Aggies name Kyler Murray starter for South Carolina game

Per multiple sources, Kevin Sumlin has informed the team that the Aggies are going with the true freshman on Saturday against South Carolina.

No. 1 is now QB1, as Kyler Murray has gotten the call. 

Kyle Allen, A&M's starter for the first seven games, followed up three pick-sixes against Alabama by struggling mightily against Ole Miss. He was replaced by Jake Hubenak in the fourth quarter after the game was essentially out of reach and Sumlin said Tuesday he was opening up the quarterback job, leading to a week of intrigue.

Murray, the son of revered A&M QB Kevin Murray and a Texas high school legend, was eventually tabbed and will be making the first start of his career in Aggieland against the Gamecocks. In limited action Kyler has thrown for 167 yards and one touchdown against two interceptions on 17 of 31 passing.

He has also rushed for 92 yards on 18 carries.

Murray had been used sparingly in wins against Arizona State, Ball State, Nevada and Arkansas and in A&M's loss to Alabama, but was held out of the Ole Miss loss — relegated to third-team QB behind Hubenak — for what was reported to be disciplinary reasons.

However, when Sumlin announced the open competition he also made a point to say Murray had "done the things necessary that [the staff] asked him to do."

As we discussed earlier on Friday and I speculated the previous Sunday, the change couldn't have been an easy decision but it certainly appears like the right one — and the one with the largest potential payoff.

In my opinion, it's as simple as this: Kyler is going to give the Texas A&M offense an element that could really help offset ongoing protection issues and also a potential dynamic playmaker at the quarterback position.

Now, the Aggie legacy who went 43-0 as the starter at Allen High School will get his chance in maroon ... or, in this case, 'Aggie Nights' black.