M, Mississippi State and then Georgia is brutal. Then they close out the SEC schedule with Tennessee and at Ole Miss. The Gators could legitimately be better in 2025 and go 6-6.
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