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3 Reasons Texas A&M Football will Decimate South Carolina

By Graham Harmon

Sep 30, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies defensive back Josh DeBerry (28) and linebacker Chris Russell Jr. (24) and defensive back Demani Richardson (26) and defensive lineman Malick Sylla (92) celebrate after Jr. returns an interception for a touchdown against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the second half at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 30, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies defensive back Josh DeBerry (28) and linebacker Chris Russell Jr. (24) and defensive back Demani Richardson (26) and defensive lineman Malick Sylla (92) celebrate after Jr. returns an interception for a touchdown against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the second half at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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Texas A&M Football Furthers Rattler’s Road Woes

The one unit of this South Carolina team that has performed to an acceptable level overall thus far this year is the pass offense. Outside of a good half against Georgia for the defense, this is really the only aspect of this Carolina team that would have fans worried, with a super-senior uber-talented QB operating things and throwing to another uber-talented super-senior in Xavier Legette.

As things stand, though, Legette may be out for this game. If he is, Rattler will be operating without his top three wide receivers in him, Juice Wells, and Ahmarean Brown. TE Trey Knox is skilled and has had a solid career at Arkansas, but is not a big-play guy. It may be worth keeping an eye on 5-star freshman and athletic freak Nyck Harbor, who has an insane combo of size and speed and has begun to play more in recent weeks.

All that said, however, the fact remains that Spencer Rattler has struggled mightily on the road this year. I detailed this in the full team preview, but here again are Rattler’s home versus road stats:

  • HOME: 85.7% completion, 12.3 YPA, 10 TDs, 1 INT, 315.3 yds/game
  • AWAY/NEUTRAL: 63.5% completion, 6.4 YPA, 1 TD, 4 INTs, 248.8 yds/game

That’s a pretty sharp distinction. Part of it is who they’ve faced thus far at home (Furman, Mississippi State, Florida) versus who they’ve played on the road (NC, Georgia, Tennessee, Mizzou), but it’s also safe to say that the Aggies’ defense falls in much more so with that latter group than the former. I think Texas A&M football found something when pressed into playing DeBerry at nickel rather than corner, and hopefully that helps a defense that has been ailing against deep passes; however, if Rattler has no time and no one to throw to, that will make it hard for them to push it downfield anyway.