© Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports
All Eyes On Aggies QB Room In Maroon And White Game
Everyone knows where the focus will be Saturday when Texas A&M takes the field for its annual Maroon and White game. And yes, the infatuation with new prospects or up-and-coming starters will draw attention, but it's far from what fans are looking for.
At least when it comes to the critical questions that need answers.
On one side of the field will stand Conner Weigman, A&M's young phenom that lit up the stat sheets during his four starts in 2022. He's been billed to be the next great passer in Aggie football and very well could be the missing link to expanding offensive production.
"I didn't play with Johnny Manziel, but he reminds me of a Johnny Manziel type," senior safety Demani Richardson said of the rising sophomore. "He has swagger to him, and they both talk trash, cool to be off the field with."
On the opposing side will stand Max Johnson, the "other" guy in the race for QB1. At one point, Johnson was the answer to A&M's problems. He posted a 2-1 record in three games and threw three TDs against zero turnovers.
Last offseason, Johnson transferred across the state lines of Louisiana to Texas in hopes of being A&M's top passer. His last throw at LSU was a touchdown pass against A&M. One of his first in an Aggies' uniform came with the same result against Miami.
"Max and Conner are awesome," senior tight end Max Wright said. "Those guys push each other every single day. It's always beneficial when you have two guys who are as selfless as they are in the same program who are always willing to push each other, hoping that the best guy is going to play for the program."
Best guy. That's all sixth-year head coach Jimbo Fisher should be looking for. No stars. No previous production. No fan perspective.
The best guy. That's what A&M needs to find its heartbeat in 2023.
After a woeful 5-7 finish, everything should be on the table for the last-place SEC West program. Sure, neither passer threw an interception during their combined seven starts, but neither did enough to solidify the title of first-string quarterback either.
At least on paper, they didn't.
Even if they answered all the questions, Fisher still is a stickler for suspense. Every year since Kellen Mond's departure to the pros, the A&M coach has waited until the last minute to name a starter.
Both times, it ended up being Haynes King. Both times, King finished the season on the sidelines rather than leading the huddle.
For A&M, finding the right quarterback goes well past production. It's about reputation — primarily Fisher's. Since his days in Baton Rouge, the Aggies coach has been dubbed a "quarterback whisper" for his work with passers. To his credit, he does have a Heisman winner attached to his resume in Jameis Winston.
He's also one of five active coaches with a national title linked to his name.
In today's society, no one cares to speak of past accolades. It's all about the present, and Fisher has failed to develop any of his quarterbacks into game-changers. And yes, before you start with the "Mond was drafted on Day 2" chatter, keep in mind that Kevin Sumlin recruited the San Antonio product back in 2017.
Besides Weigman, everyone else on Fisher's radar has left College Station. James Foster transferred to Charlotte. Zach Calzada left for Auburn and later Incarnate Word. Eli Stowers changed positions before departing for New Mexico State, while King — A&M's highest-graded QB prospect before Weigman — is now at Georgia Tech.
A swing and miss for Fisher. Is another on the way?
It's not just Fisher feeling the heat. Offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino is known for his quarterback development. Unlike Fisher, Petrino is versatile with his style of a passer.
One year it's a pocket-steady name like Tyler Wilson or Ryan Mallett. The next? A Heisman-winning dual-threat machine that goes by Lamar Jackson. And while the style of the passer changes, the production doesn't.
During his time with both Louisville and Arkansas, Petrino orchestrated seven top-15 scoring offenses. Last season A&M ranked 101st.
"Coach Petrino puts a lot of his quarterbacks and talks them through a lot of things, especially some things inside this offense," said Wright. "Having to know different motions and different cadences ... these guys have taken it in stride."
Combined, the two coaches have over 50 years of knowledge working the position. That has to mean something at the end of all things, right? After all, some people call them gurus.
Does the term work if the same problems reside a season later?
From a talent perspective, A&M can win now. The Aggies are coming off of another top-15 recruiting cycle and look poised to be a more cohesive program thanks to a more mature offensive line and receiving corps. Defensively, A&M still has Richardson, defensive lineman McKinnley Jackson, linebacker Edgerrin Cooper and a cast of prospects from the No. 1 recruiting class of 2022.
Still, none of it matters without a stable option at quarterback. One that can win early and keep the streak alive past the matchup with Miami in Week 2.
Or past a showdown in Arlington against Arkansas in Week 4.
And certainly past a matchup at home against Auburn in Week 5.
It's all leading up to a rematch against Alabama in College Station. Everyone in Aggieland remembers what happened the last time Nick Saban rolled into town.
A 5-0 start likely gives A&M contention status in the SEC. It could even give the program a seat at the table in the College Football Playoff hunt.
But it all starts at the game's most important position. And while fans won't learn everything from a half-field outing against a second-team defense, they will see where the quarterback room stands.
That could be a positive for the program's future.
Then again, maybe it's a wake-up call.
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