Texas A&M Football
The Fright: Breakout year in store for Aggies' Ricky Seals-Jones?
HOOVER, Ala. — Want to face a guy that’s four inches taller, 20 pounds heavier and faster than you?
Me neither.
So, don’t play defensive back in the Southeastern Conference.
Or, more particularly, don’t play DB in the SEC against A&M. Or, to be even more specific: Don’t play DB in the SEC against A&M’s RSJ.
Ricky Seals-Jones is scary.
He’s scary because he’s six-feet, five-inches tall. He’s scary because he’s 240 pounds of sinew and muscle. He’s scary because he’s so much bigger than those trying to cover him. (The biggest returning starter among SEC defensive backs is Arkansas’ Josh Liddell at 6-1, 217.) He’s scary because he’s faster than most of those who would attempt to cover him.
He’s also scary because he’s only scratched the surface of his enormous potential.
Thus far, his career could be compared to the first rain drops of an impending hurricane, the first tremor of a massive earthquake for the first winds gusts of a tornado.
This could be the breakthrough year disaster strikes Southeastern Conference secondaries.
“I’m lot better over the previous years,” Seals-Jones, a fourth-year junior, said earlier this week at SEC Media Days. "I’m learning from coaches and doing what they ask me to do.”
A lot better should sound scary, because Seals-Jones has already proven to be very good.
Alex Parker, TexAgs
Last season Seals-Jones crossed the 500-yard mark as essentially the third option in the Aggies' loaded receiving corps.
Yes, this could be a breakout year for him. That is, unless, he’s already broken out.
Last season Seals-Jones caught 45 passes for 560 yards and four touchdowns. Those are rather modest numbers compared to A&M’s leading receivers Christian Kirk (80 for 1009) and Josh Reynolds (51 for 907). However, with his stats Seals-Jones would be the top returning receiver at Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Ole Miss, Missouri, South Carolina and Tennessee.
He’d likely be the No. 1 receiver – and thus produce gaudier numbers – on other teams. Kentucky, Vanderbilt and Arkansas come to mind.
Yet, some demand more … a lot more.
Perhaps he gets unfairly compared with similarly-sized former All-SEC receiver Mike Evans, who accumulated 1,394 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns in 2013.
“Mike was tall. I’m tall,” Seals-Jones said. "Mike had his own game and I have my own. I do enjoy watching him play and hitting him up with questions whenever he comes to town and comes and talks to us. It’s all fun.
“I would love to have a breakout year every year. I just go in and do my job. If it’s a breakout year, it is. If not, so be it. I’m happy where I’ve been at. I’ll just keep working.”
Seals-Jones isn’t likely to ever match Evans’ production. Evans, especially in 2013, was unquestionably the Aggies’ first receiving option. Seals-Jones is not.
Also, Evans had Johnny Manziel throwing the ball. Seals-Jones has Trevor Knight.
But Seals-Jones doesn’t see that as a disadvantage. He’s already expressed his praise of Knight through tweets.
He repeated the message here.
“When Trevor came in he showed confidence,” Seals-Jones said. “He really shows that strength, determination and passion to go out: ‘I’m going to beat you until you beat me.’ That was his mindset all spring and he has continued it through the summer.”
But will it continue in the fall?
Seals-Jones said the Aggies' team chemistry is much better with Knight at quarterback than it was a year ago when Kyle Allen and Kyler Murray competed.
“It’s just hard when you’re going back and forth (last year). I don’t think it was a weird chemistry. It’s just been stronger since (Knight) has been here.”
The Aggies figure to be stronger than they were during last season’s 8-5 campaign.
Quarterback was an inconsistent position last season. Knight is expected to bring consistency operating Offensive Coordinator Noel Mazzone’s system.
He won’t have to win games for A&M. He’ll have to read defenses, identify open receivers and deliver the football to the player that gives the Aggies the best matchup.
He’ll have a lot of attractive options.
“(Josh Reynolds) had 13 touchdowns his first year in this league and is just an exceptional player,” A&M coach Kevin Sumlin said. “I think the combination of him and Christian Kirk gives us a real punch.
“And with Ricky being a bigger guy that can handle the middle of the field, we’ve got some weapons.”
Seals-Jones isn’t even viewed as the Aggies’ primary weapon.
That’s scary.
Me neither.
So, don’t play defensive back in the Southeastern Conference.
Or, more particularly, don’t play DB in the SEC against A&M. Or, to be even more specific: Don’t play DB in the SEC against A&M’s RSJ.
Ricky Seals-Jones is scary.
He’s scary because he’s six-feet, five-inches tall. He’s scary because he’s 240 pounds of sinew and muscle. He’s scary because he’s so much bigger than those trying to cover him. (The biggest returning starter among SEC defensive backs is Arkansas’ Josh Liddell at 6-1, 217.) He’s scary because he’s faster than most of those who would attempt to cover him.
He’s also scary because he’s only scratched the surface of his enormous potential.
Thus far, his career could be compared to the first rain drops of an impending hurricane, the first tremor of a massive earthquake for the first winds gusts of a tornado.
This could be the breakthrough year disaster strikes Southeastern Conference secondaries.
“I’m lot better over the previous years,” Seals-Jones, a fourth-year junior, said earlier this week at SEC Media Days. "I’m learning from coaches and doing what they ask me to do.”
A lot better should sound scary, because Seals-Jones has already proven to be very good.
Alex Parker, TexAgs
Last season Seals-Jones crossed the 500-yard mark as essentially the third option in the Aggies' loaded receiving corps.
Last season Seals-Jones caught 45 passes for 560 yards and four touchdowns. Those are rather modest numbers compared to A&M’s leading receivers Christian Kirk (80 for 1009) and Josh Reynolds (51 for 907). However, with his stats Seals-Jones would be the top returning receiver at Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Ole Miss, Missouri, South Carolina and Tennessee.
He’d likely be the No. 1 receiver – and thus produce gaudier numbers – on other teams. Kentucky, Vanderbilt and Arkansas come to mind.
Yet, some demand more … a lot more.
Perhaps he gets unfairly compared with similarly-sized former All-SEC receiver Mike Evans, who accumulated 1,394 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns in 2013.
“Mike was tall. I’m tall,” Seals-Jones said. "Mike had his own game and I have my own. I do enjoy watching him play and hitting him up with questions whenever he comes to town and comes and talks to us. It’s all fun.
“I would love to have a breakout year every year. I just go in and do my job. If it’s a breakout year, it is. If not, so be it. I’m happy where I’ve been at. I’ll just keep working.”
Seals-Jones isn’t likely to ever match Evans’ production. Evans, especially in 2013, was unquestionably the Aggies’ first receiving option. Seals-Jones is not.
Also, Evans had Johnny Manziel throwing the ball. Seals-Jones has Trevor Knight.
But Seals-Jones doesn’t see that as a disadvantage. He’s already expressed his praise of Knight through tweets.
He repeated the message here.
“When Trevor came in he showed confidence,” Seals-Jones said. “He really shows that strength, determination and passion to go out: ‘I’m going to beat you until you beat me.’ That was his mindset all spring and he has continued it through the summer.”
But will it continue in the fall?
Seals-Jones said the Aggies' team chemistry is much better with Knight at quarterback than it was a year ago when Kyle Allen and Kyler Murray competed.
It’s just hard when you’re going back and forth (last year). I don’t think it was a weird chemistry. It’s just been stronger since (Knight) has been here.
“There’s been great chemistry,” he said. “We connected well with the new offense. Going over the summer we’re staying strong and keeping everybody on top.“It’s just hard when you’re going back and forth (last year). I don’t think it was a weird chemistry. It’s just been stronger since (Knight) has been here.”
The Aggies figure to be stronger than they were during last season’s 8-5 campaign.
Quarterback was an inconsistent position last season. Knight is expected to bring consistency operating Offensive Coordinator Noel Mazzone’s system.
He won’t have to win games for A&M. He’ll have to read defenses, identify open receivers and deliver the football to the player that gives the Aggies the best matchup.
He’ll have a lot of attractive options.
“(Josh Reynolds) had 13 touchdowns his first year in this league and is just an exceptional player,” A&M coach Kevin Sumlin said. “I think the combination of him and Christian Kirk gives us a real punch.
“And with Ricky being a bigger guy that can handle the middle of the field, we’ve got some weapons.”
Seals-Jones isn’t even viewed as the Aggies’ primary weapon.
That’s scary.
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