TEXAS A&M AGGIES 

2023 finish: 7-6, Texas Bowl 
Off. PPG: 33.3 (25th in FBS) 
Def. PPG: 22.1 (36th) 
Key losses: WR Ainias Smith, WR Evan Stewart, LB Edgerrin Cooper, DL Walter Nolen, DL McKinley Jackson, DB Demani Richardson 
New faces: 17 signees, 23 transfers 
Top additions: Edge Nic Scourton (Purdue), WR Cyrus Allen (La Tech), CB Will Lee III (Kansas State), CB Dezz Ricks (Alabama), CB Terry Bussey (Timpson)

OFFENSIVE OVERVIEW 

Texas A&M scored 33.3 points a game in 2023 despite dealing with injuries at the quarterback position, which caused the Aggies to play four different quarterbacks, and inconsistent offensive line. Weigman, the opening day starter, lasted four games. Max Johnson made it through eight. Jaylen Henderson and Marcel Reed were leaned on late in the season. The best news for the Aggies is the return of Weigman, a former five-star talent who could shine if kept upright. That job falls to new offensive coordinator Collin Klein. 

Weigman won’t be without weapons even though star wide receiver Stewart bolted to Oregon after the coaching change. The trio of Thomas, Muhammad, and Walker was bolstered with the addition of Cyrus Allen from La Tech. The tight end position gets a healthy Donovan Green back in the lineup. The offensive line returns most of its best players and should take a step forward with improved coaching and better luck on the injury front. 

Breakout candidates

RB Rueben Owens – A new offensive coordinator might give the former five-star from El Campo a jolt. He’s a weapon in the run and pass game for a play caller with creativity. Owens ran for 406 yards and three touchdowns, while adding 12 catches and returning kicks. His role should grow in 2024. 

WR Micah Tease – The Oklahoma native caught two passes for 19 yards and participated in nine games, mostly on special teams, as a true freshman for Texas A&M. He was electric with the ball in his hands as a four-star prep product.

OL Dametrious Crownover – Most are penciling in two of the Zuhn, Fatheree, Bisontis trio to lock down starting spots at offensive tackle, but don’t count out Crownover. He’s an athletic lineman who graded out better on PFF than most Aggies in 2023. 

Key unit 

Offensive line – Texas A&M became known for producing offensive line talent for the NFL draft last decade, but the well began to dry late in the Jimbo Fisher tenure. The Aggies were forced to start multiple quarterbacks in each of the last few seasons because the offensive line couldn’t protect. The 2.31 sacks allowed per game last year ranked 89th nationally. The run game averaged fewer than four yards an attempt. 

Biggest question mark 

What does the offense look like? – Moving from a hybrid Fisher-Bobby Petrino offense to Klein, who came over from Kansas State, is a big change. He used the quarterback run game a lot with the Wildcats, but that doesn’t suit Weigman and the offense, at least on paper. Weigman can move around, but he’s a bigger weapon as a passer and the Aggies possess talented wide receivers. 

DEFENSIVE OVERVIEW 

Breakout candidates 

DL DJ Hicks – The former five-star recruit from Katy Paetow recorded 13 tackles, including two for loss and one sack, in his first season at Texas A&M. Hicks could become a starter as a sophomore due to the losses up front to the portal like Nolen. 

DE Malick Sylla – Texas A&M brought in Scourton and Cashius Howell to help with the pass rush, but Sylla could still be a major factor for the Wrecking Crew off the edge. The Katy product registered two tackles for loss and a sack in 2023. 

DB Dalton Brooks – Brooks is another former highly-rated recruit whose waited his turn behind the elder statesmen in Aggieland and is ready to be unleashed. He’ll need to compete with a few transfers for a starting spot, but he’ll play a lot regardless. 

Key unit 

Secondary – Elko inherited a defense that was low on defensive back numbers after a substandard year as a pass defense. Texas A&M allowed an FBS-best 156.2 yards passing in 2022. That number grew to 207.4 in 2023. The new staff signed three defensive backs in the 2024 recruiting class, including five-star Bussey, and signed eight secondary players in the portal. 

Biggest question mark 

Chemistry – Texas A&M brought in more than 40 new faces through the portal and the 2024 recruiting class, and a lot of those players want to contribute right away defensively. A new staff plus that many new players could create some chemistry issues, especially early in the season. Can Elko and the defense get on the same page with dozens of new faces by September? They’ll need to because the Aggies open the season at home to Notre Dame.