The start of the Mike Elko era at Texas A&M didn’t go as planned when Notre Dame came in and spoiled the party. He started out 0-1, but then his team rattled off seven straight. Things were looking up and a change after the quarterback position gave them a spark.
The positives were countered by the way they finished the season. They dropped four of their last five, but it didn’t look like it did during the bad times under Jimbo Fisher. The team still played hard, they just had some holes to fill on the roster and needed to fix some things with their approach.
They finished 15th in F+ (combined FEI and SP+ ranking).
In terms of raw talent, they have the most out of any team Notre Dame will play in the regular season. They’re eighth in 247Sports’ team talent composite and have 62 former blue-chips on their roster. They also have a ton of returning production on both sides of the ball. They are seventh overall in those rankings (21st on offense and seventh on defense).
It’s important to note how the team has been built. A&M signed 40 blue-chips in the 2022 and 2023 class. Only 12 are still on the roster. Out of the 18 top-100 players they signed in their top ranked ‘22 class, only two are still with the team.
The majority of the blue-chip talent on the roster is young and Terry Bussey was the only player from the 2024 class that played more than 70 snaps last season.
They are 2-0 to start this season after playing UTSA (90th in SP+) and Utah State (112th). Let’s call it a warmup before they take a step up in competition and go on the road to play the Irish this Saturday night.
Currently ranked 19th in SP+, this game is just as important for Texas A&M as it is for Notre Dame. They are viewed as a program who can’t win these types of road matchups because they haven’t done so. They haven’t beaten a ranked opponent on the road since 2014.
Elko also hasn’t beaten a ranked opponent on the road as a head coach. His Duke teams lost to Florida State, Louisville and Pitt. QB Marcel Reed beat Florida on the road when Conner Weigman was injured early in the season, but was not starting in any other games when A&M won on the road. (Arkansas was a neutral site game in Dallas)
Offense
Collin Klein returns to coordinate the offense. He was a candidate for the open OC job at Notre Dame back in 2023 and had two successful seasons calling plays at Kansas State. They finished 9th and 20th in OF+ in those two years. They were 14th in EPA (expected points added) per rush in his last season at K-State.
They are an offense who likes to play heavy with 12 personnel (one back, two tight ends) a fair amount, but the personnel at receiver this season will probably see them in 11 more often.
Last year against Notre Dame they had zero explosive plays. They averaged 3.6 yards per play and QB Conner Weigman averaged 3.3 yards per attempt. Le’Veon Moss is a good back who played well and was their most dangerous player, yet he only averaged 3.5 yards per carry.
That remains the lowest YPP for any single game that Klein has called as a coordinator.
A&M was 7-1 with Moss and had a path to the SEC championship game thanks to the Aggies’ ability to run with him in the offense. His absence led to a major drop off for them. The run game was not as effective without Moss’ presence. Including the South Carolina game, Texas A&M averaged 3.54 yards per carry the rest of the way versus Power Conference opponents. That was over a full yard under the season average.
They were 66th in adjusted EPA per play last season. They finished ranked 24th in OF+ and 51st in points per drive.
Through two games this season they have averaged 6.91 YPP. However, it should be noted that Utah State and UTSA are 127th and 124th respectively in SP+ on defense. A&M was also more vanilla because they could be.
One other thing to keep in mind is that Elko was one of the least aggressive coaches on 4th down last season. They only went for it on 8 of 16 obvious to go situations last season. They were 106th in total 4th down attempts. He was much more aggressive at Duke, so this is something to monitor.
They come into this game rated 19th in SP+.
Expected Strengths
The most important thing for them is all the experience they are bringing back on the offensive line. All five starters are back (60 of 65 starts) with a combined 3,629 snaps from last season.
Like Notre Dame, they lost some depth with starting experience to the transfer portal, but that starting five is expected to all be healthy for this game.
They are deep in the backfield and Reed’s ability to run is something that adds to the challenge of stopping them.
Explosive passing was an issue for them last year, but they upgraded at receiver and have looked much more explosive both down the field and after the catch to start the season. They have 11 pass plays of 20+ yards in the first two games.
They are 5 of 6 in red zone opportunities so far and Klein’s offenses have been consistently good at getting six points in those situations. They finished 29th in red zone touchdown percentage last season and were second at K-State in ‘23. He’s very good at using the quarterback in the red area as a runner and decoy.
Potential Weaknesses
For all of the hype their offensive line got heading into this season, they failed to take over games physically against opponents who matched them up front. They didn’t win the second half or the fourth quarter against Notre Dame last season and this quote from Elko says a lot about how they did against Texas. "Hats off to them because they physically annihilated us"
Though Reed has looked improved as a passer so far, to say he’s untested is putting it mildly. He’s been barely pressured and hasn’t been put into a lot of obvious passing situations. Ball placement has still been inconsistent with him.
They were 75th in sack percentage allowed last season. Reed can escape the pocket and is a dangerous scrambler, but he will also hold the ball too long at times looking to make a big play.
They are only 8 of 24 on 3rd down in the first two games. Considering the opponents and that those games were at home, it’s something to think about because Reed has performed poorly as a passer on 3rd down last year and so far this season.
Both Reed and LT Trey Zuhn, A&M’s best OL, were banged up during the Utah State game. Elko said both would have been able to return if it was a different game, but that is something to watch because Elko hasn’t always been the most forthcoming with injury information. Those are two of their three most valuable players on offense.
Personnel notes
#10 QB Marcel Reed
- 6-1 185
- RS soph
- dual-threat, dangerous runner
- often looks to scramble, 313 yards on them last season
- added over 300 on designed runs as well
- 22 explosive runs, 17 missed tackles
- 34th in EPA per dropback, 54th passing success rate in 2025
- 23rd in ESPN’s QBR last season
- finished 59th in adjusted completion percentage out of 67 P4 QBs
- threw at least one interception in final five games of the season
- 1-4 record during that time with only win coming against New Mexico State
- 29.4 grade under pressure was the fourth-lowest in the Power Four
- second worst adjusted completion percentage on pressured dropbacks
- 99th in 3rd down passer rating in ‘24
- left game with injury against Utah St
- was cleared to return, but game was in hand
- led SEC QBs in rushing yards per game in ‘24 (49.4)
- 1,864 15 TD vs 6 INTs in ‘24
- huge game coming off the bench running vs LSU, 3 TDs rushing
- 32.3% on-target rate on deep throws was bottom percentile, below average on intermediate targets
- 3.11 seconds was 8th highest time to throw eighth highest time to throw for P4 passers
- 2.84 seconds through first two games this season
- had tendency to try and extend plays when he didn’t have to
- 9 of 10 turnover-worthy plays occurred after holding ball for more than 2.5 seconds
- coaches have raved about his growth as a passer and leadership abilities
- 64.6 PFF passing grade last season ranked 114th nationally
- best between numbers last season, 80.5 passing grade + 12 of his 15 TDs
- 66.1% 8.2 YPA 7 TDs vs 0 INTs in first two games
- 7 scrambles vs UTSA, 4 vs Utah St
- 18 for 105 rushing in first two games, 77 yards on scrambles
- inconsistent ball placement
- 21.5% uncatchable pass rate (when eliminating throw aways)
- six fumbles last season
- carved up first two defenses with play-action 87% completions 10.6 YPA 4 TDs
- barely pressured in first two games
- 4.6 YPA when pressured, 9.9 with a clean pocket
- Similar to last season (4.4 and 8.7)
- 70.8 QBR is 41st after two games
#16 QB Miles O’Neil
- 6-5 220
- 2023 Gatorade Player of the Year in NJ
- won the backup job
- threw a dime to Craver on deep ball vs Utah St, 72-yards
- threw a bad pick to no one vs Utah St
- 4 of 7 101 yards 1 TD 1 INT this season in garbage time
#9 QB Jacob Zeno
- 6-2 215
- previously at Baylor and UAB
- threw for over 3,000 yards at UAB in 2023, only full season as a starter
#5 RB Amari Daniels
- 5-8 197
- 5th year senior
- 105 carries in ‘23
- broke a 79-yarder vs Auburn in ‘23, 11.09 100m in HS
- a liability in pass protection
- 33-inch vert in HS
- 652, 4.7 YPC in ‘24
#8 RB Le’Veon Moss
- 5-11 210
- 2nd team All-SEC in ‘24
- tore his knee late vs South Carolina last season, protected him in camp
- 96 carries in ‘23
- 5.0 YPC
- breaks tackles, runs hard through contact
- He had 765 yards (6.3 per attempt) in nine games in ‘24
- fifth in the Power 4 in yards after contact per attempt (4.4)
- 10.84 100m in HS, 32.8 vert
- not great in pass pro, can be attacked
- good lateral movement
- accelerates quickly through hole, good top-end speed
- improved balance after contact in ‘24
- entered season with 4 drops on 33 career pass targets
- probably best running outside zone
- 1st team All-SEC in preseason
- 4th ranked SR RB by Dane Brugler
- 65+ rushing yards in every game before injury
- only 13 carries in first two games, 87 yards
- 21 yard TD vs Utah St, looked like the guy he was last season
#22 RB EJ Smith
- 5-11 211
- Stanford transfer
- tore his ACL in ‘22
- played behind bad lines at Stanford
- only 109 career carries before A&M
- trucked by Marist Liufau in pass pro
- good speed and a threat as a receiver
- 242 receiving yards in ‘23 at Stanford
- great effort on ST, key blocks on PR TD
- son of Hall of Fame RB Emmitt Smith
#4 Rueben Owens II
- 5-11 215
- missed most of 2024 regular season with foot injury
- flashed explosive ability
- 385 rushing, 109 receiving as true frosh in ‘23
- 2023 ISD Fab 50
- came back vs Texas and bowl game
- 13 for 56 vs USC in bowl game
- 12 for 77 this season
- if he gets a crease, he can scoot
- not great contact balance and hasn’t been a tackler breaker
#23 RB Jamarion Morrow
- 5-9 205
- true freshman -
staff super high on him
- played RB, WR, and QB in HS
- 4 for 32 vs Utah St, 22 yard run
#7 WR KC Concepcion
- 5-11 190
- NC St transfer
- ACC rookie of the year in ‘23, frosh All-American
- 3 for 72 vs UTSA
- 124 catches the last two seasons
- all-purpose weapon, dangerous runner and returner
- 1,159 yards (320 rushing and 839 receiving) as a true freshman
- numbers dipped considerably as soph (36 and 460)
- rumblings about him as a bad teammate at NC St
- 792 YAC and 16 touchdowns are second most in Power 4 last two seasons
- 8th ranked underclassmen WR by Dane Brugler entering season
- crafty as a route runner
- jet sweep weapon
- Swiss-army knife type
- 11 plays of 30+ yards in ‘23
- 16.1 per reception in first two games
- only 8.7 per reception last season, ADOT from 6.9 yards to 14.6
- 46% in the slot, over 80% at NC State
- six drops in man coverage last season, 27.3%
- not good in contested catch situations
- caught 5 of 11 targets vs ND in ‘23, 4.8 per reception
#1 WR Mario Craver
- 5-9 165
- Miss St transfer
- slot, elite speed
- 8 for 122 vs UTSA
- ADOT 18.6 yard in ‘24
- averaged 21.6 yards per reception on 17 catches
- 5 catches of 20+ yards in two games
- 10.74 100m
- Tutu Atwell type, have to be aware of his speed on every snap
- 18.1 per reception this season
- caught 72 yard bomb vs Utah St, hit 21.8mph on the play
- played more outside at Miss St, over 80% in the slot at A&M
- 0 career drops
#3 WR Asthon Bethel-Roman
- 6-0 185
- only 4 touches as a freshman
- was raved about as potential breakout candidate during offseason
- 4 catch on 10 targets to start season
- two catches of 20+ yards vs Utah St
- long strider who eats up ground quickly
- short area testing is ELITE: 4.1 short shuttle, 6.9 3-cone
- 21.51 200m
- elite long and high jump results in HS
- son of former NFL DB Mark Roman
- two drops vs Utah St
#2 RB/WR Terry Bussey
- 5-10 195
- originally projected to play CB, but moved to offense
- 10.66 100m
- was described by a friend who scouts in his region of Texas as a “generational talent”
- elite two-way player in high school, big time basketball player as well
- Zachariah Branch type of athlete
- 111 rushing as true frosh as gadget player
- 65-yard TD run vs Mcneese St in ‘24
- 34-yard receiving TD vs Utah St
- zero rushing attempts so far this season
#11 WR Kelshaun Johnson
- 5-11 168
- true freshman
- dominant vs smaller schools in Texas in HS
- 10.49 100m in HS
- starter on basketball state champs
#17 TE Theo Melin Öhrström
- 6-6 257
- 3 for 23 1 TD vs UTSA
- From Sweden, played in special program for American football
- 63% of snaps in ‘23 as a blocker
- 0 targets in his career before last season
- 5 for 111 yards vs New Mexico State in ‘24
- 5 for 39 1 TD this season
- lined up inline over 75% of the time in career
#84 TE Amari Niblack
- 6-3 235
- previously at Alabama and Texas
- 1 for 23 vs UTSA
- unable to carve out role at UT in ‘24
- caught 20 balls, averaged 16.4 per reception at Alabama in 2023
- 11 of 20 catches went for 15+ yards
- 21st ranked Senior TE by Dane Brugler
- very good athlete, sub-par blocker
- former basketball player who can play above the rim
#87 TE Nate Boerkircher
- 6-4 250
- Nebraska transfer
- 5th year senior
- 19 career catches at Nebraska, 17 starts
- 2 for 17 vs UTSA
- primarily a blocker
#21 TE Kiotti Armstrong
- 6-5 275
- true frosh
- 2025 ISD Fab 50
- freak athlete
- 6-11 wingspan, 10 inch hands
- multi-sport athlete, baseball and basketball
#60 LT Trey Zuhn
- 6-6 319
- three-year starter at LT, 5th year player
- could play interior in NFL, 7 reps at center vs UTSA
- long, better in pass pro than as a run blocker
- the most consistent player on their OL
- 32-inch arms short for OT
- quick, coordinated athlete at his size
- good run blocker, but inconsistent on reach blocks
- leader, considered toughest player on team by many
- 4th ranked overall iOL prospect by Dane Brugler
- middle round grades by NFL teams last year
- 2nd team All-SEC in preseason
- 4th highest PFF grade for returning OTs in SEC
- right leg rolled up on vs Utah St
- will be back vs ND, could have returned to game per Elko
#76 RT Reuben Fatheree II
- 6-8 320
- injured and expected out for this game
- multi-year starter at RT, relegated to backup in ‘23
- called for 11 penalties in ‘22
- over 1.700 snaps in career
- primarily RT, struggles vs speed in pass pro
#55 RG Armaj Reed-Adams
- 6-5 325
- 6th year senior
- Kansas transfer
- returning starter at A&M
- made multiple preseason All-American teams
- experience at OT and inside
- one of the better run blockers in SEC in ‘24
- Kansas lined him up as a TE ran wham blocks with him
- allowed 5 pressures at guard in 8 games
- allowed 5 pressures at RT in three games
- 28 career starts, close to 2,000 snaps of experience
- 20th ranked SR iOL by Dane Brugler
- 2nd team All-SEC in preseason
- highest returning PFF grade for P4 guards heading into season
- 47.7 pass block grade vs true pass sets in first two games
#78 RT Dametrious Crownover
- 6-7 336
- 369 snaps at RT in ‘23
- sometimes used as an extra TE
- played TE in HS
- 3rd highest PFF grade for returning P4 OTs in SEC
- can get underneath his pads
- over 1,200 snaps in his career
#54 OC/G Mark Nabou
- 6-4 330
- starting center, played 21 other snaps at both guard spots vs UTSA
- started 11 games at guard, one at center in ‘23
- primary starter at LG last season
- played in a run heavy offense in HS, better run blocker than pass pro
- missed most of ‘24 season with torn MCL
#71 OL Chase Bisontis
- 6-5 315
- started at RT as a true freshman, struggled a lot there
- started at RG in ‘23 bowl game
- returning starter at LG
- Feldman’s Freaks List
- Awesome strength numbers. 445 bench, 605 squat for 3
- Clocked at 17mph running, can be a weapon as a puller
- shows nastiness in run game, huge improvement as soph
- 5th ranked underclassmen iOL by Dane Brugler
- 3rd team All-SEC in preseason
- over 1,200 snaps in career
#61 C Kolinu'u Faaiu
- 6-3 333
- Utah transfer
- started 8 games in ‘23
- much run blocker than in pass pro
- has a tougher time with stunts and quicker nose guards
- 381 pass pro snaps last season, only one sack allowed
- over 1,400 snaps at center in career
- first iOL off the bench
#70 OT Robert Bourdon
- 6-6 318
- 10 snaps in 2024
- slotted in for Zuhn when injured vs Utah St
- didn’t allow a pressure when inserted into lineup, not really tested
- decommitted from Duke and followed Elko to A&M
- 3rd OT, can play both spots
- a bit high with his pad level
- not heavy at POA
#79 LT Lamont Rogers
- 6-6 337
- true freshman
- light on his feet, sky high potential
- raw technically
- 2025 ISD Fab 50
- 17 snaps in garbage time in first two games, but deeper down the depth chart
Key for Notre Dame
Win 1st and 2nd down
Reed has dropped back on 3rd and 6+ 10 times in the first two games. His numbers aren’t good: 42.9% completions, 63.9 NFL passer rating, he’s been sacked once, and has had 3 carries for 6 yards.
For the most part, that’s in line with how he was last season on the money down. He finished 99th in 3rd down passer rating last season.
Defense
Considering the talent A&M had up front last year, it would be fair to call their performance on defense a disappointment in Elko’s return to College Station. Some of that might have to do with Elko hiring his good friend, Jay Bateman, to coordinate the defense. Some of it is that they had too many holes to plug in their back seven and it was inevitable that not all of those portal additions were going to hit.
They finished 20th in DF+, 41st in adjusted EPA per play, and 36th in points per drive. That’s good, but there’s a gap between good and elite.
Elko coached a top-four defense in 2021, but he’s never had another defense in the top-10. His next highest ranked defense was at Notre Dame in 2017 (13th). For someone who has the reputation as a great defensive mind, he’s coached plenty of good defenses. He’s only had one that’s been elite.
They played an offense in UTSA (30th in SP+) that challenged them and another one in Utah State (86th) that didn’t. The Aggies defense is currently ranked 30th in SP+ and has a lot to prove this season.
Expected Strengths
The defense had 20 players who played 200+ snaps last season. 13 of them are back in 2025. Nine of them are in their back seven and that doesn’t include Tyreek Chappell. He’s a multi-year starter who missed most of last season.
A havoc rate of 20.1% was in the top-15 in the country last season. They are at 20.3% through the first two games and had six sacks against Utah State. They are loaded with athletes who are capable of making plays.
They were 33rd on 3rd down last season and have only allowed UTSA and Utah State to convert 24.1% of their attempts in the first two weeks. With Elko at A&M as DC, his defenses were outstanding on 3rd down. Their worst finish was 24th.
Elko has always done a great with his sub-packages when it comes to pressure and confusing quarterbacks with different looks. Even with their secondary not being as good as they wanted it to be last season, they were still very good at getting off the field on 1st down.
Potential Weaknesses
They finished 105th in PFF’s tackling grades and 98th in coverage grade despite three high picks up front and solid linebacker play.
The tackling was a serious issue against Notre Dame last season. They had 18 missed tackles against the Irish. Jeremiyah Love had 10 missed tackles forced on 14 carries. Jadarian Price had six missed tackles forced on eight carries.
Tackling was particularly bad at the safety position. Brooks, Anderson, and Ratcliffe missed a combined 39 tackles last season. Anderson and Ratcliffe have already combined for six missed tackles this season and the team had 19 missed tackles in week one.
UTSA rushed for 211 against them (6.6 YPC). That included a 75-yard run to Robert Henry Jr. Even without that run, he had 15 other carries for 102 yards. Yes, it’s early, but they are 111th in EPA per rush in the first two games (51st last season).
Big plays were a huge issue for them. They had the boom from the havoc, but had far too many busts. They were 92nd in plays of 20+ yards from scrimmage allowed last season, 86th in 20+ yard runs, and 82nd in 20+ yard passing plays.
They’ve given up eight plays of 20+ yards in the first two games. Some of that was in garbage time, but UTSA had four explosive runs against them.
Personnel notes
#9 Edge Cashius Howell
- 6-2 248
- Bowling Green transfer
- Performed well against the best competition he faced in the MAC
- led the MAC in sacks in ‘23
- 2nd best pass rush win rate in the MAC vs true pass sets
- great SEC debut
- impact pass rusher, 34 pressures in ‘24
- 5 tackles, sack, and INT in bowl game vs USC (only start of the season)
- top-5 pass rush grade for Power 4 edge rushers
- one of the better edge rushers ND will see this season
- 17.5 havoc plays in ‘24
- 11th ranked SR edge by Dane Brugler
- 13.5 Sacks, 80 QB Pressures, 21.9% Win Rate, 92.3 Pass Rush Grade since ‘23
- 3 sacks on 3 consecutive plays vs Utah St
- 27.6% win rate vs true pass sets in ‘24
- 8 penalties last season
- 8 pressures in first two games
- much better vs pass than run, can run at him
- 26.5% pass rush win rate in first two games
- able to win in variety of ways, versatile rusher
#18 Edge TJ Searcy
- 6-5 255
- Florida transfer
- three games (Miami, Kentucky, and Ole Miss) with three pressures
- zero or only one pressure in every other game in ‘24
- 5 starts in 24 games at UF
- 6 havoc plays last season
- starter, hasn’t flashed so far at A&M
#50 Edge Dayon Hayes
- 6-3 264
- started out at Pitt, Colorado transfer
- 6th year player
- was one of the best pass rushers in ACC at Pitt, 44 pressures in ‘23
- 20% win rate vs TPS in ‘23
- 3 pressures vs ND that season
- injury led him to redshirt in ‘24
- five pressures and 3.5 tackles for loss in four games
- very good at Pitt, 15.5 havoc plays previous two seasons
- NFL traits, wins with twitch
- convert speed to power with a good bull rush
- 2 pressures in first two games
#15 Edge Rylan Kennedy
- 6-3 239
- 36 snaps as a freshman in ‘23
- elite high jump for an edge prospect in HS
- started bowl game vs USC
- sack vs UTSA
- 239 snaps last season
- not built for every down, but good situational pass rusher
#10 Edge Marco Jones
- 6-5 258
- true freshman
- explosive first step quickness
- play off the ball and off the edge in HS
- one of my fave edge rusher prospects from ‘25 cycle
- 80.4 inch wingspan
- great baseball player in HS
- sack vs Utah St, 3 total pressures as a reserve
- reactive athlete, has special potential
#30 Edge Solomon Williams
- 6-1 250
- super twitchy
- 1.5 TFLs vs USC in bowl game
#92 Edge Sam M’Pemba
- 6-3 252
- UGA transfer
- flashed elite traits at IMG Academy in HS
- physically impressive, jacked physique
- only 77 snaps in two years at UGA
- 4.5 short shuttle, 7.3 three-cone in HS
- strip sack vs Utah St -
2023 ISD Fab 50
#11 DT Tyler Onyedim
- 6-3 295
- Iowa St transfer
- 3Tech at A&M, experience in multiple alignments
- 43 pressures last two season in Big 12
- 21 starts at Iowa St
- 76 snaps leads all DTs for them through two games
- not offered much vs pass in first two games
- good POA run defender
#17 DT Albert Regis
- 6-1 317
- returning starter
- Active, good motor
- solid run defender, but offers only a little as pass rusher
- can push the pocket, six passes batted down in ‘24
- 8th ranked senior DT by Dane Brugler
#5 DT DJ Hicks
- 6-3 295
- started in the bowl game after opt-outs
- elite discus thrower in high school
- 156 snaps as a freshman in ‘23
- played more outside, moved to DT
- high potential, great lateral quickness
- started bowl game vs USC
- only 5 pressures last season, 4 in first two games
- 2023 ISD Fab 50
#55 DT Dealyn Evans
- 6-5 310
- elite shot and discus throws
- top notch athlete at his size
- 80-inch wingspan
- 3 pressures in first two games
#99 DT Landon Rink
- 6-2 294
- true frosh
- nose tackle
- power lifter
- benched 225 23 times, squat 315 24 times in HS
- 24 snaps as backup in week 1 and 2
#88 DT DJ Sanders
- 6-3 315
- true frosh
- all-district basketball player in HS
- garbage time reps in first two games
#21 LB Taurean York
- 5-10 227
- started as a true freshman in ‘23, freshman All-American
- team captain
- 74 tackles, 9.5 havoc plays in ‘23
- 14.5 havoc plays in ‘24, led A&M in tackles
- reliable tackler, 9.1% missed tackle rate for someone consistently 1st to football
- instinctive, smart vs inside run
- disciplined in his drops in coverage
- led all Power 4 LBs with 59 run-defense stops since 2023
- whiffed on Jadarian Price TD run vs ND last year
- pancaked by ND WR Jayden Thomas on QB sweep last year
- 9th ranked underclassmen LB by Dane Brugler
- 3rd team All-SEC in preseason
- 21 pressures last season, very effective blitzer
- 1st in PFF’s pass rush productivity metric for P4 LBs with 40+ pass rush opportunities
- 2 missed tackles vs UTSA, first time with multiple since early in freshman season
#0 LB Scooby Williams
- 6-2 230
- Florida transfer
- 3rd leading tackler for UF in ‘23
- graded out as 5th worst Power 5 LB by PFF that season
- played for DC Jay Bateman at Florida
- significantly improved in ‘24, 12.5 havoc plays
- 6th ranked SR LB by Dane Brugler
- 3.5 havoc plays in first two games
#54 LB Jordan Lockhart
- 6-1 229
- 61 snaps in 2024
- former teammate of KVA at St. John Bosco
- 1.5 TFLs in first two games, 49 snaps
- good athlete
#27 LB Daymion Sanford
- 6-2 222
- played mostly on ST as a true freshman
- 21 snaps on defense in ‘23
- great 110 hurdles time in HS for LB
- 64.1 passer rating when targeted in coverage in ‘24
- 317 snaps last season
- shows explosiveness as a blitzer
#7 CB/Nickel Tyreek Chappell
- 5-11 180
- multi-year starter playing field corner, moved to nickel last year
- 8.5 havoc plays in ‘23
- only allowed a reception of 10+ yards on every 69.3 snaps, 2nd best in SEC
- finds the football. 28 career passes defended
- smart player, rarely gets beat over the top
- TFL vs ND last year
- missed most of ‘24 season, absence was notable
- 2.5 havoc plays in first two games
#4 CB Will Lee
- 6-1 189
- Kansas State transfer, previously at JC
- JC All-American at Iowa Western
- only allowed a 46.7 passer rating in man coverage in ‘23
- good tackler at KSU, one of lowest PFF run defense grades for P4 CBs at A&M
- their best outside CB, 10 PBUs and 2 INTs last season
- long and mirrors well
- good jam, opens up well on vertical routes
- very competitive at the catch point
- will get grabby if he guesses wrong
- beat inside often
- top ranked SR CB by Dane Brugler
- 2nd team All-SEC last season and in preseason
- allowed 6 catches on 7 targets vs ND, beat on back shoulder for 20 by Beaux Collins
- beat on a double move for 24 yards vs Utah St
#14 CB Jayvon Thomas
- 5-11 196
- started vs Ole Miss as true freshman
- gave up 5 completions on 5 targets, 91 yards
- 185 snaps
- allowed 76.5% completions, 157.1 passer rating, 20.4 per catch in ‘23
- 4 starts last season, lost starting job
- 15.6 per reception in ‘24
- allowed 3 catches on 3 targets for 75 yards in first two games
#2 CB Dezz Ricks
- 6-1 188
- Alabama transfer
- elite traits and testing. 4.5 40 and 39 vert
- long strider
- 2023 ISD Fab 50
- 9 starts for A&M last season, TFL vs ND
- only 4 total havoc plays in ‘24
- not allowed a reception yet this season
- cooked multiple times vs Auburn last season, 4 for 198
- 19.2 per reception allowed last season
#6 CB Julio Humphrey
- 6-1 195
- UGA transfer, started 10 games last season
- quit on the team last season after getting benched, skipped out on SEC Champ game
- allowed 16.0 yards per reception last season, 122.5 NFL passer rating
- little ball production, 4 PBUs
- struggled as a tackler
- fastest man at The Opening Finals, 4.38 40
- 10.55 100m, 21.17 200m in HS
- backup with 54 snaps in first two games, only targeted once
#8 CB Jordan Shaw
- 5-11 182
- started out at Indiana, transferred to Washington
- starting nickel for UW, 10 havoc plays in ‘24
- 11 career starts
- missed first two games with lower body injury
#19 Nickel Bravion Rogers
- 5-11 188
- moved to the nickel from playing outside corner
- 10.69 100m, elite high jump in HS
- allowed 19.3 per catch on eight catches in ‘23
- backup nickel
- only 170 total snaps in his career
#1 S Bryce Anderson
- 5-10 186
- played nickel previously, started 11 games last season
- 55 tackles, 13 havoc plays from that spot
- HS QB
- elite athlete with man cover skills
- 10.48 100m in high school
- Inconsistent tackler, 25% missed tackle percentage in ‘23
- led the team in missed tackles that season
- 3rd highest missed tackle percentage for P4 safeties in ‘24
- 5.5 havoc plays last season
- 1,392 career snaps
- tacking continues to be an issue, already 4 missed tackles
#3 S Marcus Ratcliffe
- 6-3 209
- San Diego State transfer
- 11 starts at true freshman in ‘23
- had rough games vs UCLA, Oregon St, and Boise St
- 5 missed tackles vs Boise
- returning starter
- 3rd leading tackler for A&M in ‘24
- aggressive downhill, but missed 3 tackles vs ND
- 7.5 havoc plays in ‘24
- 3 havoc plays in first two games
#25 S Dalton Brooks
- 6-0 195
- bowl game interception in ‘23
- had worked at nickel previously
- struggled tackling as a freshman
- elite long jumper in HS
- 170 snaps as a true freshman
- struggled tackling in space, takes poor angles
- 2nd leading tackler in ‘24
- 7.5 havoc plays last season
- missed UTSA game, likely suspension for offseason arrest
- ejected during 1st series vs ND for targeting on Riley Leonard
#33 S Jarred Kerr
- 5-11 190
- 5 starts in ‘22 and ‘23
- depth player
- elite long jumper in HS, 11.09 100m
#29 Myles Davis
- 6-1 196
- 52 snaps in 2024 as true frosh
- 11.2 100m, 22.24 200m in HS
- dynamic special teams player in HS
Key for Notre Dame
Get back to their identity on offense
Yes, the Irish want to be more dynamic with their passing game and they have more options to do so. Everything has to start with getting back to their identity on offense, though.
That’s running the football and playing physical up front. They need to get back to running Duo and simply getting downhill. It’s probably a good idea to test Texas A&M’s front with the new personnel there and they need to force those safeties to come up and tackle.
Notre Dame has backs who are tougher to tackle than any in the country. They need to force A&M to tackle them as much as possible.
Special Teams
Texas A&M is ranked 24th in SP+ on special teams.
Tyler White has been very good as their punter. He did have one blocked last season, but his punts are rarely returned.
It’s shocking that Randy Bond lost the kicking job after three seasons, but they went with Jared Zirkel. Bond is now handling kickoffs and Elko said that Zirkel won the job by a wide margin. He has only one career field goal attempt in a game before this season and he hasn’t been tested in any kind of pressure situation yet.
Bond attempted a long kick and missed against Utah State.
The return teams have looked good so far for the Aggies and they have dynamic options with Bussey as the main kick returner and Concepcion returning punts. He already took one back to the house in the first week of the season. Bussey averaged 24.1 per return last season and his average is 32.7 in the first two games.
Morrow is also an option there and he had a 30-yard return this season.
#99 K Jared Zirkel
- 6-2 194
- previously at UGA
- won the kicking job, 1 for 1 from 37 yards this season
- 11 of 12 XPs
- was the kickoff guy at UGA, 65% touchbacks in ‘23
- 63.8% touchbacks on kickoffs last season
#47 K Randy Bond
- 5-11 195
- all-district soccer player in HS
- 49% touchbacks in ‘23
- 74.3% field goals in ‘23, 13 of 17 in ‘22
- 20 of 24 83.3% on FGs in ‘24
- big leg, long of 55 last season
- 11 of 14 touchbacks on kickoffs through two games
- missed a FG vs Utah St, 0 for 1 on season
#37 P Tyler White
- 6-3 225
- was top ranked punter in the country as a recruit
- also played baseball in HS
- All-SEC frosh team in ‘24
- 43.2 per punt in first two games
- 44.9 per punt last season
- 42.0 net was 16th in the country
- great hang time, very few punts returned
- only 6.5% of punts returned last season, 3rd in the country
- 4.26 seconds hang time was 4th
- only 1 of 9 punts returned this season
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