Texas A&M football: Position battles to watch in spring practices
By Jeff Shull
Texas A&M football will take the practice field for the spring on March 20; here are five position battles you should be watching.
Aggie fans who will be itching to see the 2019 Texas A&M football product on the field will get their first taste of it starting March 20 when Jimbo Fisher will start spring practices for his second season. The Maroon and White game will culminate this time on April 13 during parents weekend.
As good as the 2018 team was, there is a ton of roster turnover. Fisher will be looking to replace four starters (Trayveon Williams, Jace Sternberger, Keaton Sutherland, Erik McCoy) on offense and six (Kingsley Keke, Daylon Mack, Landis Durham, Tyrel Dodson, Otaro Alaka, Donovan Wilson) on defense. Given the roster’s relative lack of experience, there will definitely be battles for starting positions to watch this spring and beyond into fall camp.
Running back
One of the most important players lost from the 2018 season is Williams. He set the single-season school record for rushing yards, yards from scrimmage and all-purpose yards (without returning kicks). Some (like us) predicted Williams would be a workhorse in Fisher’s system, mostly due to the fact he’s incredible, but also because he was so much better than the other running backs on the roster.
That may not be the case in 2019, but it’s not for lack of talent.
Jashaun Corbin was the primary backup a season ago and the presumed starter for the 2019 roster, but he will have to fend off multiple 4-star recruits for the job. Vernon Jackson is a monster who could find his way into the rotation no matter what (provided he doesn’t switch positions), Cordarrian Richardson is a transfer from UCF who had to sit out last season but is the highest-rated prospect from his respective class, and 2019 all-purpose back Isaiah Spiller offers a ton of upside in the passing game.
There could be a running back by committee approach moving forward, especially if they all progress as much as they should through the spring.