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Texas A&M Football

Texas A&M hires Oklahoma State's Josh Henson to coach offensive line

February 8, 2019
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When news of Jim Turner's exit began to leak out of Cincinnati prior to National Signing Day, I stated that Aggie head coach Jimbo Fisher would waste very little time in finding and hiring a replacement. Things played out as expected (and fittingly) with Fisher doing what he did so many times during the 2019 recruiting cycle.

Jimbo was able to land the first coach he targeted, venturing north of the Red River and grabbing an old friend and assistant in Josh Henson. The former Oklahoma State offensive lineman began his career working for Les Miles in Stillwater before moving on to LSU, where he spent one season under Fisher as the Tiger tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator. After two seasons on the job managing the Bayou Bengals recruiting efforts (which produced a pair of top-10 classes), Henson was on staff when the Tigers won the 2008 national title.

From there, Henson found his way to the Big 12 and eventually the SEC East, where he was the Missouri Co-Offensive Line coach from '09-'12 before ascending to serve as Gary Pinkel's Offensive Coordinator/OL coach from 2013-2015. During that time, Henson was the play-caller for consecutive SEC East title-winning squads, guiding a pair of very high-powered, explosive Tiger offenses that got it done through the air and on the ground. I know most of us have blocked the games out, but both of those Mizzou teams beat A&M, including running for nearly 350 yards while amassing just under 600 total at Kyle Field. When Pinkel stepped down in Columbia, Henson found his way back to Stillwater, where he served as an analyst for Mike Gundy before taking over the Cowboy offensive line in 2017 and last season.

Henson has drawn pretty high praise from more than one of the college football coaches without A&M ties that I've spoken with.

Considered one of the better recruiters in the country as far as OL assistants go, Henson has drawn pretty high praise from more than one of the college football coaches without A&M ties that I've spoken with over the past 24-48 hours. He's very well respected for his in-game prowess, and as an Xs and Os teacher and recruiter. Ironically enough, he'll walk onto campus and find a couple of former OSU commits in his meeting room in Ryan McCollum and starting tackle Dan Moore.

I think it's pretty clear how highly Jimbo Fisher regards his most recent hire considering how quickly he moved on the man who once sat in on his staff meetings in Baton Rouge. Sure, there are two or three guys in the country who are unattainable and locked into wherever they're at (folks like UGA's Sam Pittman, the highest-paid OL assistant in college football), but the fact of the matter is that Fisher could have gone out and pursued just about anyone he wanted (including a couple of NFL assistants who were very interested in the job), but he identified his man in very short order.

Fisher was able to land a guy with extensive SEC experience, someone who has recruited in Texas for years and an assistant who was a high-level coordinator and play-caller. In other words, this hire checks all of the boxes and has folks inside of Bright pretty excited. An important hire with what the Ags bring back up in the trenches and with what's out there in the Lone Star State in terms of high school talent from the 2020 and 2021 ranks.

Discussion from...

Texas A&M hires Oklahoma State's Josh Henson to coach offensive line

44,976 Views | 89 Replies | Last: 5 yr ago by C Loves L
Agsuffering@bulaw
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He was Gary Pinkel's play-caller in 2013 and 2014.
Lateralus Ag
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Agsuffering@bulaw said:

He was Gary Pinkel's play-caller in 2013 and 2014.


So, he is going to be calling plays?
ontheway
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AG
What did Jimbo say when you expressed this opinion to him?
David Kreps
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HossAg said:

DUman08 said:

Not sure I am 100% behind this hire. I just hope Jimbo did his due diligence.


Respectfully, you don't know wtf to look for in assistant coaches like these. Jimbo didn't half ass this just to get it over with.
dont respond that way
West Point Aggie
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Lateralus Ag said:

The BDF is known for their running game and offensive line prowess. This is a great hire.

Color me completely unimpressed.


Coach must be reconsidering his decision as I type?
Let’s Go Brandon!
Rongagin71
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This guy has plenty of SEC experience, on national champions and contenders....
He is probably just as good as Turner at X&O's and better at recruiting,
plus he has worked with Jimbo so they already know each other.
Rick Flex
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Lateralus Ag said:

The BDF is known for their running game and offensive line prowess. This is a great hire.

Color me completely unimpressed.


I'll color you an idiot. Did you even read his bio?
TMF
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Tugg Speedman said:

Lateralus Ag said:

The BDF is known for their running game and offensive line prowess. This is a great hire.

Color me completely unimpressed.


I'll color you an idiot. Did you even read his bio?


I think there was a little sarcasm.
Lateralus Ag
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Tugg Speedman said:

Lateralus Ag said:

The BDF is known for their running game and offensive line prowess. This is a great hire.

Color me completely unimpressed.


I'll color you an idiot. Did you even read his bio?


I have read a lot of resumes in my time. I put little value in a resume.

I have also seen this: (credit to someone on the Henson thread)

Rushing totals from his years as an OL coach..

Missouri

2009- 127 ypg
2010- 156 ypg
2011- 244 ypg
2012- 139 ypg
2013- 238 ypg
2014- 178 ypg
2015- 115 ypg (Drew Lock's true freshman year) Pinkel's last season (sickness)

OK St.

2017- 180 ypg
2018- 190 ypg
Guy on a Buffalo
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Jimbo's ability to scout and recruit talent on the field and sidelines speaks for itself; he could literally recruit a turd out of the second floor bathroom at Macy's to be our starting free safety and I'd be on board.

-----------------------
Truth without love is brutality. Love without truth is compromise.
Snake
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DUman08 said:

Not sure I am 100% behind this hire. I just hope Jimbo did his due diligence.


Care to tell us who you had on your short list that would have been a better hire than the decision a coach with 40 years of coaching experience and connections in the business made? I'm on the edge of me seat with anticipation...
Agsuffering@bulaw
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Quote:

So, he is going to be calling plays?

My points were:

1. A good coach like Gary Pinkel trusted him
2. He called plays for Mizzou in 13-15. 15 was a rebuilding year, but they were very good the other 2.

I also contend that Gundy is a good coach. Gundy obviously trusted him with the OL.

So no, he will not call plays but he probably knows his stuff. I wish we could have kept Turner, but that ship sailed. Henson looks like a solid replacement.
Lateralus Ag
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ontheway said:

What did Jimbo say when you expressed this opinion to him?


Why is this considered a valid argument? I pointed out two facts. One, the BDF is not known for a strong running game. Two, I am unimpressed by this hire based on what I know.

The fact that I have not expressed my opinion to Jimbo is wholly irrelevant to any statement I have made.

HumpitPuryear
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Hard to recruit quality linemen to the B12 and it's a pass-happy league. It shouldn't surprise anyone that OSU doesn't rank well in OL stats. He's apparently a pretty good recruiter and Xs and Os schemer. I'm going to support our $75M coach's opinion on this one.
Lateralus Ag
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HumpitPuryear said:

Hard to recruit quality linemen to the B12 and it's a pass-happy league. It shouldn't surprise anyone that OSU doesn't rank well in OL stats. He's apparently a pretty good recruiter and Xs and Os schemer. I'm going to support our $75M coach's opinion on this one.


He had poor run yardage results while at Missouri as their OL coach. Some of that could have been scheme.

Lateralus Ag
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Agsuffering@bulaw said:

Quote:

So, he is going to be calling plays?

My points were:

1. A good coach like Gary Pinkel trusted him
2. He called plays for Mizzou in 13-15. 15 was a rebuilding year, but they were very good the other 2.

I also contend that Gundy is a good coach. Gundy obviously trusted him with the OL.

So no, he will not call plays but he probably knows his stuff. I wish we could have kept Turner, but that ship sailed. Henson looks like a solid replacement.


I think "pretty solid" is right on target.

Gundy is a good coach. In a league that values the pass and not defense. It will be interesting to see.

And for those that have said "I will support our coach and the decisions he makes" let me say this.

Whether I support it or not is COMPLETELY irrelevant. So, I will withhold my support until I see the results. If we win games and dominate the line of scrimmage then I will be happy as a lark about this hire.
HumpitPuryear
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Lateralus Ag said:

HumpitPuryear said:

Hard to recruit quality linemen to the B12 and it's a pass-happy league. It shouldn't surprise anyone that OSU doesn't rank well in OL stats. He's apparently a pretty good recruiter and Xs and Os schemer. I'm going to support our $75M coach's opinion on this one.


He had poor run yardage results while at Missouri as their OL coach. Some of that could have been scheme.


Definitely had couple bad years in there but >200ypg for several seasons is not terrible in the SEC. Didn't we have like 220ypg last season? I'm assuming Jimbo picked him because of a mix of skills not just for teaching OL technique.
Rongagin71
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Lateralus Ag said:

HumpitPuryear said:

Hard to recruit quality linemen to the B12 and it's a pass-happy league. It shouldn't surprise anyone that OSU doesn't rank well in OL stats. He's apparently a pretty good recruiter and Xs and Os schemer. I'm going to support our $75M coach's opinion on this one.


He had poor run yardage results while at Missouri as their OL coach. Some of that could have been scheme.


That was when Missouri won the SEC East twice in a row.
Lateralus Ag
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Rongagin71 said:

Lateralus Ag said:

HumpitPuryear said:

Hard to recruit quality linemen to the B12 and it's a pass-happy league. It shouldn't surprise anyone that OSU doesn't rank well in OL stats. He's apparently a pretty good recruiter and Xs and Os schemer. I'm going to support our $75M coach's opinion on this one.


He had poor run yardage results while at Missouri as their OL coach. Some of that could have been scheme.


That was when Missouri won the SEC East twice in a row.


And got beat both times. Once by Auburn (that was actually a good game) and once by Bama (that was not a good game).

Lateralus Ag
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HumpitPuryear said:

Lateralus Ag said:

HumpitPuryear said:

Hard to recruit quality linemen to the B12 and it's a pass-happy league. It shouldn't surprise anyone that OSU doesn't rank well in OL stats. He's apparently a pretty good recruiter and Xs and Os schemer. I'm going to support our $75M coach's opinion on this one.


He had poor run yardage results while at Missouri as their OL coach. Some of that could have been scheme.


Definitely had couple bad years in there but >200ypg for several seasons is not terrible in the SEC. Didn't we have like 220ypg last season? I'm assuming Jimbo picked him because of a mix of skills not just for teaching OL technique.


His teams had exactly two seasons with an average of 200 yards or more rushing.

ETA: Average over 9 seasons: 174.11 yards per season.

I don't know what the average is for FBS but I bet it is somewhere around 175 yards per game.

ETA: Again, a lot of that may be due to scheme.
mcag83
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.
Like anyone can even know that.
HossAg
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David Kreps said:

HossAg said:

DUman08 said:

Not sure I am 100% behind this hire. I just hope Jimbo did his due diligence.


Respectfully, you don't know wtf to look for in assistant coaches like these. Jimbo didn't half ass this just to get it over with.
dont respond that way


Shut up, rook
Cassius
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I think most would leave if the money, bennies and opportunities were better. Unless you are head coach in waiting, it's not that big a deal.
Lateralus Ag
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Senator Cassius said:

I think most would leave if the money, bennies and opportunities were better. Unless you are head coach in waiting, it's not that big a deal.


WTF is a "bennie"? Do you mean benefits? That word is one letter shorter.

God I hate millennials.
aeon-ag
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HossAg said:

DUman08 said:

Not sure I am 100% behind this hire. I just hope Jimbo did his due diligence.


Respectfully, you don't know wtf to look for in assistant coaches like these. Jimbo didn't half ass this just to get it over with.
Looks like we have two coaching authorities here. I hope both of you advised Fisher of your expertise!
Lateralus Ag
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aeon-ag said:

HossAg said:

DUman08 said:

Not sure I am 100% behind this hire. I just hope Jimbo did his due diligence.


Respectfully, you don't know wtf to look for in assistant coaches like these. Jimbo didn't half ass this just to get it over with.
Looks like we have two coaching authorities here. I hope both of you advised Fisher of your expertise!


Not you too.
HossAg
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aeon-ag said:

HossAg said:

DUman08 said:

Not sure I am 100% behind this hire. I just hope Jimbo did his due diligence.


Respectfully, you don't know wtf to look for in assistant coaches like these. Jimbo didn't half ass this just to get it over with.
Looks like we have two coaching authorities here. I hope both of you advised Fisher of your expertise!


Where did I claim to have any expertise on the matter?
Lateralus Ag
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HossAg said:

aeon-ag said:

HossAg said:

DUman08 said:

Not sure I am 100% behind this hire. I just hope Jimbo did his due diligence.


Respectfully, you don't know wtf to look for in assistant coaches like these. Jimbo didn't half ass this just to get it over with.
Looks like we have two coaching authorities here. I hope both of you advised Fisher of your expertise!


Where did I claim to have any expertise on the matter?


This is a common argument when someone holds a less than favorable opinion of a coach or his decisions.

It was thrown at me all the time during the Sumlin era. Turns out I was right. No one ever apologized for calling me all manner of nasty names though.

A New Hope
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Yeah. Losing in sec champ game sucks. Hope we get that chance one day.
Cassius
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Lateralus Ag said:

Senator Cassius said:

I think most would leave if the money, bennies and opportunities were better. Unless you are head coach in waiting, it's not that big a deal.


WTF is a "bennie"? Do you mean benefits? That word is one letter shorter.

God I hate millennials.


"bennies" is slang for benefits.

If my use of it upsets you, I'm confident you have much bigger issues. Maybe an emo support dog would be helpful?
Lateralus Ag
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Senator Cassius said:

Lateralus Ag said:

Senator Cassius said:

I think most would leave if the money, bennies and opportunities were better. Unless you are head coach in waiting, it's not that big a deal.


WTF is a "bennie"? Do you mean benefits? That word is one letter shorter.

God I hate millennials.


"bennies" is slang for benefits.

If my use of it upset you, I'm confident you have much bigger issues. Maybe an emo support dog would be helpful?


Don't flatter yourself sip. It just makes me laugh.
HossAg
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I find it hilarious that the dude calling benefits "bennies" is trying to make the other dude feel bad about it.
Cassius
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Lateralus Ag said:

Senator Cassius said:

Lateralus Ag said:

Senator Cassius said:

I think most would leave if the money, bennies and opportunities were better. Unless you are head coach in waiting, it's not that big a deal.


WTF is a "bennie"? Do you mean benefits? That word is one letter shorter.

God I hate millennials.


"bennies" is slang for benefits.

If my use of it upset you, I'm confident you have much bigger issues. Maybe an emo support dog would be helpful?


Don't flatter yourself sip. It just makes me laugh.


Laugh all you want, just get an emo dog before it's too late.
Amazing Moves
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Lateralus Ag said:

ontheway said:

What did Jimbo say when you expressed this opinion to him?


Why is this considered a valid argument? I pointed out two facts. One, the BDF is not known for a strong running game. Two, I am unimpressed by this hire based on what I know.

The fact that I have not expressed my opinion to Jimbo is wholly irrelevant to any statement I have made.


It's cool to have a discussion. Leaving Jimbo out of the equation, what do you know about him that makes the hire unimpressive?

How is it right to access his coaching ability based on the reputation of the Big 12 as a whole?
swc93
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Probably a 'Stros fan as well.
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