AggieYell Mailbag

Q: Of the early Dec signees, which ones are currently enrolled at A&M and will be participating in spring practice? (Davidimy)

A: The only one I know of for sure is JUCO TE Jace Sternberger. And that's definitely an important one to have. I think Barton Clement may be there as well, but I'm not sure on that.

Q: Any update status on what may be going on with Keondre Coburn? Thanks. (AgsRule97!)

A: The renewed push with Bobby Brown makes me think he's solid to Texas.

Q: Is there much of a chance for a qb shakeup after spring ball or is starkel a step above? (docgere)

A: Kellen Mond or Connor Blumrick would really have to bring it. Starkel is a step ahead and he should be. He was far more productive in 2017.

Q: So what went wrong with the BB team from the beginning of the year(Beating W.VA) till now? Is it coaching, if so what is the reality of moving forward without Billy Kennedy? (Big Smoothie)

A: Inconsistency from everyone not named Tyler Davis, injuries, suspensions, lack of effort...you name it. They really need to get serious down the stretch of Kennedy's job has to be in jeopardy.

Q: What are the recruiting rules on alumni having contact with recruits, and does this apply to former players? Does it apply to twitter? (WUNDY)

A: Officially alumni and players are not supposed to contact players. At least, that's how it used to be. I would always advise fans and alums to NOT TWEET RECRUITS. You're not in the business of recruiting them and it can only cause problems overall. If someone like Johnny Manziel does it, that's a little different. But leave the sales pitches to the coaches.

Q: 1. What's the best way to monitor NSD coverage for guys like Waddle, Taylor-Stuart, O'Neal, etc?

2. Especially given the headway made with '19 recruits last weekend, is Jimbo planning on hosting an official Junior Day at any point? Has he done that in the past?

3. Call your shot for A&M's top 5 remaining '18 targets, where do they end up? (DMac4408)

A: 1) Here and Twitter.

2) He's got another big haul coming in this weekend. I don't know if he'll have an official junior day, but the people they've had in or are heaving in are really the top of the line.

3) Jaylen Waddle: Slight lean to A&M. Jeremiah Martin: A&M. Isaac Taylor-Stuart: Not sure. Leon O'Neal: A&M. Dorian Gerald: A&M or Florida.

Q: 1. Seems that the only way we can successfully compete and win the recruiting wars with Alabama is to beat them on the field. Alabama has too many National Championships they can wave in the face of recruits they want that sways the recruits to the Tide. What's your opinion?

2. Does Connor Blumrick get on the field this year if he has a good spring practice?

3. Where will the 2018 recruiting class likely place in the final standings?

4. Will the men's basketball team have to win the SEC Tournament to make a post season tournament? (Chuck70)

A: 1) A&M didn't go out and pay a ton for these elite recruiters just to hope they can beat Alabama on the field and then get lucky. They want to beat them in recruiting now. And look at what's left, a ton of head-to-heads: Bobby Brown, Brock Purdy, James Foster, Jaylen Waddle, Isaac Taylor-Stuart. They're not intimidated.

2) Like I said, Starkel is a step above. But he's not installed as the starter. If Blumrick performs, he plays.

3) With so many moving parts right now, it's impossible to say.

4) The bracketologists don't think so, but they'd better get on a roll to end the regular season to avoid that reality.

Q: What’s your take on the total number we’ll sign this year on NSD? I think we have 14 listed in the class right now (early signs and commits). Is there room on the roster for 25 if Jimbo gets a bumper crop? (dad_in_tx)

A: I think they could get to 21. They would have to get absolutely everyone they're after to get to 25, and then they'd probably have to cut some current players loose to do it.

Q: Why have we not seen more reports about Peveto meeting with recruits? I saw his contract was approved by BoR so what the heck is going on with him? (LocalAg)

A: I'm not entirely sure he's healthy at the moment. He had a cancer scare a few months ago when he was still at Ole Miss. But I know he's been meeting with guys when they've come to campus. This will be the big weekend for him.

Q: 1. What are we to make with all of the head to heads with Bama to close this class? It almost seems Bama is doing this out of spite on some of them.

2. Does the 19 class in TX have more elite guys than 18?

3. Should we expect this staff to target and sign more oos guys than the previous one? (AggieLuke04)

A: 1) I think it shows a few things, including A&M doesn't care who they're up against and yes, Saban would like to send a message back to Jimbo that this is a different world.

2) Sure seems that way. It looks like the best crop in Texas in a long time.

3) I think my answer to 2 tells you no, but they have the ability to do it if they want.

Q: You tend to avoid or not answer questions about the number of openings we have left (see my question last week). Is it because you get tired of answering them or because the answer is too complex? I'm asking honestly, not trying to be a smart ass. (3s2ghill)

A: It's really hard to say. Could they take 25? Probably. But can they? No, I really doubt they can. It's starting to clear up now, so I'd put the number they take at between 19 and 21.

Q: I've been out of the loop, so sorry if I missed this:

Did the new staff cool on Ossai or did Ossai cool on the new staff? Does he still believe that Terry Price is going to get let go right after signing day? (Phastman)

A: 1) I think both. A&M has been full bore after Jeremiah Martin and Dorian Gerald the past month and I have heard virtually nothing about Ossai. And bluntly, from A&M's perspective, those are the two they need. Ossai will be a player, but not an immediate player. The Aggies have a depth chart the requires guys who are physically ready to go.

2) If he is, he believed the incredible lies the Texas staff told him. And what more is there to say?

Q: What are your thoughts on the idea, covered in another thread, that Jimbo has many of these guys silently committed so come next Wednesday he can blow the roof off national signing day? All the media coverage and tidal wave of '19 recruiting momentum would make for a fun summer! (pkag032)

A: Nah.

Q: Mark, where do you draw the line on emotional support animals? And please, no gerbil references.

United Airlines recently shot down one traveler’s request to bring her emotional support peacock on a flight departing Newark Liberty International Airport. (Richard23)

A: I think emotional support dogs for GIs suffering from PTSD or people with legitimate disabilities are great and should be welcomed. An emotional support peacock is idiotic, the owner a moron and the bird is lucky it wasn't put down. Imbeciles like that owner make life all the more difficult for people with real problems, just because they don't want to grow up.

Q: With Jimbo closing 2018 with a Top 10 recruiting class, I'd like to hear your thoughts on how this goes in 2019. Having Gunnell and Williams on board already is a big deal, considering that people considered Williams a lock for Texas. Read on here and other sites that we're in good shape with Jordan Whittington (ATH), Kenyon Green (OL), Jalen Curry (WR), Arjei Henderson (WR), Austin Stogner (TE and currently committed to OU), Tyler Johnson (OL), and Marcus Stripling (DE).....I know the coaches are hitting it hard and that there are others, but those guys are all Top 100 with the ranking services. What other highly ranked kids do you see looking hard at us and where do you think we finish in 19? (slixey)

A: If you look at the guys they had in last weekend and getting Williams to commit out of the blue, then look at the bumper crop this weekend and it's clear the new staff has the vast majority of the quality in-state 2019 standouts at least fairly interested. Let's see if they get a commit or two this weekend, and then we can see if it gets rolling. But it's a real nice start, no doubt.

Q: Do you think A&M will receive commits from the 2018 LBs visiting this weekend? (Ag20)

A: I think they'll get at least one.

Q: Let’s just say a massive deluge of silent commits hits on NSD. Where would that rank in your overall recruiting events spectrum?

Likelihood of that happening? 1-10 (1 being lowest)

Of all the uncommitted guys left, who do you want the most?

If we had Jimbo at the beginning of this recruiting cycle who would we have been in on that we aren’t now?

Arizona QB that’s kinda JFFish. What happened to him?

Sumlin’s biggest shortcoming?

Coach on the new staff most likely to get a head coaching gig after this year? (Atealot)

A: 1) 3.

2) Jeremiah Martin. Fills a huge need.

3) Let's just say A&M's commit list and Texas' commit lists would look very different.

4) Visiting this weekend.

5) Absolute refusal to address his mistakes, or the ability to admit that he had made any.

6) Elko. In fact, he's the only one on the entire staff who fits the profile of a head coach at this point, and that's remarkable considering the talent assembled.

Q: Why do stud kicker/punter recruits seem to max out as 2 or 3 stars? Why can't they be rated higher compared to others at their positions? (saheat)

A: I don't really have a good answer for this. I guess it's because they're only out there for a limited number of plays per game.

Q: Given what you believe is the likely take in recruiting this year, and who we have on our team now, how strong are we at LB, including both quality and depth, for 2018? (AginAfIII)

A: First, I think they'll get at least one more linebacker. But he's a largely unknown quality, though I really like his JUCO tape (I mean Umstead Sanders). I think that the Aggies have two of the SEC's best LBs in Tyrel Dodson and Otaro Alaka, and Anthony Hines should get a lot more playing time this year. I'd like to see what they do with Buddy Johnson (is he the rover?) and Santino Marchiol returns. So those are five guys with some game. Add Sanders and maybe another guy off the radar (or flip Andrew Parker) and you're on to something. I like the starters a lot. The depth issue scares me.

Q: How is Courtney doing? (Js1005)

A: Better. But like I've said before, it'll just take some time.

Q: 1) Have the backup generators been brought in for NSD? 2) Are there any 4-star 5-star players, either undecided or verbal commitments elsewhere, that you and others currently do not have on the radar who could realistically be surprises for A&M on NSD? (Reckless75)

A: 1) Yes.

2) no.

Q: Player currently committed to us or that we have at least a 50% chance of landing that is the most significantly under-rated by Rivals (Boone8466)

A: Umstead Sanders. They don't even have a rating for him.

Q: What's your take on Jimbo talking to the guys running 7 on 7, good idea or bad?

Is Gunnell still solid or does Jimbo have some work to do? (h273)

A: 1) not only a good idea, a necessary move.

2) You work them until they sign. No matter how good you feel about them.

Q: Are you worried about ITS influencing Leon to commit to Bama when he visits this weekend? (lcn418)

A: No, I am not.

Q: Who do you think from the 2018 class will have the biggest impact for the 2018 season? (RIKKHEN)

A: Jalen Preston. I think he starts from day 1.

Q: A&M in the NCAA tournament, what are the chances? I don’t see it myself, and was shocked to see ESPN had them in. Thoughts? (BC93)

A: I think there are people out there a lot more impressed with their RPI than I am with their play.

Q: Mark, any chance Durham moves to WDE? He seems to be our best pass rusher. How about O. Robinson and T. Johnson (our two redshirt DEs). Are they going to be able to step in and play this fall. If they're not we're in big trouble. Thanks. (Jerryh670)

A: 1) It's up to Elko, of course, but I wouldn't move a guy who just racked up 10.5 sacks and was great against the run. I'd tell him to keep doing what he was dong.

2) I'm hoping so. I'm more optimistic about Johnson than Robinson, but that's based purely on their size from last summer. But the fact that the Aggies are still after two DEs (at least) shows they recognize the depth chart needs to improve.

Q: Mark if the Aggies don't get the overall quality the coaches feel they can get...( the top targets don't sign) can Fisher and co. save these unused scholarships for '19? It sure looks like next year could be a great year. I have not given up on hope for this year. (Staubach1972)

A: Sure, but he'd have to find guys who are willing to not only sign early, but attend spring classes. If that can happen, those scholarships can be put to use. A&M has done that in the past many times.

Q: 1) How do you think our special teams will fare next year without Jeff Banks?

2) Will we see any new faces returning kicks and punts?

3) Is a QB still crucial to the 2018 class since we picked up that JUCO preferred walk on a few weeks ago? (gigem85)

A: 1) Hopefully they'll still be good. Daniel LaCamera is back, Braden Mann has a huge leg and they've got speed on the return and coverage teams.

2) Punts? Roshauud Paul (at least). Kicks? Kendall Bussey.

Q: Your best guess as to the two deep to start the season. (You're allowed to use players not currently committed if you think they end up with the good guys are are good enough to break into the 2 deep.) (Hogtide)

A: QB: Starkel, Mond

RB: Williams, Bussey

WR1: Ausbon, Hezekiah Jones

Slot: Paul, Buckley

WR2: Preston, Kendrick Rogers

LT: Martin, Moore

LG: Sutherland, Matthews

C: McCoy, McCollum

RG: Lanfear, Reed

RT: Green, Blanton

DE: Clemons, Max Wright

DT: Keke, Madubuike

DT: Mack, Peevy

DE: Durham, T. Johnson

SLB: Hines, B. Johnson

MLB: Dodson, Marchiol

WLB: Alaka, TBD

ROVER: B. Johnson, Pryor

CB: Oliver, Jones

SS: Wilson, Carper

FS: Tucker, O'Neal

CB: Harvey, Renfro