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Texas A&M Football: Adrian Wolford retires from football

By Matthew Bartlett

COLLEGE STATION, TX - OCTOBER 03: Fans turn on their cell phone lights while the Texas A&M Aggies play the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the fourth quarter on October 3, 2015 at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas. Aggies won 30 to 17. (Photo by Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images)
COLLEGE STATION, TX - OCTOBER 03: Fans turn on their cell phone lights while the Texas A&M Aggies play the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the fourth quarter on October 3, 2015 at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas. Aggies won 30 to 17. (Photo by Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images) /
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Texas A&M football offensive lineman Adrian Wolford announced his retirement from football, citing a lower back injury and medical concerns.

Adrian Wolford became the second Aggie to retire from football this offseason. He follows former Aggie defender Justin Dunning, who announced his departure from the football in December. For Dunning it was lower body injuries that plagued what was a promising career.

A 6-foot-4 offensive lineman out of Meeker, Oklahoma, Wolford was a 3-star recruit and one of five offensive lineman signed in the Aggies’ 2017 recruiting class. Unfortunately, he never saw the field at Texas A&M.

Wolford cited a back injury that forced him end his football career before it ever truly got started in College Station. He released his first public statement on Twitter, citing his love for Aggieland and the gravity of this difficult decision.

The Texas A&M offensive line was in a constant state of flux in 2017. Veterans were subbed out for freshman as the entire unit went through highs and lows. Despite the challenges, offensive line coach Jim Turner was one of two coaches retained by Jimbo Fisher on his new coaching staff. Turner has produced plenty of NFL-caliber talent and he’ll have new pieces to work with in 2018.

Losing Wolford is not a good way to start the offseason, but Fisher and the Aggies will bolster their depth by adding three new recruits. Colten Blanton, Barton Clement and Luke Matthews all signed with Texas A&M during the early signing period and Blanton is already on campus as an early enrollee.

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Turner will find the right combination next fall. Adding a Matthews to the team is a distinct early advantage in itself. We wish Adrian the best of luck going forward. Football team or not, you can never stop being an Aggie. Gig’em.