Six Aggies who could make a big leap during the 2024 football season

Leap year means there are 29 days in February.

It also means there are six months (and two days) before Texas A&M opens the football season against Notre Dame.

With that in mind, we close February by predicting six Aggies who could make a big leap in 2024.

WR Moose Muhammad: Yes, there was the sleeves issue at Auburn in 2022. But two weeks later, Muhammad redeemed himself with a spectacular five-catch, 94-yard performance in the upset of LSU. Frankly, former coach Jimbo Fisher’s apparent aversion to Muhammad remains curious. Muhammad has a knack of making big plays — often with one hand. Though under-utilized the last two seasons, Muhammad has accumulated 65 catches for 955 yards and six touchdowns. Muhammad could reach or exceed those numbers this season with a more prominent role in Collin Klein’s offense.

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In less than four foul games last fall, Weigman finished with a quarterback rating of 156.8.

QB Conner Weigman: The junior quarterback was off to a nice start last season before being lost to injury. He threw five touchdowns in the first game and passed more than 300 yards in the next two. Expect more of that. Much more. Weigman has started only eight games in his career. In those games, he has completed 63 percent of his passes for 1,784 yards with 16 touchdowns and two interceptions. Over a 12-game season, those numbers project to 2,676 passing yards, 24 touchdowns and three interceptions. Frankly, that would be a conservative goal. Weigman has the ability to exceed 3,000 yards passing and 30 touchdowns. His stardom seems dependent staying healthy. Which leads to…

OL Chase Bisontis: Predictably, Bisontis had his struggles as a true freshman, but he was good enough to earn a starting job at right tackle. The return from injury of Reuben Fatheree and the continued development of Dametrious Crownover should enable Bisontis to move inside, where he could be a more natural fit — perhaps at right guard. He should be stronger because of the influence of new strength and conditioning coach Tommy Moffitt. He figures to improve technically from the tutelage of new offensive line coach Adam Cushing.

LT Trey Zuhn: No doubt, the 6-foot-7, 315-pound junior is tough. As a redshirt freshman, Zuhn played with a bad knee and a torn labrum. Finally healthy in 2022, he had a solid season and was the Aggies' best offensive lineman. He, too, figures to benefit heavily from the influences of Moffitt. Don’t be surprised should Zuhn emerge among the SEC’s top five players at his position.

DT David Hicks: Ignore the modest numbers posted last season (13 tackles, two TFLs, one sack). Interior defensive linemen typically don’t amass gaudy stats. Hicks only had two tackles in the Texas Bowl, but those paying attention saw him wreak havoc with the Oklahoma State offensive line. He was only a true freshman, too. He’ll likely be stronger and quicker. Maybe even bigger. It would be no surprise if Hicks has an impact similar to that Justin Madubuike had for the Aggies a few years ago.

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A three-star recruit from Temple, York started all 13 games for the Maroon & White in 2023.

LB Taurean York: Some would argue York doesn’t belong on this list because he’s already taken a big leap in earning Freshman All-American recognition last season. That may have been the tip of the proverbial iceberg, though. To get an idea of what York could be in his second year as a starter, consider what his linebacker teammate Edgerrin Cooper did. Cooper was solid but unspectacular as a first-year starter in 2022. Last year, he earned All-American acclaim for posting 84 tackles, 17 for lost yardage and eight sacks. York may not be the athlete Cooper is, but he had 74 tackles as a surprising true freshman starter. He could become dominant as he continues to develop.

It should be noted since joining the SEC, Texas A&M has had strong football seasons in Leap years.

In 2020, the Aggies went 9-1, won the Orange Bowl and finished fourth in the final national polls.

In 2016, they started 7-1 and were fourth in the initial College Football Playoff rankings before an injury to starting quarterback Trevor Knight derailed their season.

In 2012, Johnny Manziel won the Heisman Trophy while leading A&M to an 11-2 campaign and No. 5 final ranking.

If the six aforementioned players take a leap forward, the Aggies could be in for another big year.