November has begun, and in the most important month of the season, the Texas A&M football team has a lot of work to do as things progress. The Aggies have two losses, and if they want a shot at the SEC Championship Game and the College Football Playoff, they have to play flawless football.
In order to play flawless football, a few players need to step up and make their mark on this Texas A&M football team.
Today, I’m going over the top three Aggies who can make a difference for the Texas A&M football team in the month of November.
November Texas A&M Football Key Players, Honorable Mention: QB Zach Calzada
I don’t want to beat a dead horse here, but I have to mention Zach Calzada. The Aggie quarterback, after a brutal start, has been nothing but stellar for the Texas A&M football team.
That said, there are still questions as to whether or not he can continue this level of play for the next month or so.
Calzada’s first two starts against Power Five teams this season saw him throw for zero touchdowns and a pair of interceptions. He completed fewer than 60% of his passes though, in fairness, did score a 25-yard rushing touchdown in one of these games.
I mention his shortcomings to make a simple point.
Even though it seems like these types of games are in the rear-view mirror, you never truly know. The Aggie quarterback needs to continue this level of play, but now that his back is no longer against the wall, will he be able to stay consistent?
November Texas A&M Football Key Players, No. 1: RB Isaiah Spiller
I’m giving Isaiah Spiller some love here because I left him off of my top performers list from October and instead, put Devon Achane on the list. That said, Spiller was extremely impactful in the backfield for the Aggies in the last month. Heck, at the runningback position alone, I’d give him the edge over Achane.
In November, Spiller will have to continue the hot streak that he began in October.
Even though he hasn’t been getting the national attention that many expected, Spiller has been extremely consistent throughout the entire season. Spiller has rushed for at least 100 yards in all but three games. He hasn’t had a two-game stretch where he doesn’t hit triple digits.
That said, he’s only had one two-game stretch where he rushes for at least 100 yards a single time — those two games were the last two contests for Texas A&M. But that’s not the only significant number for Spiller.
RB1 for the Aggies is also averaging a new career-high in yards per carry and it’s not very close to his old record. In 2021, even behind a regressed offensive line, Spiller is rushing for 6.2 yards per carry — his old career high was 5.6
I fully expect Spiller to bring this momentum into November.
November Texas A&M Football Key Players, No. 2: S Leon O’Neal Jr.
Strangely, Leon O’Neal Jr. played his best football when his team was struggling. The Aggie safety had two early-season interceptions, taking one of them to the house for Texas A&M’s first defensive touchdown of the year.
Since then, he’s been… quiet, I guess.
You’d have to nitpick to find any issues in the rest of his performances, as he has deflected five passes and recovered a fumble, but he hasn’t really shown up the same way that he did early in the year.
If the Aggies want to prove that they have one of the best defenses in the country, it starts with one of their leaders in O’Neal.
November Texas A&M Football Key Players, No. 3: CB Jaylon Jones
Jaylon Jones is only a sophomore, and as a cornerback, experience is key. That said, Jones had to put his big boy pants on early when his cornerback counterpart in Myles Jones was officially listed as being out for the remainder of the season. The Aggies would also lose another cornerback in Brian George.
On the year, Jaylon has been “okay.” He hasn’t really done anything noteworthy, which, I guess, could be considered a positive. He hasn’t been outrageously horrible.
That said, his lack of noteworthy performances has led to a slight regression of the Aggie secondary in the eyes of many. If A&M wants to be able to stop teams like Auburn, and most importantly, Ole Miss, Jones needs to step up as a force in the secondary.
A strong finish to the year from the sophomore cornerback could go a long way.