Texas A&M Football: Kevin Sumlin has a quarterback problem

Kyler Murray was another highly touted quarterback signee. The difference from Kyle Allen was he was Aggie royalty. His father was the Aggie quarterback during the 1980’s and during that time he would lead the Aggies in two of their three Cotton Bowl appearances.

I got a chance to meet Murray at the Under Armour All-American game in Orlando. My father was in charge of the offense that year and I remember asking both Murray and Brandon Wimbush why they chose the school they did. The answer Murray gave me was not a surprise, all I’ve ever known is Texas A&M.

The same questions from earlier apply, what were the Murray’s told about playing time? How much of an influence did his father have on his recruitment? Did his dad expect something from the A&M coaching staff? Was playing both football and baseball going to work while trying to win the quarterback job against two other guys that basically have the same number of years to play?

After a great start to the 2015 season, the season started to go sideways after the Alabama game. That, coupled with reported conflict between Murray and offensive coordinator Jake Spavital alongside an injury to Allen’s throwing shoulder sent the two the Aggie quarterback situation into turmoil.

Murray would shine in his start against South Carolina in his first start but would then struggle and an apparent injury against Auburn the next week. Against Western Carolina, Murray played okay but threw two interceptions and the job went back to Allen.  This would be the last time we see Murray on the field. This demotion must have sealed his fate.

Murray would start to think about his future and would be given a day off by coach Kevin Sumlin during bowl preparation. Remember. this day off came a week after Kyle Allen announced his intentions to transfer. Many thought Murray would take the team to Nashville and start his own legacy at the school, but that would never happen.

The next day Murray informed the world of his intentions to transfer. He listed a bunch of reasons from trust to utilization, but to me I knew for a long time this was a ticking time bomb waiting to go off. After his decision to leave, that leaves the Aggies with just Hubenak at the helm to start against Louisville in the Music City Bowl.