Offense: The biggest buzz surrounds QB Kyler Murray, a dual threat who led Allen to three state titles while posting a 43-0 record as a starting quarterback. But with A&M returning its starting QB from last season (Kyle Allen), the biggest immediate impact likely will come from WR Christian Kirk, a five-star signee who enrolled in January and will take part in spring drills. WR Damion Ratley, a JC transfer, also could contribute quickly. A&M scored very well in the OL (Keaton Sutherland, Connor Lanfear, Trevor Elbert) and added a kicker (Daniel LaCamera) to replace the departed Josh Lambo.
Defense: A unit that allowed an SEC-high 216 rushing yards per game last season, ranking 109th nationally in run defense, landed two upsized run-stuffers in DTs Daylon Mack (6-foot-2, 322 pounds) and Kingsley Keke (6-3, 300). A&M’s talented group of linebackers includes Richard Moore (6-1, 210), a Cedar Hill product who will take part in spring drills. DE James Lockhart, a four-star signee, should bolster a pass rush that needs more playmakers to accompany DE Myles Garrett, a 2014 freshman All-American from Arlington Martin. A&M replenished nicely in the secondary, a spot where several seniors contributed last season.
Immediate impact: WR Christian Kirk. The Aggies’ lone Rivals five-star signee will take part in spring drills and plays a position that will not require a steep learning curve heading into the 2015 season. The graduation of Malcolme Kennedy, who led the Aggies in receptions (53) last season, creates an immediate void in A&M’s receiver rotation that Kirk could fill.
Name | Pos. | School |
Jay Bradford | RB | Splendora |
Kendall Bussey | RB | New Orleans (La.) Newman |
Deshawn Capers-Smith | DB | New Orleans Easton |
Jordan Davis | TE | Houston Clear Lake |
Justin Dunning | DB | Whitehouse |
Landis Durham | LB | Plano East |
Roney Elam | DB | Newton |
Trevor Elbert | OL | Rockwall Heath |
Justin Evans | DB | Gulf Coast (Miss.) CC |
Riley Garner | LB | College Station A&M Consolidated |
Claude George | LB | Hutchinson (Kan.) CC |
Kingsley Keke | DT | Richmond George Ranch |
Christian Kirk | WR | Scottsdale (Ariz.) Saguaro |
Daniel LaCamera | K | Tarpon Springs (Fla.) East Lake |
Connor Lanfear | OL | Buda Hays |
James Lockhart | DE | Ennis |
Daylon Mack | DT | Gladewater |
Erik McCoy | OL | Lufkin |
Richard Moore | LB | Cedar Hill |
Kyler Murray | QB | Allen |
Larry Pryor | DB | Sulphur Springs |
Damion Ratley | WR | Blinn CC |
Kemah Siverand | WR | Houston Cypress Ridge |
Keaton Sutherland | OL | Flower Mound Marcus |
Dwaine Thomas | DE | Boutte (La.) Hahnville |
This story was originally published February 04, 2015 11:38 AM.