Paul, Buckley primed to lead Aggies' young receiving corps in 2018

One is a big-city kid with famous mentors. The other is a small-town guy who’s a legend in his community. Both are hoping to settle into roles as productive receivers in Texas A&M’s offense.

Sophomores Camron Buckley and Roshauud Paul combined for just 33 catches and 469 yards in 2017. That’s not much, but it still makes them the second- and third-most experienced receivers on the A&M roster behind fellow sophomore Jhamon Ausbon.

They’re aiming to post gaudier stats this season. Or, maybe they’re not.

“I feel like we don’t look at stats,” said Buckley, a Dallas-area product who had 17 catches for 282 yards last season. “The ball comes your way, you’ve got to make a play. The stats are going to add up. We don’t know where the ball is going to go. In this offense everybody can get the ball. So, we don’t focus on stats. We just focus on doing our job.”

Of course, that would require replacing some of the production of departed All-American Christian Kirk.

“I’m definitely going to try and make some big plays for this team,” said Paul, who led tiny Bremond High School to three Class 2A state championships. "(I want to) help us dominate the game on special teams as well as on offense.”

Matt Sachs, TexAgs

Roshauud Paul caught 16 passes for 187 yards as a freshman in 2017.

The elusive Paul caught 16 passes for 187 yards in his debut season as he made the quantum leap from playing small school quarterback to SEC receiver.

“That was a big step for me,” Paul said. “The pace of the game was definitely a lot faster. It helped me develop overall as a player.”

He’s hoping to take over Kirk’s role as a big-play slot receiver and as a kick returner.

“I think I can play a huge role in helping us get that advantage in the special teams to help us win and get good field position," he said.

Had Buckley followed in the footsteps of his three mentors, he would be practicing against Paul rather than alongside him.

Buckley’s father Cedric, was a linebacker on the famed Dallas Carter team that won the 1988 state championship. His godfather is former New York Giants star linebacker Jessie Armstead, who also played on that Carter team. Also, former Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders is a family friend and has been an adviser for years.

Despite being surrounded by defensive wisdom, Camron Buckley gravitated to offense.

“We tried that (defense) when I was little,” Camron said. “It didn’t work out. But I still talk to them. I talk to each one of them. I take tips from all three of them.

“They push me everyday. They don’t sugar coat nothing. They give it to me straight because they know where I want to be, so they tell me what I need to know.”

Buckley and Paul know that A&M needs a couple of receivers to emerge as reliable targets for quarterbacks Kellen Mond and Nick Starkel. They also know there is a lot of competition in a talented, though youthful and inexperienced receiving corps.

They know opportunity is there. They know it’s up to them to take advantage of that opportunity.

“I feel my role is just to make plays, which is everybody’s role,” Buckley said. “Win your one-on-one battles, (coach Jimbo Fisher) preaches that every day. Make plays when you’ve got to make them. Everybody doesn’t have to be a superhero, but when a play comes your way you’ve got make it.”