posted 11:36a, 07/15/11
It’s been two weeks since our last update on the Ags’ summer progress, so here’s your Friday follow-up. The notes will be lighter this time around, as I try to simply get you guys caught up with all the latest and greatest from voluntary 7-on-7 work and S&C workouts under Coach Dave Kennedy.
-First and foremost, allow me to comment on the turnout at voluntary 7-on-7 sessions. It’s been unbelievable. So much so that you’d be hard-pressed to name a player who wasn’t taking part this past week. And, yes, I’m also talking about offensive and defensive linemen. Whether they’re firing out of their stance and “punching” the mats against the indoor facility wall, working on pass sets or “get-offs” or going through intensely competitive one-on-one pass rush drills, the Aggie linemen are flat-out getting after it. Very impressive indeed. Some of the guys who really stand out in leading the way are Jake Matthews, Patrick Lewis and Luke Joeckel.
-Speaking of linemen, Rhontae Scales has moved from No. 2 right tackle back to nose guard. Scales did a decent job at the position last time around but, at this point, the Ags are simply moving the 6-5, 330-pounder there for depth purposes. That doesn’t mean that the Ags aren’t seriously considering making a similar move with a younger offensive lineman. There is still considerable talk that true freshman Ben Compton could get an early look in the middle of the Aggie defense, if not redshirt freshman Jarvis Harrison. While Harrison is opposed to such a move (his heart simply isn’t in it, as he absolutely loves the idea of playing the offensive line), Compton is open to whatever might get him on the field sooner. “It’s obvious already that Ben’s a very tough guy,” explained one insider who has been impressed with what the Friendswood product has shown thus far. “He’s not going to take much of anything in the trenches…he’ll be dishing it out. Strong, physical, eats up space and is explosive. Plus, he’ll scrap – he’s exactly what the defense might be looking for to replace what Lucas Patterson brought to the table.”
-There isn’t a lot Cyrus Gray didn’t do last year, but I’m pretty positive that Coach Sherman and the Aggies will get #32 the ball a little more frequently in the passing game. Gray is just so smooth catching the football, turning upfield and accelerating in an instant. He doesn’t drop ANYTHING and is an impossible coverage assignment for a linebacker. He just runs away from them…even some of the faster Aggie LBs.
-Nehemiah Hicks is recovered from off-season shoulder surgery that kept him out of spring ball. The big tight end is now going 6-4 and 252 pounds. When he arrived in College Station a year ago, “Nemo” weighed in at just under 230.
-Coryell Judie, Steven Campbell and Terrence Frederick are back and participating in all of the 7-v-7 work. That should be music to the ears of any A&M fan, because all three are potential All-Big 12 defensive backs in 2011. The guy who is really standing out as a leader on the defensive side of the ball is Frederick. The senior is a “by example” guy because he very rarely gets beat but he’s also become much more vocal throughout his senior off-season. When I say T-Fred rarely gets beat on the left side of the A&M defense, I mean RARELY. “He’s just so incredibly patient,” explained a veteran teammate. “He doesn’t fall for a lot of unnecessary moves. He’s played a lot of football and there aren’t any receivers out there who can fool him into taking a false step or making a bad decision.”
-T-Fred’s high school teammate and fellow senior Trent Hunter has been working incredibly hard throughout his final off-season in Aggieland and it’s paying off. Not only does Hunter look to be in the best shape of his A&M career, he’s moving around better than I can remember. It’s obvious that Trent has worked hard to get better in every area, and it’s particularly evident in his footwork, ability to turn his hips, change of direction and being able to stop his backpedal and move forward while still looking smooth and fluid. From a physical and athletic standpoint, I’d put Trent up there with Sean Porter in terms of “known commodities” who have made the most noticeable strides this off-season.
-LaKendrick Williams is a young player whose name has come up more than once when I’ve asked Aggie veterans about young returnees who are turning heads. He’s working on both the inside and outside in an attempt to make himself more versatile and valuable and is catching the ball much better than he did as a true freshman.
-Another second-year player who continues to impress is Toney Hurd, Jr. Perhaps more than any A&M corner, Hurd loves to line up in the face of opposing wide receivers and dare them to make it off the line of scrimmage. While Hurd will be a depth guy in the veteran Aggie secondary, I have to think that Tim DeRuyter will find ways to get him on the field. Toney is particularly tough on receivers wanted to run a quick slant, as he not only holds them up at the line and disrupts timing but also aggressively attacks the ball.
-Redshirt freshman Cedric Ogbuehi told me that he’s now checking in at over 300 pounds. I know I mentioned this in the last update, but it’s worth repeating. The big man looks as good as anyone on the A&M roster and he’s still only begun to scratch the surface on his tremendous potential.
-I didn’t mention junior safety Steven Terrell in my last update, but I need to this time around. Terrell is not only one of the hardest-working athletes in the A&M program, he’s also one of the fastest and most athletic. Terrell has had his ups and downs in years one and two, shuffling between corner and safety but, talk to any insider, and they’ll quickly tell you that Steven’s last two years are going to be his best. Terrell’s growing pains may be behind him for good, as he appears ready to turn into a steady, consistent contributor on the back end of the Aggie defense.
-Kyle Mangan has shown great leadership in the weight room and during 7-on-7 work. He’s fighting hard for that open ILB position but isn’t at all hesitant to offer help or advice to his younger teammates who are also competing for the job.
-Jeff Fuller is still the big man on campus…something that he reminds A&M defenders every time he steps to the line of scrimmage. That hasn’t stopped senior corner Lionel Smith from stepping up and really challenging Fuller during 7-on-7 work. Smith is one of the Ags’ more competitive defenders and is a player who has the size and physicality to battle with Jeff at the line. This week, the entire team watched as Lionel got physical with Fuller at the line and ran, stride-for-stride with #8 down the left sideline. Displaying chemistry that only a senior QB/WR duo could possess, Ryan Tannehill underthrew the ball ever so slightly, off of Fuller’s left (outside) shoulder and against the left chalk. Without so much as looking back to find the ball until the last possible instant, the 6-4 receiver hit the brakes and peeled off to his left, catching the pass over his shoulder just before stepping out of bounds. An amazing completion on multiple levels.
-Eazy Nwachukwu and Dustin Harris pretty much go at it every day on the right side of the field. Harris still needs to add weight and work on being more consistent, but he’s a special talent capable of a big play at any time. Nwachukwu continues to build on what was a turnaround spring.
-I’m more and more impressed every time I see both Howard Matthews and Darzil Washington on the hoof. Both are very impressive specimens, as far as incoming freshmen go. Washington is going to be a big, big inside linebacker before it’s all said and done, while I still think there’s a good chance that Matthews will ultimately (maybe not this year, but in the future) end up playing in the box at inside linebacker.
-Oh yeah, and fellow true freshman Floyd Raven continues to turn heads at corner, as does DeShazor Everett.
-Finally, for those wondering, sophomore linebacker Damontre Moore is still working out with the team and participating in 7-on-7 work. Coach Sherman just returned to College Station, at which time I’m sure the head coach and second-year Joker will discuss his recent off-field troubles.
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