Texas A&M football: 5 reasons Aggies will be better than Texas in 2018

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Quarterback

Looking at the quarterbacks and where they fell in their recruiting class rankings, Texas has a small edge with their two who are competing for the job right now.

Sam Ehlinger was the No. 119 overall recruit and No. 4 dual threat quarterback in the 2017 class, and Shane Buechele was the No. 182 overall recruit and No. 3 dual threat quarterback in the 2016 class. Kellen Mond was the No. 108 overall recruit and just above Ehlinger at No. 3 in 2017, but Nick Starkel was the No. 523 overall recruit and No. 21 pro-style quarterback in 2016.

The potential is there for either of Texas quarterbacks to be great. However, we have evidence of all four abilities on the field and Starkel was the best of them in 2017. When you watch them, and when you examine the statistics, both teams have a guy who likes to take off and run and a guy who will beat you with his arm first but still has some athletic ability.

	Nick Starkel	Kellen Mond	Sam Ehlinger	Shane Buechele
Appearances	7	10	9	9
Pass Yards	1,793	1,375	1,915	1,405
Pass TDs	14	8	11	7
INTs	6	6	7	4
Comp %	60.0%	51.5%	57.5%	64.3%
QB Rat	150.2	108.8	124.1	126.8
Rush Yards	-42	340	381	99
Rush TDs	1	3	2	2

From a pure passing standpoint, Starkel is the clear leader of the pack, and that may suit him well in taking over Jimbo Fisher’s offense. Fisher has turned guys into first-round NFL Draft picks who go on to flame out in the NFL without him (Christian Ponder, E.J. Manuel). He is known for being a great teacher of quarterbacks and that definitely gives A&M the edge.

Plus, if you believe reports coming out of Aggieland that Mond is actually pushing Starkel for the job, he would have to have come a long way under the tutelage of Fisher this offseason. If he’s able to throw the ball accurately it would be a lethal combination with his legs.

Texas A&M is more likely to get better play from their quarterbacks in 2018.