Texas A&M will be short-handed in a big way against the Citadel, with seven more players ruled out from last week’s game and, on top of that, previously unavailable players Terry Bussey and Blake Ivy still out as well.
According to Robert Behrens on X, six of the seven new absences are starters, which means the Aggies’ youth movement figures to be front and center today. The list includes WR Mario Craver, WR Ashton Bethel-Roman, WR Kelshaun Johnson, OL Trovon Baugh, DE Anto Saka, DT DJ Hicks and LB Daymion Sanford.
All seven have dealt with bangs and bruises over the course of the season, so against a lighter opponent, this could simply be a chance for Texas A&M to give those players some rest before a brutal final five games. Still, the situation invites questions about whether there is more going on than that.
With the season moving the way it has, it is hard not to at least wonder whether some players are mentally checked out. Elko has said this group has stayed together and kept coming to play through the adversity, which is encouraging, but it raises the question of how long that can hold.
What is clear is that a lot of snaps are about to go to young players who need them. Sam Roseborough, who made his debut at guard against Missouri last week and struggled, should get another chance to build on that experience. At receiver, Jayden Warren, Aaron Gregory and TK Norman are expected to see plenty of action.
Hicks being out opens more opportunities for DJ Sanders. Sanford’s absence clears the way for Jordan Lockhart to join Noah Mikhail and Ray Coney. At defensive end, Tristian Givens and Bryce Perry-Wright should get more run with Saka unavailable.
For Texas A&M, this is one of those games that could become a development day in a hurry. The Aggies may still be favored, but the bigger story is the amount of in-game experience available to a wave of young players.
In Other News...
Texas A&M Faces One Frustrating Test It Can't Flunk Against The Citadel
Texas A&M gets one last non-conference tune-up before the SEC grind fully takes over, and the setting is about as straightforward as these November matchups come. The Aggies and The Citadel have both had difficult seasons, which gives this meeting a little extra weight even if it does not carry the usual league implications. For Texas A&M, it is also a chance to clean up execution and stack a needed win before the schedule gets tougher.
Marcel Reed will be the most watched name on the Aggies side, with kicker David Olano and running back Gavin Garcia also part of the important details. The Citadel brings its own pieces to track, including kicker Evan Kiely and running back Rueben Owens, and the matchup offers Texas A&M a final chance to look sharper in the areas that tend to decide games it should control. What the Aggies cannot afford is a flat afternoon that leaves more questions than answers heading into the stretch run. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Saw Something Encouraging In A Blowout That Fans Needed
Texas A&M got the kind of get-right game it needed against The Citadel, and the larger takeaway went beyond just padding the win column. The Aggies picked up their fourth victory of the season, but the most useful part of the afternoon was the way a few young pieces kept showing up in spots that matter, with Jamarrion Morrow and KJ Edwards each giving the staff something to point to moving forward.
The defense also had an encouraging stretch, even with The Citadel moving the ball on the ground enough to top 100 rushing yards. Texas A&M still kept the scoreboard clean, and that kind of response matters when a team is trying to steady itself after a few uneven weeks. Add in the reliability of David Olano on kicks, plus the fact that some players were unavailable, and it was the sort of game that offered more than a lopsided final score. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Cannot Afford Another Slow Start Against The Citadel
Texas A&M heads into its final non-conference game with a familiar warning sign in front of it: no slow starts. The Aggies have been reminded plenty this season that even against an opponent with a 2-4 record, the opening script matters, and The Citadel has already shown enough to keep things from feeling routine. Maurice Draytons team has the kind of defensive backbone that can make a favorite work, with Zyion Brown and Maurice Bonneau Jr. among the names giving that side some credibility.
The bigger concern for Texas A&M is that The Citadels offense has not always needed to be efficient to stay in the fight, especially with Quentin Hayes and Nick Billoups rotating at quarterback. Hayes has provided a little of everything with his passing and running, and the Bulldogs have at least one upset on the rsum to lean on if the game gets tight early. For the Aggies, the matchup is less about the opponents record than the chance to avoid letting a winnable game turn into an unnecessary test. [Read more 🡒]