Sports Illustrated USA – August 12, 2019

(vip2019) #1

84


It’s rare that
specialists are
game-changers, but
punter BRADEN MANN
is one. In the
Aggies’ 20–14 OT
win over Kentucky
last season, for
example, Mann
notched an
82-yard punt, the
school’s longest in
74 years—and that
was after booming
a 65-yarder the
same night, another
punt that flipped
the field in a close
game. Mann—who
had five punts
against Alabama
for 304 yards, a
60.8 average—set
the FBS season
record for punting
average at
51.0 yards a boot.
Mann passed on
the NFL draft; he
wants to improve
his 38.0% success
rate on punts inside
the 20-yard line. In
a conference where
the margins are
razor thin, an even
better Mann will
give the Aggies a
distinct advantage.

X-FACTOR


2019


SCHEDULE


THE BIG STORY Before last
season, Texas A&M made a
bold investment in Jimbo Fisher,
hiring him away from Florida State
with a monster $75 million
contract. The early returns were
promising: The Aggies won nine
games for the first time since 2013,
beat LSU for the first time in eight
years and notched their first bowl
game win since ’14. A&M has the
look of a power in the making.

CAN’T MISS Fisher showed
great success at turning
QBs into stars at Florida State,
and Kellen Mond could be next.
He burst onto the scene last
season with the Aggies’ near
upset of Clemson. He was
erratic overall despite putting
up impressive numbers:
3,107 passing yards and a 24/9
TD/INT ratio. The dual-threat
QB will be given more freedom
as a junior, with QUARTNEY DAVIS as
his top target.

KEY QUESTION The Aggies’ run
defense, a strength of the
team last season, will take a step
back this year after losing its top
six tacklers (and that doesn’t
include defensive lineman Daylon
Mack, drafted in the fifth round by

for the Aggies in the season opener.
The Aggies do have highly touted
recruits on the roster—but can they
make an immediate impact?

KEY MATCHUP


BIGGEST GAME


SI RANKING


AUG. 29


TEXAS STATE


SEPT. 7


@ CLEMSON (2)


SEPT. 14


LAMAR


SEPT. 21


AUBURN (17)


SEPT. 28


ARKANSAS


OCT. 12


ALABAMA (1)


OCT. 19


@ OLE MISS


OCT. 26


MISSISSIPPI STATE


(20)


NOV. 2


UTSA


NOV. 16


NOV. 23


@ GEORGIA (3)


NOV. 30


@ LSU (8)


THE RUNDOWN


3


6


9


12


15


8 –5 8 –5 7– 6 9 – 4 8 – 4


WINS


After an underwhelming
stretch under Kevin Sumlin,
the Aggies are trending the
right way with Fisher—who
continues to bring in elite
talent with top recruiting
YEAR 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019* classes—at the helm.
*SI PROJECTION

5 -YEAR TREND


8.5


The Aggies are
talented, but the
schedule ranks as one of the most
treacherous in the country: road
games at Clemson, Georgia and
LSU, with the latter two closing
out the regular season. Oh, and
Alabama comes to town as well.

OVER OR UNDER


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RG/CSM


/SH


UTTERSTO


CK


Texas A&M


13

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