Texas A&M Uses QB Decoy in Warmups Ahead of Matchup with Mississippi State

Editors’ note, Nov. 11, 7:44 p.m. ET: This story has been updated to reflect Texas A&M athletic director Ross Bjork’s explanation of the Aggies’ quarterback mixup during warmups.

Texas A&M is expected to start quarterback Jaylen Henderson on Saturday against Mississippi State, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, but that didn’t stop the Aggies from using a quarterback decoy in warmups.

Max Johnson, who has led the Aggies since Conner Weigman was lost for the season in September, injured his ribs in the loss to Ole Miss last Saturday.

Johnson was limited in practice this week, and it wasn’t clear if he would ultimately suit up on Saturday. As such, Aggies coach Jimbo Fisher appeared to send out a decoy in warmups wearing Johnson’s number on a t-shirt jersey as A&M attempted to fool the Bulldogs into thinking Johnson would play.

There is a player on the field in No. 14 for Texas A&M who is throwing left handed, but consensus in the press box is that is not QB Max Johnson. Decoy?

Wearing a hat and everything. pic.twitter.com/tnoMCHVm1C
— 𝕋𝕣𝕒𝕧𝕚𝕤 𝕃. 𝔹𝕣𝕠𝕨𝕟 (@Travis_L_Brown) November 11, 2023

That is most certainly not Texas A&M QB Max Johnson throwing left handed during warmups in a hat and a No. 14 shirt. Only player on the field wearing a hat.

Photo by @MeredithSeaver pic.twitter.com/zmbS1hMHoT
— 𝕋𝕣𝕒𝕧𝕚𝕤 𝕃. 𝔹𝕣𝕠𝕨𝕟 (@Travis_L_Brown) November 11, 2023

The Aggies are 5–4 on the season amidst plenty of issues on both sides of the football, but that wasn’t going to stop Fisher from appearing to pull a fast one in a conference game he absolutely has to have to hold onto whatever job security he has left.

For what it’s worth, Texas A&M athletic director Ross Bjork denied any sort of funny business when asked by Travis Brown about the situation before kickoff. Backup quarterback Blake Bost couldn’t find his warmup top, so Johnson lent him his since he wasn’t playing today, Bjork says.

Official word on this from @RossBjorkAD: Backup QB Blake Bost couldn't find his warmup top. His locker is next to Max Johnson's. Being a good teammate, Johnson let him use his top, since he wasn't playing today. No gamesmanship, Bjork said, just a lost warm up top. https://t.co/i906bIQ7nB
— 𝕋𝕣𝕒𝕧𝕚𝕤 𝕃. 𝔹𝕣𝕠𝕨𝕟 (@Travis_L_Brown) November 12, 2023

Ultimately, it will be Henderson under center for the Aggies, who is making his first collegiate start after transferring from Fresno State. The redshirt sophomore has one carry for seven yards this season for Texas A&M, and threw eight passes across two seasons at Fresno State prior to transferring.

The Aggies and Bulldogs kickoff at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

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