2018 Texas A&M Offense Preview

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Kevin Sumlin’s offense produced a Heisman Trophy winner.

But, so did Jimbo Fisher’s offense at Florida State. The Aggies are going from one to the other and living out the reality of multiple manners in feline skinning.

Fisher’s offense will lean more toward the traditional, with I-formations, fullbacks and tight ends, and won’t thrust into hyperspeed as often as what A&M became accustomed to under Sumlin. Task No. 1 will be finding a quarterback. Nick Starkel’s traditional skill set, buoyed by superior accuracy, makes him the most likely candidate to win the quarterback job, but the competition between him and fellow sophomore Kellen Mond will continue into preseason camp. Fisher, known for his prowess as a quarterback development guru, finds himself repeating everything early on when he’s trying to draw out the potential in both.

“They haven’t heard it enough and I joke about that, but that’s the truth,” Fisher said. “Don’t forget simple. Simple execution wins. Remember the rules and let them hear you say it a zillion times, every day, so when it happens, just naturally, they can hear your voice in the background pop up.

“It’s just like your parents. You hear something 1,000 times and you never pay attention and then all of a sudden, you get older and you remember, well, Mom said that back then. They’ve got to hear it until it becomes a habit for them.”

Fisher’s offense hangs plenty of weight on the quarterback’s shoulders but might lean more on the running game in year one. It has a bona fide star in Trayveon Williams, who ran for 798 yards a year ago while splitting carries with Keith Ford.

Christian Kirk leaves a giant hole at receiver and in the return game, but Jhamon Ausbon returns after catching 50 balls for 571 yards and three scores as a freshman in 2017. Tight end Jace Sternberger should make the biggest impact on offense among the newcomers in this year’s recruiting class. Kendrick Rogers and Camron Buckley could also find themselves in larger roles in the new offense.

Up front, tackle Koda Martin transferred to Syracuse in April, but he’ll be the lone starter and who won’t return.

 

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