Texas A&M football: 5 players to watch vs. Alabama

1. Kellen Mond

Mond is easily the most important player for the Aggies on Saturday. Nick Saban’s squads have had trouble in the past with quarterbacks who can scramble and make plays. Johnny Manziel went off in a win at Tuscaloosa, finishing with 253 yards and two touchdowns through the air plus 92 yards rushing, and torched Saban’s defense for 562 total yards and five touchdowns in 2013.

DeShaun Watson also had two games over 400 total yards against Alabama in back-to-back National Championship games. The key to both of these players? They could beat you with their arms and legs equally.

Mond hasn’t done much running this season. He has learned to be poised in the pocket under Fisher. The progress he has made from year one to year two has been nothing short of remarkable. He still has that scramble ability in his arsenal, however, and Fisher has even called some run plays for him in the first couple games.

The Aggies will have to open up the playbook to beat Bama, but Mond will also have to showcase the same heroics that got him 463 yards and three touchdowns against Clemson’s dominant defense.

Jeff Shull is the Site Expert for the Gig Em Gazette on FanSided. Follow him on Twitter, and be sure to follow the Gig Em Gazette on Facebook and Twitter.