The Texas A&M Football team is gearing up for a season that could easily become its best in school history. After finishing with their highest ranking (4th) in nearly a century, Jimbo Fisher will try to bolster his roster and fight for a spot in the College Football Playoff, where Aggie fans will argue their team should have been last year.
In order to get there, A&M needs a cohesive team, much like the 2020-21 roster. This time around, they have more experience in a place that can help that happen, starting on the offensive side of the ball.
Fortunately for the Aggies, national media outlets have already recognized the team in College Station as having more than a handful of talent, giving four Aggies Preseason AP All-American honors.
The Texas A&M Football team’s Preseason AP All-Americans shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise
Fortunately and unfortunately, the college football world is filled with offseason media outlets giving out way-too-early All-American lists, All-SEC lists, and any other recognitions imaginable. As a result, we’ve seen these four players listed among the best players in the conference a handful of times already.
The first Aggie that I’ll be talking about who was named to the AP All-American team was Kenyon Green, A&M’s sole returning offensive lineman. Green came close to a handful of recognitions last season, including becoming a finalist for the Joe Moore Award. If the Aggies’ offensive line is good in 2021-22, it’ll start with Green, who was named to the first team.
But he won’t be entirely alone.
Next to Green, Texas A&M will have another preseason AP All-American at the tight end spot in Jalen Wydermyer, who has already established himself as one of the best tight ends in Aggie history. The Aggie TE has already accumulated over 950 yards and 12 touchdowns to match. Wydermyer was named to the second team.
One more offensive player was given preseason All-American honors by the Associated Press. That player was Isaiah Spiller.
Spiller may not be the flashiest runningback, but he’s arguably the most exciting returning player on this A&M football team. The third-year back should break through the 2,000 career rushing yard mark as soon as the first game of the season, while he’ll look to crack the 1,000 yard mark in a single season for the second time in his career. With a new quarterback set to start for the Aggies, Spiller will be carrying a heavy load on his back.
The Texas A&M Football team had a single defensive player listed to AP’s Preseason All-American team
If you just woke up from a coma that ended at the conclusion of the 2020-21 college football season, you’ll be surprised to see that only a single defensive Texas A&M Football player was listed as a Preseason All-American. After all, the Aggies’ offense was never its calling card under Jimbo Fisher. Instead, the defense has been more dominating.
Still, the sole player to earn these honors for the 2021 season was DeMarvin Leal, who is actually relatively unproven. Leal has been efficient when he’s on the field, recording 12.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in his career. An interception, forced fumble, and fumble recovery are all the cherry on top.
With Bobby Brown III departing for the NFL, it’ll be Leal’s turn to take over this defensive line. And take over is exactly what he should do. With all of the physical traits and a handful of intangibles to go along with them, Texas A&M should see a great season out of this young star.