WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Aggies vs. Cardinals
• Texas A&M will be seeking its fifth bowl win in the last five seasons, which ties Michigan State for the longest streak in the nation.
• Prior to the current streak, Texas A&M had won bowl games in consecutive years just once — the 1940 Sugar Bowl and the 1941 Cotton Bowl.
• Also prior to the current streak, the longest bowl win streak (in non-consecutive years) was three (1978 Hall of Fame, 1981 Independence and 1986 Cotton).
• The Music City Bowl invitation was the program’s seventh straight bowl berth, which is the longest streak in school history.
• A Texas A&M victory would give Kevin Sumlin three 9-win seasons in four seasons in Aggieland, which would move him into a second-place tie with Homer Norton and Jackie Sherrill. Only R.C. Slocum (8 from 1989-2002) would have more 9-win seasons.
• Senior P Drew Kaser is averaging 46.30 yards (7,455 yards on 161 punts) for his career, which is just .01 behind the NCAA record of 46.31 by West Virginia’s Todd Sauerbrun from 1991-94 (7,733 yards on 167 punts).
• Heading into the bowl game, Kaser is just fractionally behind the national lead in 2015. Kaser ranks No. 2 with a 47.96 average, which is just off the 48.00 average by Florida Atlantic’s Dalton Schomp. Kaser’s 2015 average is on pace to break his own school record of 47.4 from 2013 and is also within range of the SEC record of 48.2 set by Vanderbilt’s Ricky Anderson in 1984.
• True freshman WR Christian Kirk already owns the freshman school record with 1,659 all-purpose yardage and needs 127 a-p yards in the bowl game to match the overall school record of 1,806 set by Cyrus Gray in 2010.
• Kirk needs 75 receiving yards to become the second freshman in school history to reach 1,000 yards (Mike Evans (1,105 in 2012).
• Among SEC freshmen, Kirk leads the way in receptions (5.8/G), receiving yards (77.1/G), punt return average (24.4), and all-purpose yardage.
• Senior RB Tra Carson and Kirk are striving to become the fourth Aggie duo to reach 1,000 in rushing and receiving, respectively, in the same season.
• Sophomore FS Armani Watts ranks in a tie for No. 3 in the SEC in tackles with 111 (9.2 per game). His 71 solo tackles rank No. 2 in the SEC behind only Missouri’s Kentrell Brothers with 73.
• Sophomore WR Ricky Seals-Jones needs six catches to become the third sophomore in program history to reach 100 catches, joining Ryan Tannehill and Mike Evans.
• Sophomore FS Donovan Wilson needs one interception to become the 11th Aggie with at least six pickoffs in a season, which hasn’t been done in this millennium. The most recent player to have six in a season was Aaron Glenn in 1992.
• Sophomore DE Myles Garrett needs one forced fumble to match the school record of six set originally by 2016 Texas Sports Hall of Fame inductee Jacob Green in 1978 and matched by Aaron Wallace in 1987 and Dat Nguyen in 1996.
• Garrett leads the SEC in QB sacks (11.5), tackles for loss (18.5) and forced fumbles (5)
• In SEC games only, the Aggies led the conference in pass defense … the 155.5 passing yards and the four pass TDs allowed were bests in the SEC.
DIPLOMA CHASERS
Entering the bowl game, there are more than a dozen graduates on the Texas A&M football roster.
• Five Aggies entered the fall semester with their degrees already in hand: TE Brandon Alexander, PKTaylor Bertolet, OG Joseph Cheek, P Drew Kaser and TE Caden Smith.
• Earning their diplomas last week at Texas A&M’s fall commencement include: DB Devonta Burns, RBTra Carson, DL Isaac Flores, OL Ryan Lindblade, C Mike Matthews, 12th Man Sam Moeller, OL Jeremiah Stuckey, RB Blaine Townsend, QB Jordan Traylor and RB/CB Brandon Williams.
SENIOR CLASS OF 2015
• The Senior Class of 2015 is looking to become the second group of seniors to win four bowl games, joining the Class of 2014.
• This Senior Class already wins bowl victories over Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl, Duke in the Chick-fil-A Bowl and West Virginia in the Liberty Bowl.
• The Seniors will be seeking the 37th victory in the Music City Bowl.
• During their careers, the 2015 Seniors have won nine games against teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 – only the 1987 Seniors with 10 AP Top 25 wins in their careers had more.
• These seniors have also been a part of three victories over Top 10 opponents ON THE ROAD, including a win over then No. 1 Alabama in 2012.
2015 Seniors
Brandon Alexander TE Brenham, Texas
Taylor Bertolet PLK Reading, Pa.
Devonta Burns DB Arlington, Texas
Tra Carson RB Texarkana, Texas
Joseph Cheek OL Seguin, Texas
Brice Dolezal RB Austin, Texas
De’Vante Harris DB Mesquite, Texas
Sabian Holmes WR Southlake, Texas
Drew Kaser P Strongsville, Ohio
Nathan Kellman OL Corona, Calif.
Mike Matthews OL Missouri City, Texas
Sam Moeller DB San Antonio, Texas
Julien Obioha DL New Orleans, La.
Caden Smith TE Roscoe, Texas
Blaine Townsend RB Wichita Falls, Texas
Brandon Williams DB/RB Brookshire, Texas
Alonzo Williams DL Abbeville, La.
Kevin Wilson DB Daphne, Ala.
ROAD WARRIORS
• Texas A&M has compiled a 18-6 record in games away from Kyle Field (road and neutral site games) during the Kevin Sumlin era.
• The Aggies are 12-6 in true road games.
• In the previous five seasons before Sumlin’s arrival, the Aggies were 10-19 away from Kyle Field.
• The last winning record away from Kyle Field prior to Sumlin’s arrival in 2012 came in 2006.
DEFENSIVE RESURGENCE
The Texas A&M defense has take a huge step forward under the direction of first-year defensive coordinator John Chavis.
Comparing 2015 to 2014
Stat Category 2015 (FBS RK) 2014 (FBS RK)
Fumbles Forced 16 (7) 7 (107)
Passing Yards Allowed 161.3 (4) 234.8 (83)
Int/game 0.92 (61) 0.38 (121)
TOs Forced 18 (74) 13 (122)
TFL 103 (4) 76 (60)
Opp 1st D 18.8 (36) 23.2 (106)
PBU/game 4.67 (48) 3.77 (92)
Yds/Game Allowed 367.2 (43) 450.8 (104)
Opp Red Zone % 81.8% (51) 86.05% (94)
Fumble Recoveries 7 (85) 8 (79)
3rd D % Against 32.97% (17) 40% (67)
Passing Eff. Against 109.35 (14) 127.86 (66)
Opp TD in RZ 40.9% (7) 53.49% (27)
CHASING SAUERBRAN
Senior punter Drew Kaser has the NCAA FBS career punt average record within his range. He trails the record by just .01 (46.31 to 46.30).
• With the only bowl game ahead of him, Kaser is chasing West Virginia’s Todd Sauerbrun, who owns the NCAA career record (min. 150 punts) of 46.31 (1991-94).
• For his career, Kaser has averaged 46.30 yards on 161 punts.
Yardage in chunks
Texas A&M freshman WR/RS Christian Kirk gobbles up yardage in chunks while gaining yards via rush, catch, punt return and kickoff return.
• According to CFBstats.com, Kirk leads the SEC in yards per touch with an average of 14.8 yards every time he touches the football. Among players with more than 1,600 all-purpose yards nationally, Kirk ranks No. 2 in yards/touch behind only Texas Tech’s Jakeem Grant (17.5).
SEC Yards/Touch Leaders
Player, School Yards/Play
Christian Kirk, Texas A&M 14.8
LaQuon Treadwell, Ole Miss 14.0
Brandon Powell, Florida 13.4
Derrius Grice, LSU 12.0
Ricardo Louis, Auburn 11.9
AGGIES ON NFL ROSTERS
A total of 26 Aggie football players were NFL rosters as of Dec. 4, 2015.
• Texas A&M has a pair of former QBs starting in the NFL: Ryan Tannehill and Johnny Manziel.
• 1998 Aggie Heart Award winner Dan Campbell was named interim head coach for the Miami Dolphins on Oct. 5, 2015.
• The longest tenured NFL Aggie is All-Pro punter Shane Lechler with the Houston Texans, who is in his 16th season.
• For the fifth straight year, the Aggies had a first-round NFL draft pick (Cedric Ogbuehi, No. 21, Cincinnati Bengals).
AGGIES ON NFL ROSTERS
(As of Dec. 4, 2015)
Nate Askew, TE, Carolina Panthers — practice squad
Martellus Bennett, TE, Chicago Bears
Michael Bennett, DL, Seattle Seahawks
Red Bryant, DL, Arizona Cardinals
Randy Bullock, PK, New York Jets
Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Deshazor Everett, DB, Washington Redskins—practice squad
Jarvis Harrison, OL, New York Jets — practice squad
Tramain Jacobs, DB, New York Giants—practice squad
Tony Jerod-Eddie, DL, San Francisco 49ers
Luke Joeckel, OL, Jacksonville Jaguars
Josh Lambo, PK, San Diego Chargers
Jorvorskie Lane, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Shane Lechler, P, Houston Texans—16th Season
Patrick Lewis, OL, Seattle Seahawks
Ben Malena, RB, Dallas Cowboys — practice squad
Johnny Manziel, QB, Cleveland Browns
Jake Matthews, OL, Atlanta Falcons
Christine Michael, RB, Seattle Seahawks
Von Miller, LB, Denver Broncos
Damontre Moore, DL, New York Giants
Don Muhlbach, DS, Detroit Lions—12th Season
Cedric Ogbuehi, OL, Cincinnati Bengals—reserved/non-football injury
Ryan Tannehill, QB, Miami Dolphins
Steven Terrell, DB, Seattle Seahawks
Cody Wallace, OL, Pittsburgh Steelers
Trey Williams, RB, New England Patriots
Aggies on NFL Coaching Staffs:
Dennis Allen, New Orleans Saints (Sr. Defensive Asst.)
Dan Campbell, Miami Dolphins (Interim Head Coach)
Kyle Caskey, Cincinnati Bengals (Running Backs)
Jerry Fontenot, Green Bay Packers (Tight Ends)
Gary Kubiak, Denver Broncos (Head Coach)
NIGHTMARE FOR QBs, OCs
Sophomore DE Myles Garrett is, arguably, the nation’s most feared pass rusher.
• Garrett leads the SEC with 11.5 QB sacks, 18.5 tackles for loss and five forced fumbles. He also has 57 tackles, seven QB hurries, a blocked punt and an interception on his 2015 resume.
• Garrett was a finalist for the Rotary Lombardi Award (college lineman of the year), the Hendricks Award (top DE), a semifinalist for the Bednarik Award (defensive POY) and was a quarter-finalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy.
• Garrett was named the SEC DL of the Week twice in 2015 (MSU and ALA).
• Garrett tied a career-high with 3.5 sacks vs. NEV despite having his wisdom teeth removed less than a week previously.
• Nevada schemed for the challenge of facing Garrett by having its scout team defensive ends line up offsides in practice to simulate Garrett’s quickness, according to the SEC Network TV crew.
• His older sister, Brea Garrett, was a NCAA Champion thrower for the A&M track and field team. His older brother, Sean Williams, has played for several NBA teams and currently plays basketball overseas.
• Among his measurables are: 40-yard dash: 4.46; broad jump: 9 feet, 5 inches; vertical jump: 38.5 inches; power clean: 372 pounds; deadlift: 528 pounds; incline bench press: 355 pounds; leg press: 1,100 pounds.
• Described as a “dino-geek,” Garrett says of his post-football life: “I want to be a paleontologist, whether it’s amateur or professional.” (Sports Illustrated, July 27, 2015)
RACING TO THE QB
Junior DE Daeshon Hall has emerged as one of the SEC’s most disruptive defenders with 7.0 QB sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss.
• Hall and Myles Garrett combine to average 1.54 QB sacks per game, which is more than any other tandem in the SEC.
• Garrett said of the pair’s friendly competition to get to the quarterback, “It’s a race to get to the quarterback every time.”
• Hall came to Texas A&M on his recruiting visit in 2013 as a 208-pound “basketball player,” according to head coach Kevin Sumlin. He has bulked up to 260 pounds as a junior.
• Hall’s nickname is “Dae Dae.”
• Hall moved from Seattle, Wash., to Lancaster, Texas in high school. His high school coach Chris Gilbert got his first glimpse of Hall playing basketball. “He was just like hammering dunks,” Gilbert said. “He was a little thin, but I could tell he was strong. He said, ‘Coach, I love basketball but everybody tells me they think I can play on Sundays, and I think I can.’ ” (Dallas Morning News, Sept. 12, 2014)
• Hall’s four-sack effort vs. ASU tied for second-most in a single game in school history, trailing only the five-sack performance by Alex Morris vs. Houston in 1987. Hall matched the sack total of three first-team All-Americans: Jacob Green, Ray Childress and John Roper.
TACKLING MACHINE
Sophomore FS Armani Watts is having a record-setting season in his second year as a starter for the Aggies. He’s had five double-digit games, including a 20-tackle effort vs. Ole Miss, and he ranks No. 3 (tie) in the SEC with 111 tackles (9.2 per game).
• With 111 tackles, Watts is the first Aggie to hit the century mark since LB Michael Hodges had 115 in 2010. Only a handful of Aggie DBs have reached 100 tackles in a season, most recently Jaxson Appel had 135 in 2003.
• Watts ranks No. 2 in the SEC with an amazing 71 solo tackles. Only two other Aggie defenders have more total tackles than Watts’ solo stops.
• His 20-tackle game was the second-most prolific tackle game by a DB in school history. Safety Larry Horton matched the overall school record with 24 tackles vs. Baylor in 1990 (originally set by LB Larry Kelm in 1985).
• Watts is tied for No. 28 in FBS with 9.2 tackles/game.
• A consensus 4-star recruit out of North Forney HS, Watts earned all-state honors at safety and was an all-district pick on offense and defense and as a return man.
SEC Tackles Leaders
Rk Player, Pos., School Total Avg.
1. Kentrell Brothers, LB, MIZZ 152 12.7
2. Johnathan Ford, DB, AUB 113 9.4
3. Armani Watts, DB, TAMU 111 9.2
Skai Moore, LB, SC 111 9.2
5. Two players with 103 tackles/8.6/g
SEC Solo Tackles Leaders
Rk Player, Pos., School Total
1. Kentrell Brothers, LB, MIZZ 73
2. Armani Watts, DB, TAMU 71
3. Zach Cunningham, LB, VU 69
Skai Moore, LB, SC 69
5. Johnathan Ford, DB, AUB 66
RECORD-SETTING REYNOLDS
Junior WR Josh Reynolds leads the SEC with a 18.3 per catch average among players with a minimun of 30 catches. Reynolds has gained 730 yards on 40 catches.
• Reynolds has had three 100-yard games — 3 for 106 vs. Arkansas, 7 for 141 vs. Mississippi State and 3 for 105 vs. Vanderbilt
• Reynolds scored on a 95-yard TD catch and run against Vanderbilt, which ranked as the second-longest pass play in school history.
• Reynolds’ 13 receiving TDs last season broke the school record of 12 originally set by Jeff Fuller in 2010 and matched by 2014 NFL first-round pick Mike Evans in 2013.
• Prior to the season, head coach Kevin Sumlin revealed that Reynolds set the record while playing through a shoulder injury that required offseason surgery. “Maybe we can get 26 touchdowns out of him this year,” Sumlin said, smiling. “We’re excited about him now that he’s 100 percent and ready to go and not a one-armed guy out there.” (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Aug. 28, 2015)
• Overlooked by FBS programs out of HS, Reynolds went to Tyler JC as a full qualifier and then transferred to A&M with three years of eligibility in 2014. The FB coaching staff was tipped off to Reynolds by TAMU T&F coach Pat Henry, who had recruited Reynolds as a high jumper.
TAMU Career Receiving TDs
Player, Years TDs
Jeff Fuller, 2008-11 34
Ryan Swope, 2009-12 24
Uzoma Nwachukwu, 2009-12 19
Bob Long, 1966-68 19
Josh Reynolds, 2014- 18
kASER CHASES HISTORY
All-American and All-SEC punter Drew Kaser is within range of a variety of school, SEC and NCAA records, as well as the NCAA FBS punt average lead, entering the Music City Bowl.
• Kaser is just fractionally behind the FBS national lead in 2015. Kaser ranks No. 2 with a 47.96 average, which is just off the 48.00 average by Florida Atlantic’s Dalton Schomp. Kaser’s 2015 average is on pace to break his own school record of 47.4 from 2013 and is within range of the SEC record of 48.2 set by Vanderbilt’s Anderson in 1984.
• For his career, Kaser is averaging 46.30 yards (7,455 yards on 161 punts), which is just .01 behind the NCAA record of 46.31 by West Virginia’s Todd Sauerbrun from 1991-94 (7,733 yards on 167 punts). Kaser is on pace to join Sauerbrun as the only FBS players to average more than 46 punt yards for a career (min. 150 punts).
• Kaser’s sustained greatness has put him far ahead of the current school and SEC career records owned by Shane Lechler (44.7, 1996-99) and Ricky Anderson of Vanderbilt (45.6, 1983-84), respectively.
• Kaser has 19 punts inside the opponent 20 and a career-high 24 boots of 50 yards or more in 2015.
• Kaser has 58 inside-the-20 punts, which is just two shy of Lechler’s record of 59.
• Kaser was named Ray Guy Award Player of the Week after posting four “inside the 20” boots and a healthy 47.9 yards on a career-high 10 punts vs. MISS.
• Kaser earned first-team All-America honors from CBSSports.com and is the consensus All-SEC punter.
2015 NCAA Punt Average
Player, School Avg.
Dalton Schomp, FAU 48.00
Drew Kaser, Texas A&M 47.96
Tom Hackett, Utah 47.78
Michael Carrizosa, San Jose St. 47.65
Hayden Hunt, CSU 46.34
2015 SEC Punt Average
Player, School Avg.
Drew Kaser, Texas A&M 47.96
Trevor Daniel, Tennessee 45.55
Johnny Townsend, Florida 44.92
Sean Kelly, South Carolina 44.25
JK Scott, Alabama 44.18
TAMU Season Punt Average
Player, Year Avg.
Drew Kaser, 2015 48.0
Drew Kaser, 2013 47.4
Shane Lechler, 1997 46.5
Shane Lechler, 1999 46.5
Justin Brantley, 2008 45.7
TAMU Career Punt Average
Player, Years Avg.
Drew Kaser, 2011, 13-15 46.3
Shane Lechler, 1996-99 44.7
Justin Brantley, 2005-08 44.3
Todd Tschantz, 1984-86 42.4
Phil Scoggin, 1964-65 41.9
SEC Career Punt Average
Player, School, Years Avg.
Drew Kaser, TAMU, 2011, 13-15 46.3
Ricky Anderson, VU, 1983-84 45.6
Drew Butler, UGA, 2008-11 45.4
Tyler Campbell, OM, 2009-13 44.6
Terry Daniel, AUB, 1992-94 44.5
NCAA Career Punt Avg. (150 min.)
Player, School, Years Avg.
Todd Sauerbrun, WVU, 1991-94 46.31
Drew Kaser, TAMU, 2011, 13-15 46.30
Quinn Sharp, OKST, 2009-12 45.89
Reggie Roby, IOWA, 1979-82 45.63
Drew Butler, UGA, 2008-11 45.44
Honey Badger redux
Sophomore nickel back Donovan Wilson has drawn comparisons to former LSU playmaker Tyrann Mathieu or the “Honey Badger” because of his penchant for making big plays.
• Wilson is tied for the SEC lead with five interceptions, which matches the entire Texas A&M team’s output in 2014.
• Texas A&M’s first-year defensive coordinator John Chavis says, “We need that catalyst and he’s been that catalyst force. He’s made big play after big play. (Former LSU All-American Tyrann Mathieu) had the ‘it’ factor. We’re starting to see some of that with Donovan.” (Bryan-College Station Eagle, Oct. 7, 2015)
2015 Wilson (12 gms) vs. 2011 Mathieu (13 gms)
Player TFL QBS INT PBU FR FF
Wilson 7.5 2.0 5 3 2 3
Mathieu 7.5 1.5 2 9 5 6
• Wilson fills the stat sheet like few other defenders. He ranks No. 6 on the team in tackles (56), has 7.5 TFL, 2.0 QBS, three FF, two FR and three PBUs, along with his five INTs.
• In regard to “turnover involvement,” which tracks interceptions, fumbles forced and fumble recovered, Wilson ranks among some of the great names in Wrecking Crew history (stats incomplete prior to 1976).
TAMU Turnover Involvement
Player, Pos, Year INT/FF/FR Total
Domingo Bryant, DB, 1985 4/4/5 13
Dat Nguyen, LB, 1996 3/6/3 12
Kevin Smith, CB, 1989 9/1/1 11
Donovan Wilson, DB, 2015 5/3/2 10
Several with nine
• A late addition to the Aggies’ 2014 signing class, Wilson led the Shreveport, La., area with 13 interceptions while earning All-City Defensive POY (Shreveport Times) and Louisiana Class 4A all-state honors.
BACK TO HEALTH
Preseason All-SEC WR Speedy Noil has battled nagging injuries throughout his sophomore campaign but is back to full speed.
• Noil has 21 catches for 226 yards and two touchdowns in nine games of action in 2015, which is way down from last year’s 46-catch, 583-yard debut in the maroon and white.
• Last year, Noil was the Aggies’ leader in all-purpose yardage and punt and kickoff return yardage, and he ranked third on the team in receiving yardage. Noil’s 1,418 all-purpose yards ranked No. 4 by a freshman in school history. He was the fifth freshman (second true freshman) to reach the 40-catch plateau (46) and his 583 receiving yards ranked No. 5 in the freshman record book.
• A consensus 5-star recruit, Noil lined up at QB for Edna Karr HS in New Orleans, La.
• Speedy’s given name is Devante.
Freshman All-Purpose Yards
Player AP-YDs Year
Christian Kirk 1,659 2015
Cyrus Gray 1,592 2008
Dante Hall 1,551 1996
Leeland McElroy 1,427 1993
Speedy Noil 1,418 2014
SEC’S TOP FRESHMAN
The SEC’s top freshman in multiple statistical categories, WR/RS Christian Kirk was named the SEC Freshman and Newcomer of the Year.
• Kirk leads all SEC freshmen in touchdowns (8), receptions (5.8/G), receiving yards (77.1/G), punt return average (24.4), all-purpose yards (138.2/G).
• Kirk averages 14.8 yards per touch, which is tops in the SEC.
• He already owns the freshman school record with 1,659 all-purpose yardage and needs 127 a-p yards in the bowl game to match the overall school record of 1,806 set by Cyrus Gray in 2010.
• Kirk earned SEC weekly honors twice — Freshman POW honors after the ASU win and Special Teams POW after ARK.
• Kirk is the overall NCAA FBS and SEC leader in punt return average (24.4).
• His four 100-yard receiving games are the most by any freshman in A&M history.
• Kirk has been a game-breaker for the Aggies as a punt returner. Kirk is tied for the FBS lead with two touchdowns. He also has an NCAA-best three returns of 50 yards or more (tie).
• Against ASU, Kirk became the first Aggie freshman in program history to hit the 100-yard plateau in receiving yards in his playing debut with 106 yards (6 catches).
• A consensus 5-star recruit out of Saguaro HS in Scottsdale, Ariz., Kirk was an early enrollee at Texas A&M in January of 2015.
• Of Kirk, TAMU OC Jake Spavital says, “He is a straight professional. He came to Texas A&M with one purpose and it’s to play football and do it at the max level. It’s amazing how he approaches it.” (ESPN.com, July 23, 2015)
TWO-WAY SLIM
Senior Brandon Williams is Texas A&M’s first two-way player since the late 1960s. Williams starts for the Aggies at cornerback and also sees action at running back.
• Starting every game at CB, Williams ranks No. 2 on the team with seven PBUs and has contributed 34 tackles.
• Williams is the first two-way player at Texas A&M since Dave Elmendorf and Ross Brupbacher saw action on both offense and defense for the 1968 Aggies.
• Williams, who was strictly a RB his first two seasons at Texas A&M, made the position change to cornerback after spring drills. Williams started six games at RB and gained 388 yards on 87 carries in 2014.
• “I’m a football player,” Williams said. “I’m not a running back. I’m not a cornerback. I’m not a D-end. I’m a football player. I love to play football, so whatever I need to do to help the team win and play football, I’ll do.” (Bryan-College Station Eagle, Sept. 16, 2015)
• A five-star RB recruit out of Brookshire-Royal HS, Williams said he hadn’t played defense since pee-wee football “and even then it was at safety.”
• Nickname is “Slim.”
• “At 6-foot, 205, he’s an average-to-slight build running back in the NFL. At 6-foot, 205, he’s a big cornerback and a NFL prospect,” Sumlin said. “He’s physical, one of the fastest guys on the team, has long arms and he’s strong. The sky is the limit for him. He helps our football team at cornerback, but he’s also helping himself by showcasing where he can play at the next level. If he can improve his technique, he’s gone from a free agent/late round to a draft pick. (The position change) helps him and it helps us.”
WORKHORSE CARSON
Senior RB Tra Carson became the first 1,000 rusher from the running back position during the Kevin Sumlin era (since 2012) and the 11th Aggie in school history to reach 1,000.
• Carson was voted the team’s Offensive MVP at the annual football banquet on Dec. 11.
• Carson went over the 100-yard mark in rushing in six games with 22-137 vs. NEV, 26-110 vs. MSST, 21-122 vs. SC, 21-109 vs. AUB, 17-109 vs. WCU and 22-126 vs. VAN.
• A dangerous receiving option out of the backfield, Carson has 28 catches for 176 yards and a touchdown.
• Carson had a career-high 29 carries (96 yards) and was on the field for a whopping 80 plays in the Aggies’ season-opening win over then-No. 15 Arizona State.
• “He’s a workhorse,” Sumlin says. “He’s 230 to 235 pounds, a big back, great blocker, trustworthy. He can do everything for us and he’s a leader.”
• The Aggies’ 2014 RB-by-committee was pared down in the offseason when Trey Williams opted to enter the NFL early and six-game starter Brandon Williams shifted to defense.
• Carson transferred to Texas A&M in 2012 after playing his freshman season at Oregon in 2011. Carson rushed for 254 yards in 10 games of action for the Ducks.
• A three-star RB, Carson broke LaMichael James’ school rushing record at Liberty-Eylau HS in Texarkana, Texas with 2,202 yards as a senior.
• Tra is short for Latravion.
The 12th Man
Senior Sam Moeller (San Antonio, Texas) owns the school record for 12th Man starts with 38.
• A special teams ace in general, Moeller is on virtually every coverage unit and is a valuable DB reserve. He is the only 12th Man (actually wearing the No. 12 jersey) in school history to block a punt and he’s done it twice (vs. MSU, 2013, vs. Vandy, 2015).
• Texas A&M’s famous 12th Man tradition dates back to 1922 when student E. King Gill came out of the stands in the Dixie Classic in Dallas at the request of legendary head coach Dana X. Bible because of injuries to his football team. Gill never entered the game but “stood ready” in the Aggies’ 22-14 win over the powerhouse Centre College Praying Colonels.
• In honor of the tradition, the Texas A&M student body “stands ready” to show their support of their team on the field.
• The 12th Man Kickoff Team tradition was started in 1982 by then-head coach Jackie Sherrill after being inspired by watching students build the famous Aggie Bonfire. “I knew that I could find, out of 40-some-odd thousand students, 11 guys that would cover kickoffs, but have no regard for their body and be tough as nails,” Sherrill said. (Source: MyAggieNation.com) Beginning in 1991, a single 12th Man was chosen to represent the study body on the kickoff unit.
12th Man Starts
Player starts years
Sam Moeller 38 2012-
Nick Lamantia 30 2006-08
John Ray 23 2004-05
C.J. Jones 21 2010-12
Eric Stanford 17 1999-01
SURGING AS A RECEIVER
Sophomore WR Ricky Seals-Jones has been surging as a receiver over the past two months. Seals-Jones and Christian Kirk are the only Aggie receivers with at least twocatches in each of the past eight games.
• Seals-Jones needs six catches to become the third sophomore in program history to reach 100 catches, joining Ryan Tannehill and Mike Evans.
• The recent surge by Seals-Jones has pushed the 6-foot-5 receiver to No. 2 on the team with 42 catches (542 yards).
• The Seals-Jones surge came on the heels of being ejected for targeting in the first half of the Mississippi State game.
• Seals-Jones has been consistently praised as one of the team’s top blockers on the perimeter.
• Seals-Jones ranked No. 3 on the team last season with 49 catches for 465 yards and four TDS. It was the No. 4 season by an Aggie freshman. His single game high was 10 catches vs. MSU, which ranked No. 2 by a freshman.
• RSJ played in two games as a true freshman before suffering a season-ending injury. In his first career game, Seals-Jones reeled off a 71-yard TD catch and run against Rice that remains his career long.
• The early-season showdown of future Texas A&M signees Seals-Jones of Sealy HS and QB Kohl Stewart of St. Pius in 2012 was the first destination of the “Swag-copter” when head coach Kevin Sumlin used a helicopter to get from College Station to St. Pius’ Parsley Field in Houston.
Long-Range Bertolet
Senior PK Taylor Bertolet has been a long-range scoring threat all season with a FBS-best five 50-yard plus field goals. .
• Bertolet led the FBS in field goals from 50 or more yards (5) was one of just three players with 10 or more three-pointers from at least 40 yards.
• For his career, Bertolet has eight career boots of 50-yards or more, which is second in school history behind Franklin’s 16 from 1975-78.
• Bertolet earned second-team All-SEC honors from the league head coaches and the Associated Press.
• Bertolet has connected on nearly 90 percent of all his placekicks as a senior with a 57-of-65 worksheet on total field goal and extra point attempts.
• Bertolet has hit 22-of-30 field goal tries and is tied for the SEC lead for most field goals He became the third Aggie to reach the 20-FG plateau in a season and his 22 FGs rank No. 2 behind Randy Bullock’s 29 field goals in 2011.
• Bertolet returned to the starter’s role on field goals and extra points in 2015 after concentrating on kickoff duties the past two seasons. Bertolet was the Aggies’ full-time PK as a freshman in 2012 and connected on 13-of-22 FGs and a whopping 67 PATs that season. He became the first Texas A&M first freshman PK to score 100 points in 2012 (106 points).
• The strong-legged Bertolet has 31 touchbacks on kickoffs in 2015 and an amazing 185 touchbacks for his career.
• Bertolet and RB Jorvorskie Lane are the only Aggies to have multiple 100-point seasons in program history.
JAKE TAKES OVER
Sophomore QB Jake Hubenak will make his Texas A&M starting debut in the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl against the Louisville Cardinals.
• Hubenak saw action in five games and completed 12-of-27 passes for 92 yards and a touchdown. His most extensive action came against Ole Miss (6-of-11, 46 yards) and Auburn (5-of-12, 32 yards, 1 TD).
• A late addition to the Aggies’ 2015 signing class, Hubenak joined the roster in June after a spectacular freshman season at Blinn Junior College in nearby Brenham, Texas.
• Hubenak led the NJCAA with more than 4,000 passing yards as a redshirt freshman in 2014. He completed 216-of-333 passes (64.9 percent) for 4,052 yards and 47 touchdowns against only nine pickoffs in eight games of action
• Hubenak was teammates with fellow signee Damion Ratley at Blinn. Ratley caught 20 touchdown passes for the Buccaneers with Hubenak at QB.
• He redshirted as a walk-on at Oklahoma State in 2013.
• Prior to walking on at OSU, Hubenak was All-Central Texas Player of the Year by the Austin American-Statesman, Class 4A Player of the Year, all-state and district MVP at Georgetown HS … led the team to a 19-1 record as a starter, with his lone loss coming in the state championship game, where he threw for 318 yards, three touchdowns and rushed for 60 yards … threw for 4,108 yards and 48 touchdowns as a senior … he missed most of his junior season due to injury.
4TH QUARTERS VS. POWER 5 OPPONENTS
Under the direction of first-year Texas A&M defensive coordinator John Chavis, the Texas A&M defense has consistently rose to the occasion in fourth quarters against Power 5 opponents in 2015.
• In nine fourth quarters vs. Power 5s, the Aggie defense has allowed a total of 32 points and 582 total yards on 149 plays (3.9 per play). A&M has allowed a total of 318 rushing yards on 105 carries (3.0 yards per carry) and 269 passing yards on 28-of-44 attempts (6.1 yards per pass attempt).
vs. No. 15 Arizona State (Pac 12)
Points allowed: 3
Rushing Yards: 6 yards / 12 carries
Passing Yards: 102 yards / 9-of-16 attempts
Total Yards: 108 yards / 28 plays
vs. Arkansas (SEC)
Points allowed: 7
Rushing Yards: 68 yards / 17 carries
Passing Yards: 0 yards / 0-0 attempts
Total Yards: 68 yards / 17 plays
Mississippi State (SEC)
Points allowed: 7
Rushing Yards: 24 yards / 6 carries
Passing Yards: 58 yards / 6-10 attempts
Total Yards: 82 yards / 16 plays
Alabama (SEC)
Points allowed by defense: 3
Rushing Yards: 43 yards / 11 carries
Passing Yards: 10 yards / 3-3 attempts
Total Yards: 53 yards / 14 plays
at Ole Miss (SEC)
Points allowed by defense: 0
Rushing Yards: 45 yards / 13 carries
Passing Yards: 13 yards / 3-5 attempts
Total Yards: 58 yards / 18 plays
South Carolina (SEC)
Points allowed by defense: 0
Rushing Yards: 0 yards / 5 carries
Passing Yards: 31 yards / 3-6 attempts
Total Yards: 31 yards / 11 plays
Auburn (SEC)
Points allowed by defense: 6
Rushing Yards: 38 yards / 15 carries
Passing Yards: 35 yards / 2-2 attempts
Total Yards: 73 yards / 17 plays
at Vanderbilt (SEC)
Points allowed by defense: 0
Rushing Yards: 15 yards / 9 carries
Passing Yards: 0 yards / 0-0 attempts
Total Yards: 15 yards / 9 plays
at LSU (SEC)
Points allowed by defense: 6
Rushing Yards: 79 yards / 17 carries
Passing Yards: 20 yards / 2-2 attempts
Total Yards: 99 yards / 19 plays
NO OPPONENTS FROM STATE OF TEXAS ON 2015 SCHEDULE
Although the Aggies played nine games within the boundaries of the state of Texas, Texas A&M did not face a single opponent from the Lone Star State for the first time in program history in 2015.
• The 2015 home schedule featured seven home games at the redeveloped Kyle Field, including SEC contests vs. Mississippi State, Alabama, South Carolina and Auburn.
• The Aggies faced just three true road contests in 2015 — vs. Ole Miss, Vanderbilt and LSU.
SUMLIN VS. TOP 25
In his eighth season as a head coach, fourth-year Aggie coach Kevin Sumlin has a career record of 12-12 against teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 (9-11 at A&M).
• Sumlin’s five road wins and eight wins away from Kyle vs. AP Top 25 squads are already the most by any coach in school history.
Sumlin vs. the AP Top 25 (at TAMU)
Opponent, Year AP rank Result
Florida, 2012 No. 24 L, 20-17
vs. Louisiana Tech, 2012 No. 22 W, 59-57
LSU, 2012 No. 6 L, 24-19
at Mississippi State, 2012 No. 17 W, 38-13
at Alabama, 2012 No. 1 W, 29-24
vs. *Oklahoma, 2013 No. 11 W, 41-13
Alabama, 2013 No. 1 L, 49-42
Auburn, 2013 No. 24 L, 45-41
at LSU, 2013 No. 18 L, 34-10
at Missouri, 2013 No. 5 L, 28-21
vs. Duke, 2013 No. 22 W, 52-48
at South Carolina, 2014 No. 9 W, 52-28
at Mississippi State, 2014 No. 12 L, 31-48
Ole Miss, 2014 No. 3 (tie) L, 20-35
at Alabama, 2014 No. 7 L, 0-59
at Auburn, 2014 No. 3 W, 41-38
vs. Arizona State, 2015 No. 15 W, 38-17
Mississippi State, 2015 No. 21 W, 30-17
Alabama, 2015 No. 10 L, 23-41
Ole Miss, 2015 No. 24 L, 3-23
Sumlin vs. the AP Top 25 (at UH)
at East Carolina, 2008 No. 23 W, 41-24
Tulsa, 2008 No. 25 W, 70-30
at Oklahoma State, 2009 No. 5 W, 45-35
Southern Miss, 2011 No. 24 L, 49-28