© Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports
Aggies See Growth In 'Other Weapons' During Spring Game
COLLEGE STATION -- Jimbo Fisher knows that conversation around his offense starts with the quarterback position and for good reason.
Conner Weigman might be why Texas A&M returns to top status in the SEC. Of course, Max Johnson might have something to say about that if given a chance.
Fisher, who enters his sixth season in College Station, knows every successful quarterback only becomes a star with a great supporting cast. After Saturday's spring game, Fisher said the unit could be looking for an ace in the hole via the transfer portal.
"We could still add a little more depth," Fisher said Saturday following A&M's annual Maroon and White game. "Hopefully we can find a couple of guys in the portal to get into that rotation and be able to play. That comes up in all positions. You need them across the board."
Fisher might be looking for a piece or two to elevate the Aggies' offense, but from a depth standpoint, things could be worse. The usual names like tight end Donovan Green and receivers Ainias Smith and Moose Muhammud III weren't the standouts on a 65-yard field since the south side of Kyle Field is under renovation.
Instead, fans heard names like Fernando Garza III, Micah Tease, Piece Turner, Earnest Crownover and Raymond Cottrell — the "other" faces of A&M's arsenal.
Garza, a redshirt sophomore, totaled four catches for 51 yards and scored on a 2-yard touchdown pass from Johnson in the closing minutes of the first half. Crownover bounced his way between defenders to score a 6-yard TD at the start of the third quarter. Turner, a redshirt freshman from Austin, caught a 22-yard TD from Weigman midway through the fourth.
Tease could end up being the best of the bunch. A former Arkansas recruit who switched his commitment to the Aggies just before Early Signing Period, Tease switched up his routes on the maroon cornerback during the white team's opening drive to haul in a 52-yard touchdown pass from Johnson.
Fisher said he was pleased with Tease and Cottrell's growth throughout the spring and mentioned that Cottrell likely would have had a bigger performance if not for a "ding" toward his hip.
"They're physical," Fisher said. "They're willing to block and do things. They're going to be special teams players. Those guys have really come on, in my opinion, and surged."
Tease enrolled early to get a jump start on his college career. Smith, who elected to return for a fifth season, said Tease often meets with the veterans following practice to break down film.
Smith told Tease to "play his heart out" and treat practice like a game. There's a role to be had for Tease somewhere on Saturdays. Perhaps special teams? With the departure of running back and return man Devon Achane, the Aggies will need a new kickoff specialist.
On Saturday, Tease also broke past a slew of maroon jerseys on the kickoff to run it back for what would have been a touchdown on a full field.
"The tenacity that he brings to want to learn inside the meeting rooms is very impressive to me," Smith said. "Both him and Ray. They come in wanting to help the team. With them coming in right now has benefitted them of course to get the eyes on them."
Both Fisher and Smith also pointed out the growth of Noah Thomas, who was named the Aggies' Offensive MVP of spring football. A limited roleplayer as the Aggies' No. 5 receiver, Thomas finished his first season with five catches for 51 yards and two TDs.
Thomas, a 6-6 pass-catcher from Pearland, seemed to carve out a niche role in practice as one of the top weapons in new offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino's package. He likely would have been the maroon team's leading receiver if not for a head injury suffered during the first quarter.
"I hate that we lost No. 3," Fisher said. "Noah Thomas has had a phenomenal spring. It's a shame he got hurt because he was playing his tail off. He's going to be a real weapon. I was wanting everybody to have a chance to see him today. It's a shame he didn't get to play."
Smith echoed similar praise to Thomas, calling him one of the more consistent players in practice.
"He just does everything right," said Smith. "It's hard for a human being to go out and force himself to do everything right every single day ... Noah is somebody that goes out and does his job every single time at full speed, no matter how he's feeling. He's going to go out there and put his heart on the line."
The Aggies return to Kyle Field for their Week 1 opener against New Mexico on Sept. 2.
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