Texas A&M football: 5 reasons Aggies could struggle in 2018

(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
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(Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
(Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

Depth

The Aggies return several players who saw significant playing time in 2017. Officially they return 16 starters — eight on each side of the ball — from their team last year. The starting group will be experienced, especially on defense.

Leading the way for Mike Elko will be seniors Donovan Wilson, Kingsley Keke, Landis Durham, Daylon Mack and Otaro Alaka. They also have juniors Tyrel Dodson, Justin Madubuike and Charles Oliver.

Fisher will also have a few upper classmen on his side of the ball, but mostly on the offensive line. Seniors Connor Lanfear and Keaton Sutherland plus juniors Erik McCoy and Colton Prater give Jim Turner and Fisher some experience, should they all be in the starting lineup (still not set).

Despite all the experience among those starters, the Aggies have mostly unproven freshmen and sophomores behind them (and some actually are starters). Should the starting lineup suffer significant injuries, Fisher would be counting on young players who haven’t had much playing time to step up.