5 Bold Predictions for Texas A&M Football vs. Miami

5 Bold Predictions for Texas A&M football vs. Miami

No preamble! Let’s jump right in!

Amari Daniels will have a big night for Texas A&M football

I’ve written elsewhere that the rushing numbers for this Texas A&M football team were artificially deflated against New Mexico due to the Lobos absolutely loading the box with warm bodies. The offensive line did a really good job of blocking—especially when compared to other season openers under Jimbo—it just became a numbers game. When you have five players blocking nine guys who are pinning their ears back and rushing the line of scrimmage as soon as the ball is snapped, you’re going to struggle running the ball a bit. Even so, though, the Ags averaged near 5 YPC.

I think Amari Daniels, in a return home to Miami, will break out for the Aggies against the Hurricanes. This looks like an offensive line that is ready to go, even against a talented Miami defensive line, and Daniels will have some extra motivation to kick it up a notch against his hometown squad. I think he’ll record a score on a big run of at least 20 yards.

Ainias Smith will bounce back

Smith didn’t struggle really against UNM, but he certainly had a quiet evening compared to his normal production. That slack was picked up by Evan Stewart and Noah Thomas, of course, but I think this game against Miami is where Smith will begin to really showcase his versatility. I predict we’ll see him in and out of the backfield when this offense for Texas A&M football is out on the field: running routes, carrying the ball, and pass protecting (an underrated skill of his when at the RB position). Give me Ainias recording at least one touchdown and 100 total yards.

Bryce Anderson breaks out for Texas A&M football

This was the matchup last year where Bryce Anderson really began to flash for the Aggies. #1 was extremely visible blowing up the Hurricanes’ offensive attempts at Kyle Field last September, and I think he’ll show his quality again in this year’s edition of the game. Like Ainias on the offensive side, Anderson brings a wealth of versatility to Durkin’s defense, and I see him making life difficult on Tyler Van Dyke. Give me Anderson recording at least two combined PBUs or TFLs on Saturday.

Miami offense bogs down against this defense for Texas A&M football

I get that you can’t take away too much from the first game against an inferior opponent when evaluating a team’s potential—either good or bad—but I couldn’t help but feel reminded of previous Aggie teams that ended up falling far short of their ceiling when watching this Miami offense in their game against Miami (OH). I think the Aggie defense will expose this fledgling Hurricane attack on Saturday and shut them down.

Shemars show out

It seems like Shemar Turner is one of the more under-discussed talents along the Aggie defensive line. Not so with Miami native Shemar Stewart—the former top-10 player in the country projects to be a breakout star for the Aggies this year. I think both show up big against Tyler Van Dyke and the Hurricanes; Turner, reminding us why he was ranked as highly as he was coming out of high school; Stewart, putting on a high-level performance for a hometown crowd that will doubtless contain many family and friends.