It is the final week of Fall camp before game preparation starts. Mike Sherman and all of the assistants have had multiple practices and a couple of scrimmages to evaluate all the players. The 2011 version of the Texas A&M Aggies will be the most talented squad that A&M has put on the field in over a decade. It is time to take a look at this team position by position so we can understand why so many Aggies are excited about the potential for a special season in 2011.

Quarterback
Ryan Tannehill returns as the starter after completing 65 percent of his passes for 1,638 Yard 13 TDs with 6 interceptions. Tannehill led the Ags to a 6-1 record. Two years ago, Mike Sherman told anyone who would listen that Ryan Tannehill would play quarterback in the NFL and he was laughed at. No one is laughing now. Tannehill averaged 233 yds per game passing last year. That converts to a little over 3,000 yards in a 13 game season. Tannehill had a great spring and summer. If he can play with the same kind of consistency he displayed last year, the Ags should be in line for a big season.
Jameill Showers, Matt Joeckel, and Johny Manziel continue to fight it out for the backup spot. Expect Showers to go into the season at number two and Manziel to redshirt. If the Ags get comfortable leads in ballgames this year, expect to see both Showers and Joeckel under center to get some experience.
Running Back
Cyrus Gray and Christine Michael return to form arguably the top RB duo in the country. Gray is coming off a breakthrough season in which he rushed for 1.133 yards and 12 TDs. Michael rushed for 653 yds at 5.0 yds per tote before breaking his leg halfway through the '10 season. Michael added 12 pounds of muscle in the off season and reportedly got faster. Either of these two backs would start for any other team in the Big 12.
Ben Malena returns for his sophomore year after receiving spotty playing time once Michael was injured. Malena lost some bad weight over the summer and has some wiggle.
Mister Jones has impressed in the coaches during two-a-days with his strong running, but has struggled to hold onto the football.
True freshman safety Howard Matthews is expected to see some time at RB when the Ags are in their goal line offense. Matthews rushed for 937 yards and 15TDs in 2010 at Houston Clear Springs High School.
Michael Lamothe will split time between FB and TE. When the Ags need a lead blocker in the backfield you will see Lamothe on the field.
Wide Receivers
Jeff Fuller returns after an record breaking junior season in which he earned first team All Big 12 honors. Fuller tied the A&M season record with 72 passes and set a new record with 1,066 receiving yards and 12 TDs. Fuller holds the career receiving TD record at A&M with 28 and is a candidate for All American honors.
Ryan Swope tied the season reception record with 72 along with Fuller. Swope had 825 yards and 4 TDs as a sophomore. Swope also averaged 5.3 yards per carry rushing in '10.
Uzoma (EZ) Nwachukwu battled through a sophomore slump with 36 receptions for 407 yards and 4 TDs after a very promising freshman year. EZ rededicated himself to football in the off season and seems poised for a big junior campaign.
Junior Kenric McNeal fought through some nagging injuries to catch 23 passes for 202 yds with 2 TDs. McNeal is also a big difference maker in the punt return game.
Nate Askew played mainly on special teams in '10 but impressed the coaches and his teammates with his improved play over the summer. The 6'4" 220 sophomore gives the Ags another big WR along with Fuller.
Redshirt freshman Malcome Kennedy should round out the WR group in '11. It seems that Kennedy and Askew have passed up Brandal Jackson in the WR pecking order.
Junior CB Dustin Harris may also see some time at WR in 2011.

Tight Ends
Nehemiah Hicks led the teams TEs with 11 catches for 141 yards as a true freshman in '10. Hicks has NFL talent but the coaches are waiting for the light to go on. If he ever gains the consistency that the coaches are demanding, Hicks will be a major weapon for the Ags.
Hutson Priouleau is a workmanlike blocker and receiver for the Ags. He has one receiving touchdown in '10. Expect to see him in the two TE sets.
Michael Lamothe is the Ags best blocker at TE and spend a lot of time at FB. Lamothe had only six receptions in '10 but two went for touchdowns.

OL
The starting OL from left to right is LT Matt Joeckel, LG Brian Thomas, C Patrick Lewis, RG Shep Klinke, RT Jake Matthews.
Joeckel will compete for All Conference honors as a sophomore and is one of the best young linemen in the nation. It is nice to see Lewis finally accept a move to center and focus on that position. He likely has a future at center in the NFL. Shep Klinke is a true sophomore who has held off Evan Eike and Jarvis Harrison at the RG spot.
The coaches believe that Joeckel, Matthews, and Harrison are all future first round draft picks. It speaks to the depth on the OL that Harrison is so well thought of by the coaches yet he cannot beat out Thomas or Klinke.
RS Freshman Cedric Ogbuehi will back up Joeckel at LT. If Joeckel suffered a significant injury you would likely see Matthews switch to LT and Ogbuehi move to RT.
Danny Baker has starting experience at LT and center, and will back up Lewis at center.
It looks like Rhontae Scales will be the backup at right tackle.

DL
The starting defensive ends in A&M's 3-4 are Tony Jerod-Eddie and Jonathan Mathis. The starting NG is still up in the air right now. Kirby Ennis has impressed the coaches enough to earn first team snaps ahead of returning starter Eddie Brown. My guess is that Ennis gets the start against SMU.
TJE should earn All Conference honors this season. If he plays close to his potential he will be a top three round draft pick. Mathis should also play on Sundays. It will be interesting to see what Ennis brings to the equation. He was a good pass rusher when he played as an undersized true freshman in '09. He has gained 40 pounds and a lot of strength since then. Eddie Brown was overpowered against LSU in the Cotton Bowl but fared well against Big 12 opponents.
Ben Bass is the second team DE. He had his lone sack of the season last year against Texas. Steven Barrera, Ivan Robinson, and Gavin Stansbury take turns backing up the DE and NG position.
Spencer Nealy is a backup DE who offers great effort. Shayvion Hatten will redshirt this year but has been described by coaches and being the most physically gifted DL on the roster.

ILB
This is the one position where there is the most uncertainty, even the week before the opening game. If you go with experience, then you have to believe that senior Garrick Williams will be starting at the Sam ILB and junior Jonathan Stewart will be starting at the Mike ILB spot. Williams was second on the team in tackles in '10. Williams registered 112 stops with five for loss. Williams had a great first half of the season, but faded down the stretch.
Freshman Donnie Baggs graduated from high school in December and participated in spring practices. Baggs has impressed the coaches with his ability to quickly pick up the defense. Baggs will not redshirt and has seen some snaps with the first team. If Williams does not play like the LB he was the first half of the season, do not be surprised to see Baggs take his starting spot.
Stewart was a very highly though of recruit out of Shreveport, LA who has never played up to his billing. If Stewart does not play to the coaches expectations, expect juco transfer Steve Jenkins to take Stewart's spot. Do not be surprised to see the coaches use the SMU and Idaho games to sort out the ILB position.
Junior Kyle Mangan should see the field on passing downs. He is still not strong enough against the run to warrant every down play.
Charlie Thomas may also see some time at ILB. The former safety has practices both inside and outside during the fall camp.

OLB
The outside linebackers have been cross trained at both positions but for this breakdown, we will look at them as jokers and drop OLBs.
After an intense battle during the fall camp, expect to see sophomore Damontre Moore starting at the joker against SMU. Moore exploded on the scene as a freshman with 40 tackles and 5.5 sacks to earn Big 12 defensive freshman of the year honors from some outlets.
Some of the field issues planted Moore in the doghouse and senior Caleb Russell moved into the starting spot. Moore has played at a consistently high level during fall camp and has grabbed ahold of the first team spot.
Freshmen Tyrell Taylor, Shawn Ward, and Brandon Alexander will all see action at the joker too, Taylor is 6'4" and only 200 pounds. The coaches wanted to redshirt him but no one can block him so Taylor has forced the coaches to play him now. Alexander will also get some time at the drop OLB spot.
Junior Sean Porter returns at the drop OLB spot. As a sophomore Porter had 74 tackles, 7 TFLs, half a sack, and 6 passes broken up. Expect Porter to improve on those numbers and compete for first team All Conference honors as a junior. Porter worked hard in the S&C program with Coach Dave Kennedy and added 10 pounds of muscle in the off season. Porter will be out of Von Miller's shadow and come into his own as an upperclassman.
Charlie Thomas is a 6'1" 220 pound former safety from Beaumont. Thomas and Brandon Alexander will back up Porter at the drop spot. Thomas' experience at safety helps him in coverage against TEs and RBs.

CB
Both starters return from the 2010 season in seniors Terrance Frederick and All American candidate Coryell Judie. The cornerbacks should see their sack numbers increase this year as DC Tim Deruyter uses more exotic blitzes to generate a pass rush.
Junior Dustin Harris returns as the 3rd CB. When the Ags move to a nickel, Harris will play corner while Fredrick will move to the nickel back. Frederick, Harris, and Judie should all play on Sundays.
 Sophomore Tony Hurd returns after gaining a lot of experience as a freshman. With the prevalence of spread offenses in the Big 12, you need more than three CBs and Hurd gives the Aggies coaches a great option as the 4th CB.
Freshman Floyed Raven has impressed his teammates over the summer in 7-on-7 pickup games with his tight man coverage. Raven will not redshirt. The 6'2" 187 pound freshman will see a lot of playing time as the coaches prepare for '12 when Frederick and Judie will graduate.

Safety
Senior Trent Hunter and Junior Steven Campbell return after starting last year. Campbell has been described as the best overall athlete on the team. If the 6' 201 junior can stay healthy he will be a top three round draft pick when he finishes in Aggieland.
Hunter struggled in coverage last season but is strong against the run. Hunter is a vocal leader of the team and was voted as a team captain this year.
Freshman Howard Matthews has pushed Hunter for playing time. Like Raven, expect the coaches to get Matthews a lot of experience to ready him for Hunter's graduation. Matthews and Campbell on the field at the same time would give the Ags size at the safety tandem that they have not seen since Patrick Bates was roaming the secondary in the early 90's.
Junior Steven Terrell started the first half of last season while Campbell recovered from injury. Terrell gives the Ags quality depth at the safety position.

Punter/Kicker
Drew Kaser wowed his teammates with booming punts during the summer. He is the most consistent punter on the roster. Unfortunately Kaser has been injured almost the entire fall camp so his status is still up in the air.
Randy Bullock was 16 for 21 on FGs last year and perfect in all 40 extra point attempts. Bullock is a dependable kicker inside 40 yds.

Kick/Punt Return
Coryell Judie is one of the top kick returners in the nation, averaging 30.2 yds per return and scoring two TDs as a junior. Kenric McNeal and Dustin Harris will both return punts for the Ags in 2011. Harris had a 52 yard punt return for a touchdown in '10.