COLLEGE STATION — With an impressive season-opening win versus Arizona State now well in the rear-view mirror and the SEC opener versus Arkansas still more than a week away, Texas A&M has moved into what many would consider the boring part of the schedule.
Last week, the Aggies waltzed past Ball State, 56-23, essentially unloading their bench and playing everyone who isn’t redshirting.
Although Nevada on the schedule this week seems like a slight upgrade in competition, some in the local media perhaps expect another game heavy on mop-up time.
Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin bristled at that suggestion, however, saying that the assumption was disrespectful to the opponent. Sumlin, who seemed to be in a combative mood during his Tuesday press conference, earlier stated his expectations for the Nevada game.
“We need to be more consistent as a football team,” Sumlin said. “What I’m interested to see is improvement from a consistency standpoint to see if we can play at that level like we did in the first half with the ones again this week.”
Although Sumlin challenged a couple of the questions asked during his press conference, he divulged more info than usual on injuries. Or at least he named several players who would be back from injuries or suspensions this week.
Most notably, linebacker A.J. Hilliard will return from a suspension and fellow linebacker Josh Walker will be back after leaving the Arizona State game with an undisclosed injury. Defensive lineman Julien Obioha will also be in the lineup for the first time this season after a bout with appendicitis in the preseason.
That will give Texas A&M some depth as it attempts to improve its run defense.
“We go from the first game of being what people would consider thin, ‘Who’s number 54?’ to now you put A.J. out there and Shaan (Washington) and O.T. (Alaka) and Josh Walker is going to have to battle to get in there,” Sumlin said.
In other words, developing depth might not make the most exciting storyline, but it’s what Aggie fans have to occupy them during this portion of the schedule.
NOTES, QUOTES
PLAYERS TO WATCH
–QB Kyle Allen made the most of limited action in the blowout victory over Ball State. Allen completed 10 of 13 passes for 126 yards and threw touchdown passes of 3 yards to Josh Reynolds, 3 yards to Jordan Davis and 20 yards to Jeremy Tabuyo.
–LB Justin Dunning made his true-freshman debut by leading Texas A&M in tackles versus Ball State with 9. All of Dunning’s tackles came in the second half.
–RB Kwame Etwi rushed for 118 yards on 12 carries in his debut. The true freshman got his first totes in the second quarter and really turned up the production in the fourth. On one series, he broke loose for runs of 42, 13 and 27 yards.
–CB De’Vante Harris returned an interception 40 yards for a TD that gave the Aggies a 28-3 separation in the first quarter. Harris also had a tackle and a pass break-up.