Coming off an injury-plagued season that significantly reduced his effect in 2018, Texas A&M wideout Jhamon Ausbon is hoping to make a more significant impact in 2019 now that he is entirely healthy.
Ausbon was fourth among A&M receivers in 2018 with 31 catches for 375 yards. He spent the offseason dropping just enough weight to add explosiveness in an effort to turn his production into conduction and become a more electric weapon within the Aggie offense.
“I’m faster, I lost a little bit of weight, and I’m 100 percent healthy,” said Ausbon, who now weighs 212 pounds. “Coach Fisher and coach Craig made it a point to say, ‘This offseason we want to see how you are at this weight; you seem twitchier,’ and it turns out they were right.”
A “twitchier” Ausbon could signal danger for opposing defenses in the season ahead. Despite not playing a full season last year and battling a lower-leg injury late in the fall, the A&M pass-catcher still managed to rack up 20 first-down catches for the Maroon & White.
“On third down, a lot of teams are going to blitz, probably play man coverage,” he said. “And since I’m on the boundary, I usually get one-on-ones, so that just means winning your assignment, and I guess Kellen just finds me.”
With last season’s injury now in the rearview, Ausbon’s head coach likes what he has seen from the wideout throughout the first few days of camp.
“Jhamon’s been really dependable and having a really good camp thus far,” said Fisher. “I think he’s having a really good camp.”
Fisher also discussed on Monday how helpful Ausbon’s IQ and versatility are for A&M moving the football.
“He’s such a leader and so smart, and you can do so many different things with him. You can put him in different positions to run plays, just a natural football player.”
However, it’s not just Fisher who notices a high IQ from the A&M receivers. Safety Keldrick Carper echoed those sentiments about Ausbon and his fellow wideouts on Wednesday evening following practice number seven.
“That’s a very, very dangerous receiving corps, oh my goodness,” Carper said. “You’re talking about a combination of speed, quickness, technically sound, freakish athletic abilities and they’re smart.”
That intelligence and a bevy of playmakers including Kendrick Rogers and Quartney Davis among others could mean lots of success for the Aggies through the air. At least Ausbon thinks so.
When asked about the possibility of a 1,000-yard receiver for Texas A&M in 2019, Ausbon replied, “There’s gonna be... multiple.”
He later added that this season could be fun for all involved with the multitude of weapons at the disposal of Jimbo Fisher and trigger-man Kellen Mond.
“It’s gonna be a fun year. As long as we all know what we’re doing and we’re all healthy, the sky’s the limit for us.”
