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Texas A&M Football: Assessing the impact of every offseason Aggie transfer

By Matthew Bartlett

Nov 24, 2016; College Station, TX, USA; Texas A&M Aggies wide receiver Frank Iheanacho (15) attempts to make a reception as LSU Tigers defensive back Dwayne Thomas (13) defends during the fourth quarter at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 24, 2016; College Station, TX, USA; Texas A&M Aggies wide receiver Frank Iheanacho (15) attempts to make a reception as LSU Tigers defensive back Dwayne Thomas (13) defends during the fourth quarter at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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Texas A&M Football
Apr 30, 2016; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks receiver Kirk Merritt runs the ball in the first half at the Oregon Ducks spring game at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports /

Kirk Merritt

Oregon and Texas A&M were the leaders for Kirk Merritt’s services out of high school. He announced on National Signing Day in 2015 that he had chosen the Ducks. After a brief time in Eugene, the former four-star receiver decided to transfer to Texas A&M.

He caught five passes in five games at Oregon. Due to NCAA transfer rules he sat out last season and was expected to jump into a starting slot role for the Aggies in 2017. Kirk was suspended after being accused of indecent exposure. He was later released from the team before announcing he would transfer.

Merritt is the only one of these transfers that was expected to be in the starting 11 when Texas A&M kicked off their season against UCLA. That makes him one of the more prominent departures even though he never caught a pass for the maroon and white.

Verdict: Big impact

Losing Merritt on the field is not a humongous loss, but it’s not negligible. This guy was one of the nation’s highest rated receivers out of high school and would have given the Aggies one of the most intimidating slot attacks since Malcolm Kennedy and Ryan Swope.

Instead the tight end position must produce this season. If those guys don’t come through the team won’t have a safety net to cover that deficiency. Seals-Jones is gone too. Mazzone has utilized the tight end position in the past. Merritt’s departure leaves a hole in the middle of the field that’s going to have to be filled somehow.