Texas A&M Aggies TE Max Wright 'Looking Ahead' To Second Half Success
Max Wright knows change could be a good thing. It's kept his career thriving during his stay at Texas A&M.
Coming out of Katy Taylor outside of Houston, Wright was initially recruited to attack the quarterback at defensive end rather than protect him at tight end. A neck injury in 2019 against Clemson however led to a choice: potentially medically retire, or switch positions.
Naturally, Wright chose the latter and the rest is history, but it could serve as a message for the Aggies coming off their bye week — everything happens for a reason, but how you respond holds the key.
“We all kind of rallied together over the bye week,” Wright said Monday during the Aggies' media session. “We came together and said, ‘Listen, all this stuff that’s happened isn’t other teams beating us or not doing the right things offensive play calling-wise. It’s us finding ways to beat ourselves.’ That’s the truth of it."
The Aggies, well-rested but still tasting defeat after back-to-back losses against ranked opponents, will have a chance to right the ship Saturday at 11 a.m. when South Carolina rolls into town. The Gamecocks are an Aggies' clone when playing away from Williams-Brice Stadium, currently sitting at 0-3 in road games this season.
A&M (4-3, 2-2 SEC) knows a thing or two about losing on the road, dating back to before the Gamecocks (2-5, 1-3 SEC) surged back in the fourth quarter to pick up the 31-24 win in Columbia—another game where the Aggies shot themselves in the foot.
There's a case in which No. 9 Alabama and No. 21 Tennessee were talented programs that hit their strides at the right time when taking on A&M. There's also the sense that the Aggies self-imploded with inept play-calling and lackluster execution that play as big of a role in the loss.
“We’ve been in every single one of those games, and we probably should have won every single one of those games if you go back and look at it," Wright said. "We feel that way, and it gives us a sense of confidence to where we know if we execute, we can go out and win.”
Texas A&M Aggies tight end Max Wright (42) makes a reception as Louisiana Monroe Warhawks linebacker Travor Randle (4) defends during the first quarter at Kyle Field.
© Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
For A&M to have any chance of representing the SEC West in Atlanta, there would need to be self-implosion. Big-time mishaps and crazy scenarios throughout the division would have to occur, not to mention the Aggies must continue to win. That last part is easier said than done, with games against No. 12 Ole Miss and No. 15 LSU still ahead.
Wright says there's still plenty on the line for the Aggies. Under Jimbo Fisher, A&M has yet to post a double-digit winning season. Wright hopes to change that with an undefeated record for the second half.
“There’s a bit more of a sense that this year is not going to be what happened last season. We know we can win out and go 9-3 and then go to a bowl game and finish up with 10 wins on the year.”
Maybe 10 wins is far-fetched, especially with their road game woes lingering with trips to Oxford and Baton Rouge on the radar. Anything, however, is possible in the SEC it seems this fall, but it only happens one win at a time.
"You’ve got to be critical of yourself, and critical of everything else," said Fisher. "But also not panic, and understand what’s going on.”
