EARLY BIRD 2007 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
RELEASED DECEMBER 2006
TEXAS A&M AGGIES
OFFENSE - 9
------RETURNING STARTERS------
DEFENSE - 8
KEY LOSSES
OFFENSE: Courtney Lewis-RB, Chad Schroeder-WR, L'Tydrick Riley-WR, Grant Dickey-OG, Layne Neumann-K
DEFENSE: Marques Thornton-DT, Bryce Reed-DT, Justin Warren-MLB, Melvin Bullitt-SS
Running Back/Offensive Line

Former All-Big 12 picks Elder and Wallace will keep making holes inside while Jorvorskie and newcomer Goodson run through them and defenders.

Receiver

The Aggies lack a big time receiver on the outside to stretch defenses so the option can open up. TE Martellus Bennett is the best receiver on the roster.

TE Martellus Bennett
 
DE Chris Harrington
 

* DEPTH CHARTS were only designed as a simplistic gauge for listing players that departed and players that received the most playing experience (consistent starters). NationalChamps.net recognizes the importance of missing personnel data not listed such as redshirts, transfers, injuries, incoming recruits, back ups and alternates. Their coverage will begin with our full 2007 Preseason Preview due out this coming spring.
TEXAS A&M 2007 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/
Key Players
OFFENSE
QB Stephen McGee-Jr ..
FB Chris Alexander-Sr ..
RB Jorvorskie Lane-Jr Mike Goodson-So
WR Kerry Franks-Sr ..
WR Earvin Taylor-Sr Pierre Brown-Jr
TE Martellus Bennett-Jr Joey Thomas-Sr
OT Corey Clark-Sr ..
OG .. ..
C Cody Wallace-Sr ..
OG Kirk Elder-Sr ..
OT Travis Schneider-Jr Yemi Babalola-Jr
K Matt Szymanski-So ..
DEFENSE
DE Jason Jack-Sr Cyril Obiozor-Jr
DT Henry Smith-Sr ..
DT Red Bryant-Sr Kellen Heard-So
DE Chris Harrington-Sr Michael Bennett-Jr
SLB Misi Tupe-Sr Mark Dodge-Sr
MLB Matt Featherston-So ..
WHIP Brock Newton-Sr Japhus Brown-Sr
CB Danny Gorrer-Jr Marquis Carpenter-Sr
CB Jordan Peterson-So Arkeith Brown-Jr
SS .. ..
FS Devin Gregg-Jr ..
P Justin Brantly-Jr ..
QUICK ANALYSIS

The Aggies are back!!! Four years of iffy results were replaced in 2006 by QB Stephen McGee and a steadiness that has the whole team ready to again challenge for their tough Big 12 South division half. McGee, as a sophomore, led the nation with only two picks, and when you factor in the fact that he finished third on the team for net rushing yards, you see a bright future and even more improvements to the nation’s 19th-ranked total offense. The Aggies also rode the back/feet of freshman phenom Mike Goodson, a surprise at RB as he displaced Jorvorskie Lane and departing senior Courtney Lane to lead the team in rushing. Goodson’s 6.9 ypc average was second in the nation only to Clemson’s C.J. Spiller for freshman. With FB Chris Alexander returning as a senior with a 6.3 ypc clip (no yards lost in ’06, only two lost his entire collegiate career), the running game will continue to pull eight defenders into the box so passing possibilities can expand. Besides Cody Wallace and Kirk Elder on the inside to push opponents, fellow-senior Cory Clark has McGee’s blindside to solidify an already-tight OL. McGee loses field-stretcher Chad Schroeder, so Kerry Franks and Earvin Taylor – with only 26 combined catches - have to step up. TE Martellus Bennett (6’7”) plays a key role in opening up the outsides by constantly going over the deep middle, so his health is important for establishing the WR roles (also in the running game). The defensive numbers from ’06 reflect a well-rounded result for the nation’s 37th-ranked total effort. Still, with nine starters returning (six seniors), they will have to dig deeper to topple the South division’s stronger foes. They can hopefully build on what they did to Texas (won 12-7) via four senior linemen who already know how to work together. A&M lost three games by a total of six points or we might be talking about a top ten team here. But this Aggie squad (finished third-best in their division half) will continue to improve in ’07 while they again sneak up the polls and could be in the conference championship come late November.

 

TEXAS A&M
2007 SCHEDULE

9-15 @ Miami FL
9-29 Baylor
10-6 Oklahoma State
10-13 @ Texas Tech
10-20 @ Nebraska
10-27 Kansas
11-3 @ Oklahoma
11-10 @ Missouri
11-23 Texas
TBA 3 non-conference opponents