Updated 2024 Texas A&M Offensive Depth Chart Projection: Change At QB?
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The Texas A&M Aggies are making changes headed into a new era of SEC football.
Jimbo Fisher's time in College Station was met with grand-standing of highs and lows. There were bright spots sprinkled in the darkness that was the final three years which eventually led to boosters paying $76 million to cut the chord on the era that had no light at the end of the road.
A new version of A&M football resides under first-year coach Mike Elko. He's beloved by fans for his defensive dominance from 20018-2021 and already understands what it takes to win at a place like Kyle Field.
What other changes are coming in 2024? The roster was overhauled by transfers and departures for the NFL. And for every name gone, another stands in their place, looking to become a fixture of the program moving forward.
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A&M's offense, led by new coordinator Collin Klien, has some cohesion. The quarterback could be an open competition with the new staff, but two passers have multiple games of starting experience. The receiving room isn't barren, but someone must step up as the consistent playmaker across the middle.
What about tight end? Who comes in to take over as Max Wright's heir? Will the offensive line take a step forward under Adam Cushing? Even then, do the moves made transform A&M into an SEC dark horse to make it to Atlanta?
What about the front-runner to win the whole damn thing.
Things will change before kickoff against Notre Dame on Aug. 31 at Kyle Field, but here's the updated offensive depth chart following the first wave of the transfer portal.
Note:
* - denotes transfer
bold - denotes returning starter
italics - denotes recruit
QUARTERBACK: Conner Weigman, Jaylen Henderson, Marcel Reed, Miles O'Neill
Weigman could have broken program records in 2023 with new offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino, but a foot injury suffered in Week 4's win over Auburn sidelined him for the remainder of the regular season. After Max Johnson suffered a set of broken ribs in a loss to Ole Miss, Fisher turned to Henderson to finish the season.
Henderson ended up lasting longer than Fisher, who was fired a day after a 51-10 win over Mississippi State. For the most part, the Fresno State product brought intrigue to the offense thanks to his mobility and scrambling behind the line of scrimmage.
Klein's offense features play-design packages with quarterback runs and options. Henderson fits the style better, but Weigman might be the more impressive player. Elko didn't recruit either passer, so it could be an open battle entering spring practice between the two.
When on point, Weigman can be prolific and a surgeon working the middle of the field with each pass. Will he remain that with Klein running the offense? Reed should battle for QB2 reps after a strong showing in the Texas Bowl.
O'Neill, who was named the New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year, will enroll this summer.
RUNNING BACK: Le'Veon Moss, Amari Daniels, Rueben Owens, EJ Smith*
Moss and Daniels split first-team reps throughout the regular season. Moss offers more speed and versatility in the passing game. Daniels fights for the hard yards and presses forward. Both should remain fixtures entering 2024.
Owens' role will likely expand with another offseason of workouts. Talent-wise, few in the 2023 recruiting class can touch Owens' potential as an open-field runner. Smith, the son of Hall of Fame tailback Emmit Smith, will offer red zone value and could be effective on special teams.
TIGHT END: Donovan Green, Garrett Miller*, Tre Watson*, Jaden Platt, Theo Melin Öhrström, Eric Karner
Green was expected to start in 2023, but a torn ACL suffered in August sidelined him before the season began. As a freshman, Green became a security blanket on offense, totaling 22 catches for 233 yards and two scores.
Miller and Watson started last season at Purdue and Fresno State, respectively. Watson initially committed to Washington, but after Kalen DeBoer was announced as Alabama's next coach, he chose to reopen his commitment. Miller, meanwhile, averaged 8.1 yards per catch and scored two touchdowns with the Boilermakers amid a 4-8 regular season.
Platt caught a touchdown against ACU in the home finale and was impactful on special teams. Melin Öhrström should remain a fixture on kickoff returns and punts. Karner, a three-star recruit from Illinois, will enroll later this summer and could be a redshirt candidate.
RECEIVER: Noah Thomas, Moose Muhammad III, Jahdae Walker, Micah Tease, Cyrus Allen*, Jabre Barber*, Wesley Watson*, Izaiah Williams, Ernest Campbell
Evan Stewart is off to Oregon and Ainias Smith is off to the NFL. That doesn't mean the Aggies are bare at receiver. Unproven? In a sense, yes. Untapped? Without question.
Muhammad should take over as the starting slot receiver permanently under Klein's play-calling and remain a staple of the passing game unlike in the previous regime. Thomas' 6-6 frame will help him emerge as a legit No. 1 target. Walker, a transfer from Grand Valley State, led the Aggies with three 100-yard receiving games in place of an injured Stewart.
Barber was three yards shy of hitting the 1,000-yard marker with Troy last season, and finished with a team-leading 75 catches. Allen had similar numbers to former Bulldogs' standout Tre Harris in his final season in Ruston. He since has gone on to become a legit No. 1 target in Ole Miss' offense.
Williams and Campbell are known for their speed and should provide a vertical element in spurts. Williams was set to become a top target at Florida, but flipped his commitment at the last second to join Elko in College Station. A few extra practices in spring ball could lead to expanded reps by the start of the regular season.
OFFENSIVE LINE: Trey Zuhn, Mark Nabou, Kam Dewberry, Bryce Foster, Chase Bisontis, Dametrious Crownover, Reuben Fatheree II, Ar'maj Reed-Adams*, Derrick Graham*, Dorian Hinton*, Hunter Erb, Ashton Funk, Blake Ivy, Isendre Ahfua,
Everyone besides Layden Robinson is back for 2024. Does that mean the same four linemen will remain starters? Not necessarily.
The Aggies have a good problem on their hands for Cushing to correct. Fatheree was expected to start, but a preseason injury sidelined him for most of the year and opened the door for Bisontis to start. He's perhaps better suited inside at guard following mixed play on the edge.
Foster started on and off the past three seasons and could be replaced by Nabou, who's rotated between starting at left guard and center. Dewberry split reps with Nabou and is a natural interior lineman. Plus with the additions of Graham, Reed-Adams, and Hinton — all of whom started at least one year at their respective school — it's a best-man mantra.
After woeful quarterback play in the previous three seasons due to lackluster offensive line mechanics, that's the way it has to be. Whoever wins the starting job likely fought to the finish line through spring practice. Expect at least one change to the starting five from a season ago.
