A&M quarterback competition continues
Courtesy of aggiesports.com
Texas A&M isn’t ready to name a starting quarterback after two practices.
“They are competing just like they did in the spring,” A&M offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury said. “We’ll keep going and find a starter.”
Sophomore Jameill Showers and redshirt freshman Johnny Manziel took the majority of snaps in spring scrimmages with sophomore Matt Joeckel also in the mix. Freshman Matt Davis, who graduated early and took part in spring drills, is considered a long shot to win the job.
A&M worked out Friday and Saturday in shorts and helmets, and Kingsbury was pleased with his quarterbacks.
“They did a good job of organizing 7-on-7 [practices] about 3-4 times a week” he said. “They look sharp so far.”
The quarterbacks moved the ball well in the two fall workouts with no turnovers.
“Leadership is huge, intelligence is big, and you gotta be accurate in this offense,” Kingsbury said. “You gotta get the ball to the playmakers, and get us in the right play. All three of those guys have that. It’s just going to be who kinda steps up and separates himself in the next couple of few weeks.”
The quarterbacks weren’t the only ones who have picked up where they left off in the spring.
“I’ve been please with the retention of a lot of guys after 15 practices, it shows me they’ve done some work on their own this summer,” A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin said.
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Junior tight end Hutson Prioleau has quit the team, but will remain in school and graduate, said Sumlin adding that the two met Friday.
Junior tight end Hutson Prioleau has quit the team, but will remain in school and graduate, said Sumlin adding that the two met Friday.
The 6-foot-4, 251-pound Prioleau played in 25 games in his career, starting seven. He had 14 catches for 135 yards last season, and had 23 career catches for 193 yards.
A&M still returns junior Nehemiah Hicks (25 games, 16 starts) and senior Michael Lamothe (37 games, 5 starts) at tight end.
“Both are very talented guys that have played a lot here, so we’re excited how we can fit them into the offense and find ways to use them,” Kingsbury said. “They are dong a great job for us.”
The new coaching staff is seeing the 6-4, 249-pound Hicks healthy for the first time. He missed spring drills with an injury, and Lamothe and Prioleau also were being held out of contact by the time drills ended.
“We’ve got to find one first before we can find two,” Sumlin said. “It’s no secret, we’ve used two tight-end sets in the past. Whether they’ve been in the backfield or on the line, it’s created problems for the defense.”
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Sumlin said there’s been no legal update on the status of Manziel, who was arrested in the Northgate entertainment district in late June for fighting after his friend uttered a racial slur to another person.
Sumlin said there’s been no legal update on the status of Manziel, who was arrested in the Northgate entertainment district in late June for fighting after his friend uttered a racial slur to another person.
“There hasn’t been a hearing,” Sumlin said, adding that Manziel took care of the things within the team to earn his way back to practice, but he has other things to take care of to remain on good terms with the team.
Manziel was charged with disorderly conduct by fighting, a Class C misdemeanor, and misdemeanor charges, failure to identify and for having fake drivers’ licenses.
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Senior wide receiver Brandal Jackson, who is from Navasota is not part of the 105 players in fall camp, but he’s still on scholarship and on the roster, Sumlin said.
Senior wide receiver Brandal Jackson, who is from Navasota is not part of the 105 players in fall camp, but he’s still on scholarship and on the roster, Sumlin said.
Jackson had eight catches for 108 yards last season. He has 32 career catches for 492 yards.
Players not on the 105-man fall camp roster can join the team when school starts.
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Sumlin confirmed that sophomore defensive back Howard Matthews and senior linebacker Steven Jenkins will miss the season opener against Louisiana Tech in Shreveport, La.
Sumlin confirmed that sophomore defensive back Howard Matthews and senior linebacker Steven Jenkins will miss the season opener against Louisiana Tech in Shreveport, La.
Jenkins had 61 tackles last season and Matthews had 28. Both played every game with Jenkins starting six and Matthews two.
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Freshman defensive lineman Alonzo Williams was cleared by the NCAA and practiced Saturday.
Freshman defensive lineman Alonzo Williams was cleared by the NCAA and practiced Saturday.
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Texas A&M will have an open scrimmage for the public at 11:45 a.m. Saturday followed by Fan Appreciation Day with players and coaches signing autographs in the indoor track facility.
Texas A&M will have an open scrimmage for the public at 11:45 a.m. Saturday followed by Fan Appreciation Day with players and coaches signing autographs in the indoor track facility.
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True freshman wide receivers Sabian Holmes from Southlake Carroll and Thomas Johnson from Dallas Skyline have looked good.
True freshman wide receivers Sabian Holmes from Southlake Carroll and Thomas Johnson from Dallas Skyline have looked good.
“They can roll, they’re fast,” Kingsbury said. “We needed to add some speed, and they can do that. They are very polished.
“They played in passing offenses, so they have a pretty good grasp of what we’re trying to do.”
Kingsbury said eight wide receivers have been in the rotation at his other coaching stops, but the former Texas Tech quarterback said if they can play, he’s not opposed to playing 10-12.
A receiver moving up the charts is redshirt freshman Mike Evans out of Galveston Ball.
“We kick ourselves because we didn’t offer him a scholarship when at Houston, which is unbelievable to me,” Kingsbury said. “He’s really bought in. His work ethic from when we got here to now is night and day. I expect big things from him.”
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A&M will return to the practice field Monday .
A&M will return to the practice field Monday .
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