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Jimbo 2022: Balls To The Face


Neonmoon

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This aggy team is going to be high drama for the foreseeable future and I'm strapping the fuck in for the ride. 

 

And by "high drama," I mean telenovela-level shenanigans and meltdowns. They'll never admit it, but aggy is THE story right now, and Texas is an afterthought nationally, so they are low-key getting what they always wanted. 

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19 hours ago, ousux said:

So he "lost" his phone at 12pm (which his roomie apparently found lol) and didn't miss it until late at night around curfew?
Ok Evan..

Guessing that Evan probably hasn't figured out which 12 is midnight yet. That's 3rd year aggy level.

Edited by Chopper
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2 hours ago, Henry Hill said:

I thought aggy didn’t tolerate those that lie, cheat or steal. Huh. 

To them, it's impossible by definition for an Aggie to lie, cheat, or steal. Therefore, Stewart, as an Aggie is okay. Analysis ends. Tradition upheld.

Now, if you object to negro-slayer Sul Ross, then the Aggies have a problem.

Priorities!

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  • 1 year later...

Max Olson: What's happening to Texas A&M's record-setting 2022 recruiting class?

Quote

When Texas A&M secured the highest-rated recruiting class of the modern era in 2022, Jimbo Fisher and the Aggies had visions of the championship that has eluded the program for decades. “They wanted to be the first to do something somewhere,” Fisher said on Feb. 2, 2022, when discussing the signing class. “They recruited each other as much as we recruited them… In football, it takes all of us to win a championship. That’s what we want to do.”

It was a signing class that turned heads, in more ways than one. The Aggies had never signed a top-three class in the modern recruiting era. Fisher inked this group following an 8-4 season and six months after the NCAA made it permissible for players to earn money for their name, image and likeness.

The Aggies’ success in that cycle sparked a brief but fiery public feud between Alabama coach Nick Saban, who accused A&M of buying every player in the class, and Fisher, who fiercely dismissed the claims in a blistering 10-minute press conference, repeatedly calling the comments made by his former boss “insulting” and “despicable.”

Almost two years later, the Aggies are no closer to their championship goal than they were when the ink dried on the letters of intent. Since securing the No. 1 class of the internet recruiting rankings era, Texas A&M is 12-12 on the field. Fisher was fired in November. Former A&M defensive coordinator Mike Elko was hired from Duke to elevate a stagnant program. One critical step in that process: He needs to hold this signing class together.

How many of these 2022 blue-chip recruits will still be on the roster when the Aggies kick off the 2024 season against Notre Dame?  Of the 32 players who signed with Texas A&M in the 2022 class (30 high school recruits, two transfers), a dozen have either transferred or are currently in the transfer portal. Of the 20 players the Aggies signed who ranked in the top 150 of the 2022 247Sports Composite, nine have departed. Four of the eight five-star recruits have left.

That includes former five-star defensive lineman Walter Nolen, the No. 2 player in the class and A&M’s highest-ranked 2022 signee, who entered the transfer portal last week. Roster volatility is standard during coaching changes, but the attrition began last December. Seven members of the signing class exited at the end of their freshman season, including four who were suspended for violations of team rules.

Former Texas A&M recruiting staffers told The Athletic that Fisher was so determined to sign five-stars and a No. 1 class that he ignored red flags and character questions. Still, two seasons in, A&M’s 2022 class has yielded other players who look like future stars, including quarterback Conner Weigman, receivers Evan Stewart and Noah Thomas and safety Bryce Anderson. But A&M signed this class with designs on winning at least an SEC championship and potentially contending for a national title.

Since 2011, every cycle’s No. 1 signing class has played for a national championship at least once in the ensuing five years.  From 2001 to 2020, only five classes that ranked No. 1 failed to reach a national title game: Florida State’s 2001 and 2004 classes, USC’s 2006 class, Miami’s 2008 class and Florida’s 2010 class.

How does A&M’s 2022 class so far compare to other similarly rated classes? We examined how it has stacked up against four other classes that rank in the top six all-time: Alabama’s 2021 class (No. 2 all-time), Florida’s 2010 class (No. 4), Alabama’s 2017 class (No. 5) and Georgia’s 2018 class (No. 6). We omitted the third highest-rated group, Alabama’s 2023 class, because it hasn’t yet completed a year on campus.

1. 2022 Texas A&M (30 high school signees, two transfers)

Current starters: 7
Still on roster: 20
Transferred: 12
Attrition rate: 38%
Record: 12-12

There’s some premium talent in this class, but the attrition rate is high. The defensive line talent was the signature of this group, but of the seven top-100 defensive linemen signed, three are already gone. Many players will need to blossom in their third and fourth years of college football for A&M to achieve something memorable with this group.

In the transfer portal era, higher attrition rates with signing classes are to be expected, even for top classes. Among the No. 1 recruiting classes for 2017 through 2020, the average attrition rate has been 41 percent. The Aggies nearing that mark in just two years is concerning but not shocking.

2. 2021 Alabama (27 high school signees, three transfers)

Current starters (or finished career as starter): 10
Still on roster: 18
Transferred/did not finish at Alabama: 10
Attrition rate: 33%
Record: 36-5

This class has been integral to Alabama’s run to this season’s College Football Playoff. Quarterback Jalen Milroe, edge rusher Dallas Turner, cornerbacks Kool-Aid McKinstry and Terrion Arnold, offensive tackle JC Latham and linebacker Deontae Lawson are part of the team’s nucleus. Two of the three transfer additions, Henry To’o To’o and Jameson Williams, became NFL Draft picks. There has been notable attrition from this class, though, with five of the nine highest-rated recruits transferring out.

4. 2010 Florida (28 high school signees)

Finished eligibility at Florida: 15
Starters: 11
Transferred/DNF: 13
Attrition rate: 46%
Record: 30-21

Urban Meyer’s final Florida class had a high attrition rate; nearly half of the players transferred or didn’t finish their eligibility with the Gators. There was some talent, though. Seven players turned into NFL Draft picks, including three first-rounders: Dominique Easley, Matt Elam and Sharrif Floyd. The group peaked in 2012, going 11-2 and making it to the Sugar Bowl, but otherwise never won more than eight games in a season.

5. 2017 Alabama (27 high school signees, two junior college transfers)

Finished eligibility at Alabama: 20
Starters: 16
Transferred/DNF: 9
Attrition rate: 31%
Record: 51-4

This might be the most decorated class ever. A whopping 13 became NFL Draft picks, including seven first-rounders. There were three Heisman Trophy finalists (Tua Tagovailoa, Mac Jones and Devonta Smith) and one winner. There was an Outland Trophy winner (Alex Leatherwood), two Biletnikoff Award winners (Smith and Jerry Jeudy), even a Patrick Mannelly Award winner for the nation’s best long snapper (Thomas Fletcher). The 10 highest-rated recruits in the class all finished their careers at Alabama. Less than a third of the class transferred or didn’t finish its eligibility. This group made three national title game appearances and won it all twice.

6. 2018 Georgia (23 high school signees, one junior college transfer)

Finished eligibility at Georgia: 15
Starters: 13
Transferred/DNF: 9
Attrition rate: 38%
Record: 45-8

Although the highest-rated recruit (Justin Fields) transferred after just one season, this group was star-studded. Of the 24 signees, a whopping 13 developed into NFL Draft picks, including nine that went in the first four rounds. The class included first-round picks like Jordan Davis, Quay Walker and Devonte Wyatt and All-SEC picks Azeez Ojulari, Channing Tindall, Trey Hill, Jamaree Salyer among others. Half of the top 12 ranked recruits transferred or didn’t finish their eligibility at Georgia. The class punctuated its four-year window with the 2021 national title.

Here’s a player-by-player review of how A&M’s 2022 class has fared thus far.

********************************

Still on roster (20)

Five-star DL Shemar Stewart (No. 9 overall in 247Sports Composite, No. 3 DL)

Stewart has played in all 24 games the last two years. He started six as a freshman but was primarily in a rotational role in 2023, compiling 10 tackles, two tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, four quarterback hurries and two pass breakups.

Five-star WR Evan Stewart (No. 11 overall, No. 2 WR)

When on the field, Stewart has been an impact player, hauling in 91 catches for 1,163 yards in 18 games across his two seasons in Aggieland. He missed three of the last four games of 2023 with an injury. Though there has been frequent speculation during his career that he might transfer, he has not entered the portal.

Five-star DL Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy (No. 17 overall, No. 5 DL)

Of all the Aggies’ highly touted defensive linemen, Brownlow-Dindy has played the least. He redshirted in 2022, in part because of a lingering injury he suffered during the Under Armour All-American Game, and appeared in four games in 2023, recording one tackle and a half-tackle for loss.

Five-star QB Conner Weigman (No. 22 overall, No. 2 QB)

It’s critically important for A&M to keep Weigman. He finished the 2022 season as the starter and kicked off 2023 by winning the starting job, showing off exciting potential before suffering a season-ending injury in a Week 4 win over Auburn. He looks like A&M’s quarterback of the future if he sticks around. In nine games, Weigman has thrown 16 touchdown passes with just two interceptions.

Four-star DB Jacoby Mathews (No. 39 overall, No. 2 safety)

Mathews has been a key contributor in the secondary and has started 12 games, including nine in 2023. He finished fifth on the team this season with 41 tackles, recorded an interception and had four passes defensed. He can cover and tackle and has a promising future.

Four-star DL Enai White (No. 47 overall, No. 4 edge)

White has played 12 games as a reserve in two seasons but suffered a season-ending injury in October, missing the final five games of the 2023 season.

Four-star OL Kam Dewberry (No. 64 overall, No. 3 OT)

Dewberry has been a spot starter and a regular in the offensive line rotation in his two seasons. He appeared in all 12 games in 2023 and started two, including the season finale at LSU. He started five games in 2022.

Four-star DB Bryce Anderson (No. 77 overall, No. 8 safety)

Anderson was an instant impact player as a freshman and claimed a more prominent role as a sophomore, starting all 10 games he appeared in this season. He was fourth on the team with 46 tackles, plus seven tackles for loss, four pass breakups and an interception. After a post appeared on his Twitter account last week that stated he was transferring, Anderson claimed his account was hacked and that he hadn’t entered the portal.

Four-star RB Le’Veon Moss (No. 82 overall, No. 8 RB)

Moss was part of a three-man rotation in the backfield with Amari Daniels and Rueben Owens. Moss finished as A&M’s second-leading rusher this year with 484 yards and five touchdowns in nine games. He also caught 11 passes for 84 yards.

Four-star DL Malick Sylla (No. 94 overall, No. 10 edge)

Sylla has played all 24 A&M games since arriving, contributing as a reserve defensive lineman and on special teams. He compiled 14 tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack this season.

Four-star TE Donovan Green (No. 105 overall, No. 4 TE)

Green had a promising freshman season, catching 22 passes for 233 yards and two touchdowns. His sophomore season ended before it began, as he suffered a knee injury in training camp. If healthy, he’s likely to return to the starting tight end role in 2024.

Four-star DB Bobby Taylor (No. 193 overall, No. 25 CB)

Taylor had his freshman year disrupted by a knee injury and redshirted. In 2023, he played in one game.

Four-star TE Theo Melin Öhrström (No. 216 overall, No. 6 TE)

The Swedish product played sparingly as a freshman but saw more time as a sophomore, appearing in 10 games and logging 96 offensive snaps.

Four-star OL Hunter Erb (No. 266 overall, No. 21 OT)

Erb has appeared in two games at A&M and was on the field for seven snaps this season in games against ULM and Mississippi State.

Four-star LB Martrell Harris (No. 284 overall, No. 27 LB)

Harris has played 21 games in two seasons, compiling 14 tackles and two sacks.

Four-star WR Noah Thomas (No. 302 overall, No. 44 WR)

Thomas moved into the starting lineup in 2023 and was third on the team with 29 receptions for 359 yards and five touchdowns. He should continue to be a valuable part of A&M’s passing attack.

Four-star DB Jarred Kerr (No. 412 overall, No. 35 safety)

Kerr has seen time as a rotational player and spot starter, appearing in 23 games (five starts) in two seasons. He has 42 tackles, two tackles for loss, two sacks, three passes defensed and a forced fumble.

Three-star DL Jadon Scarlett (No. 427 overall, No. 56 DL)

Scarlett has yet to see game action at Texas A&M.

Three-star OL Mark Nabou Jr. (No. 502 overall, No. 21 interior OL)

Nabou has emerged into a reliable lineman, starting all 12 games in 2023 (11 at left guard and one at center). He took 641 snaps this season, fourth-most among A&M linemen according to Pro Football Focus. He also rushed for a touchdown in the season finale at LSU.

Three-star K Ethan Moczulski (No. 1606 overall, No. 2 K): Still on roster

Moczulski has had a limited role in his two seasons, appearing in just two games.

********************************

Transferred (12)

Five-star DL Walter Nolen (No. 2 overall, No. 1 DL)

Nolen entered the portal on Dec. 6. He played all 12 games and started 10 in 2023, led the defensive line with 37 tackles and finished fourth on the team with 8.5 tackles for loss. In 22 career games, he had 66 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and five sacks. He’s a big loss who just visited Oregon and is sure to land with a contender.

Five-star DL LT Overton (No. 14 overall, No. 4 DL)

Overton entered the portal on Dec. 5. He started three of his 11 games as a true freshman in 2022, picking up 31 tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack, but functioned mostly in a reserve role in 2023 and saw his production dip, with just 17 tackles in 12 games.

Five-star DB Denver Harris (No. 23 overall, No. 4 CB)

Harris had an eventful 2022 in Aggieland, starting five games but missing seven because of suspensions, including the entire second half of the season because of a locker room incident in a road loss at South Carolina (Harris was one of four freshmen involved along with Chris Marshall, Anthony Lucas and PJ Williams). Harris transferred to LSU before the 2023 season but appeared in only five games. He missed time in training camp for what coach Brian Kelly termed “personal matters,” and Kelly recently said Harris will not play in LSU’s upcoming bowl game.

Five-star WR Chris Marshall (No. 25 overall, No. 3 WR)

Marshall was also suspended multiple times during his lone year in College Station. Despite missing six games, Marshall showed promise as a true freshman receiver but transferred to Ole Miss for 2023. Marshall was dismissed from the Rebels in May for a violation of team rules and never played a snap in Oxford. He spent the 2023 season in the junior college ranks at Kilgore College in East Texas.

Four-star DL Anthony Lucas (No. 59 overall, No. 10 DL)

Lucas tallied 10 tackles and a tackle for loss in seven games of the 2022 season but was suspended for the last five because of the locker room incident. He transferred to USC for 2023, where he recorded 10 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss this season.

Four-star DB Smoke Bouie (No. 68 overall, No. 7 CB)

Bouie appeared in seven games in 2022 and missed one because of suspension, then transferred to Georgia after the season. His stay in Athens was a brief one. He left the program last summer in a move that coach Kirby Smart called a mutual decision.

Four-star OL PJ Williams (No. 69 overall, No. 8 OT)

Williams appeared in one game but was suspended for the final five games of the 2022 season along with Denver Harris, Lucas and Marshall. Williams transferred to SMU after the season and has carved out a role with the Mustangs, appearing in 12 of 13 games and starting four, including SMU’s conference championship win over Tulane.

Four-star TE Jake Johnson (No. 95 overall, No. 1 TE)

The younger brother of quarterback Max Johnson emerged as the primary pass catching tight end option for the Aggies this season, finishing with 24 receptions for 235 yards and four touchdowns. He entered the portal on Dec. 6.

Four-star DB Marquis Groves-Killebrew (No. 114 overall, No. 13 CB)

Groves-Killebrew appeared in three games at A&M in 2022 and transferred to Louisville, where he played in four games in 2023. On Dec. 6, he re-entered the portal.

Four-star LB Ish Harris (No. 374 overall, No. 35 LB)

Harris didn’t see the field at A&M in 2022 and transferred to Houston but was off the team before the summer arrived and never played a down for the Cougars.

LSU transfer QB Max Johnson

Johnson began each of his two seasons as the backup before being pushed into QB1 duty early each season. Injuries cut each of his starting stints short. In 12 games at A&M, Johnson threw for 1,969 yards, 12 touchdowns and five interceptions. He entered the portal in November and committed to North Carolina.

Liberty transfer DL Micaiah Overton

Micaiah, the brother of LT Overton, appeared in just two games in two seasons on campus and entered the portal on Dec. 6.

********************************

Some level of attrition is typical in every recruiting class, especially in the era of the portal and one-time transfer rule, for any number of reasons (playing time, fit, coaching changes). The firing of Fisher and departure of several of his assistants who weren’t retained by Elko, plus interim coach Elijah Robinson’s taking a defensive coordinator job at Syracuse, certainly play a role here, too.

For now, 20 of A&M’s 2022 signees remain, though there are still three weeks left in the winter transfer portal window, plus another 15-day window in the spring. How the remaining members of the landmark class fit into Elko’s plans for the program will be sorted out in the coming months. But any success that A&M hopes to have in the immediate future needs to include retention of and increased contributions from this group.

 

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