Fisher eagerly anticipating competition that spring practices will bring

Coach Jimbo Fisher anticipates intense competition is expected at a variety of positions in Texas A&M’s upcoming spring football drills.

The Aggies begin their allotted 15 spring practices on Monday. After next week, they will pause for spring break and then continue until the Maroon & White Game on April 9.

A&M is expected to improve on an 8-4 record in 2021. Early rankings have the Aggies listed as high as No. 4.

“It will be great to get back on the grass and be able to get back to football,” Fisher said. “The offseason so far has went very well. The guys in the workouts and our fourth quarter programs, I think, we’re running very well.

“The 12 new guys (early arriving freshmen) have gotten in and have gotten into the culture of how to work and how to do things. I’ve been very happy with their progress.

"The upperclassmen have done a really nice job. They seem to be in very good shape from a conditioning standpoint and a physical standpoint. Getting stronger.”

Several players will miss spring drills, including receivers Caleb Chapman and Hezekiah Jones, defensive backs Brian Georgie, Jaylon Jones and Deuce Harmon, defensive linemen McKinnley Jackson, Donell Harris and Adarious Jones, tight end/quarterback Eli Stowers as well as freshman defensive end Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy and freshman defensive back Marquis Groves-Killebrew.

Brownlow-Dindy, a five-star prospect, sustained a knee injury in the Under Armour All-America Game in January. Fisher said he hopes Brownlow-Dindy will be ready to compete when the Aggies start August camp.

Still, Fisher anticipates great competition, especially at quarterback.

Haynes King, the 2021 starter who was lost to injury, LSU transfer Max Johnson and five-star recruit Connor Weigman are all vying for the starting job.

“Tremendous competition. How you get to become a better player is you’ve got competition,” Fisher said. “You want practice to be your greatest competition. Each and every day, you know you have to bring your A-game to practice to make sure you have a job. That’s how your team gets better.

“Of course, you want to see their leadership. Their knowledge of the game. Their decision-making. Their toughness. Their competitiveness. The biggest thing they’re going to bring is great competition. That’s what we’ve got to get at every position if we’re going to grow as a team.”

There figures to be extreme competition on the defensive line where 2021 starters DeMarvin Leal, Jayden Peevy and Micheal Clemons have departed to pursue careers in the NFL.

Although Jackson, Adarious Jones and Donell Harris are sidelined, there is a glut of prospects remaining in the interior and on the edge.

“Isaiah Raikes has played a ton of football,” Fisher said. “Shemar Turner, we think, is going to be an outstanding player.

“The defensive ends (Leal, Clemons and Tyree Johnson), we lost them. But you’ve still got Tunmise (Adeleye), who’s going to be real good. Fadil (Diggs) has had an outstanding offseason. Donell Harris will be Jahzion Harris. Elijah Jeudy. Anthony Lucas has come in and really felt in well. Braedon Mowry has done a great job.”

Jamie Maury, TexAgs

The return of WR Ainias Smith is even more critical given the recent suspension of Demond Demas.

There will also be interesting competition at running back, tight end and receiver, where the Aggies just lost 2021 starter Demond Demas to suspension.

Still, Fisher believes the angst of losing Demas can be eased by the return of several receivers, most notably Ainias Smith.

Smith caught 47 passes for 509 yards and six touchdowns last season.

“Ainias had a really good offseason, great leadership,” Fisher said. “Moose (Muhammad), I think, is going to be a good player for us. Devin Price has had a really good offseason. Kenyon Jackson has done a great job. Yulkeith Brown has done an outstanding job.

“(Five-star freshman) Evan Stewart has been superb in our offseason workouts. I’m anxious to see where it goes.”

The offensive line will also be a major point of interest.  Starting tackle Reuben Fatheree, guard Layden Robinson and center Bryce Foster return, though Foster won’t participate much because he’s a championship-level competitor in the shot put and discus for the Texas A&M track & field team.

Foster and running back Devon Achane, also a track & field star, won’t be involved in contact drills.