As Texas A&M gears up for spring football, the focus in College Station isn’t just on playbooks and schemes - it’s on the scale. Under the guidance of renowned strength coach Tommy Moffitt, the Aggies are deep into a crucial phase of offseason development: dialing in the ideal playing weight for their newest arrivals and returning talent alike.
This isn’t just about bulking up or trimming down. It’s about optimizing each player's frame to match the role they’re expected to fill - and in some cases, figuring out what that role should even be.
Take Bryce Perry-Wright, for example. The highly touted defensive lineman out of Georgia enters the program listed at around 250 pounds.
That’s a solid weight for an edge rusher, but there’s a real question about whether his future might lie on the interior. If he can add 20 to 30 pounds without sacrificing his explosiveness, he could become a force at defensive tackle.
But if his quickness and agility are his best assets, staying leaner and lining up on the edge might be the smarter play.
That’s the kind of evaluation Moffitt and his staff are making right now - not just for Perry-Wright, but across the roster. And it’s not a one-size-fits-all process. Every player’s body responds differently to training, and figuring out that “best weight” is as much about movement and performance as it is about raw numbers.
It’s also a decision with ripple effects. If Perry-Wright, for instance, ends up shifting inside, that changes the depth chart at both defensive end and tackle.
Suddenly, the coaching staff might need to rethink their recruiting priorities. Maybe they were counting on him to be a long-term piece on the edge - now they might need to find another pass rusher in the next cycle, or even dip into the transfer portal for reinforcements.
This is where Moffitt’s experience really comes into play. He’s not just building stronger athletes - he’s helping shape the roster from the ground up. By identifying where each player performs best physically, he’s giving the coaching staff the information they need to make smart, strategic decisions.
And it’s not just about the stars or the headline recruits. These weight evaluations affect the entire roster. Each player's role can shift based on how their body develops in the offseason, and those shifts can cascade through position groups, influencing everything from depth chart battles to recruiting targets.
Ultimately, it’s about making sure every player is in the best position - physically and schematically - to succeed. That’s the foundation being laid right now in the weight room, long before the first snap of spring practice. And if Moffitt and the Aggies get it right, it could pay major dividends when the real games begin.