Kevin Sumlin exudes confidence at Brazos Valley Coaches Night

Kevin Sumlin has two choice words for all the college football forecasters and experts who predict Texas A&M will struggle in 2016.

Thank you.

“A lot of people don’t think we’re very good,” Sumlin told a large audience at the Brazos Valley A&M Club Coaches Night on Thursday evening. “A lot of people think this organization is in disarray. It’s far from it.

“As a matter of fact, it’s in pretty good shape right now. I like where we are. I like our attitude. And I like the fact that people don’t think we’re worth a damn. That’s alright with me. We’re going to be alright.”

Defense is the source of much of Sumlin’s optimism.

Last month, he told the Houston Touchdown Club the Aggies could potentially field a top-15 defense in their second season under defensive coordinator John Chavis.

Sumlin reiterated that to his Brazos Valley constituents.

“You’ve heard Chief (Chavis) say this before, and I’m not shying away from it. Our two defensive ends (Myles Garrett and Daeshon Hall) are the two best defensive ends in the country,” Sumlin said. “Inside, we’re going to rotate guys in our two deep, and all those guys have played for us.

“Our safeties – Armani Watts, Justin Evans, Donovan Wilson – all three of those guys will play in the NFL. It’s just a matter of how high they’re going to get drafted.

“It’s been a long (time) since it’s been that way at Texas A&M. We have a chance to be really, really good on defense.”

A&M has had only three defensive players drafted in the past four NFL drafts – cornerback Brandon Williams in 2016 and defensive end Damontre Moore and linebacker Sean Porter in 2013.

Sumlin also said the A&M linebacker corps, which has been greatly maligned over the past few years, is underrated.

“We’re on our way defensively,” he said. “We’ve got a real good chemistry as a football team. I like where we are.”

Sumlin also said he was encouraged by the offense because of the new additions of offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone, offensive line coach Jim Turner and quarterback Trevor Knight, a graduate transfer from Oklahoma.

Knight has been praised for bringing a missing leadership element to the team.

Sumlin repeated that.

“We’ve got a maturity level that we didn’t have last year because of guys that transferred in here,” Sumlin said. “Sometimes we get caught up in who’s leaving here. A couple of our best players last year were transfers from other universities (Williams from Oklahoma and Tra Carson from Oregon).

“That’s the way things work right now. We’ve got some guys that came in here and are going to help our program.”