With Sanford out, pressure switches to mikhail​

Texas A&M football and coach Mike Elko haven’t given an update on the injury to linebacker Daymion Sanford, but one probably isn’t necessary. It was gruesome and obviously bad.

That’s a big blow for the Aggies, as Sanford looked like he had improved over the excellent performance he had last year. He was having a great spring game, having racked up four tackles in less than a half before his ankle was twisted awkwardly.

If it was remotely as bad as it looked, we won’t see Sanford this season. That means that Noah Mikhail will almost certainly step into the starting lineup. The good news is that Mikhail had played well in snaps that increased as last season went on, tallying 16 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss. The bad news is that Sanford doesn’t get replaced and this blows a huge hole into the linebacker depth chart.

I think Mikhail will be fine as a starter. He was trusted enough to be out there during the fourth quarter of a College Football Playoff game. He looks imposing and played at a high level in spring practice and the Maroon & White Game, returning an interception for a touchdown and tallying four tackles and half a tackle for loss. He’s ready and I think he’ll be good in a starting role.

Sanford’s injury takes away the competition between Mikhail and Ray Coney for the MIKE job, since Mikhail would now likely take over at WILL. Coney may have started anyway, but now I think the point is moot. Mikhail is now the second-best linebacker on the roster (for the moment) and played WILL last year, so it makes perfect sense.

But Sanford’s injury means that someone who probably isn’t entirely ready has three months to get there. Jordan Lockhart will be the backup MIKE, but they’re going to need someone from a group that includes Kelvion Riggins, Tamarion Watkins, Qui Beck, Tank King and Storm Miller. All of them may be good in time, but I’m not seeing anyone as prepared as Mikhail was last year. Someone’s going to get some seriously fast on the job training.

Spring Game eases some concerns​

After thinking more about it, I really do think that Saturday’s Maroon & White Game was the best and cleanest one I’ve ever seen. But there were a couple of things that stood out: the offensive line play and the tackling by the defense on both sides.

Last year’s game was dominated by the defenses, with a ton of sacks on both sides. This year, even with good pass rushers on both the Maroon and White teams, there were only two sacks. I thought that one of the most important players on the roster was left tackle Lamont Rogers — not because he’s going to start (though he might), but because he’s at worst one snap away from being on the field. Saturday was the first time we got to see him in serious action, and he handled things quite well. I feel a lot better about things if he has to play.

I’ve said it before and will again, watch for Robbie Bourdon at left guard. I don’t think they’re anywhere close to a decision, but he’s worked there as well as right tackle. Coach Mike Elko mentions him a lot and did after the game Saturday as someone they believe in. Trovon Baugh is probably locked in right guard, but Elko mentioned Tyler Thomas in favorable terms as well. Elko says they have 10 offensive linemen that could play at a high level, which they did not have last year.

There were a few big runs in the game, but I thought the tackling was really good. The safeties, especially, were great. Tawfiq Byard set the tone the second play of the game, stuffing Jamarion Morrow with a strong solo tackle. Marcus Ratcliffe also attacked the line of scrimmage frequently, which gives you the sense that we’re going to see very aggressive safety play this fall.

But it wasn’t just the safeties who tackled well. The defensive tackles did a good job not only holding their ground, but stopping the run as a whole. I liked the play from guys like DJ Hicks, DJ Sanders and CJ Mims, especially (man, where’s EJ Smith when you need him?). The linebackers tackled well, especially Sanford before he got hurt, Mikhail and true freshman Tamarion Watkins, who showed off the speed that made A&M want him as a linebacker.

I think David Olano and Asher Murray are going to be able to handle kicking duties this fall at a much higher level than we saw last year. So, if the offensive line can play well and the defense improves its overall tackling, this team starts to look very, very good.

Ags could have an epic closing run in ’27 recruiting​

Texas A&M currently has the nation’s number one class according to Rivals, with one 5-star and five players in the top 60 of the Rivals 300 (in other words, the top 20%). That’s good, but what could be coming might be phenomenal.

A reminder for this exercise: Rivals always has 32 5-stars. No more, no less. Consider it the Rule of 32.

Cornerback John Meredith III is the No. 2 player in the nation and the top corner on the board. Texas is trying hard to sway him, but A&M has led for a long time and I still think they hold that spot.

Offensive tackle Mark Matthews is the No. 3 player in the country and he was in town this past weekend. Momentum seems to be with A&M here and they may be a tossup with Miami at this point.

Corner Joshua Dobson is ranked sixth overall and the Aggies are still very much in it for him as well. Though I don’t think he’ll end up at A&M, it wouldn’t exactly be a shock if he did.

Guard Albert Simien is ranked 10th overall and A&M has led for him for a long time. LSU is making the push that you know they would for a guy from Laker Charles, but the odds still favor A&M here.

Tackle Oluwasemilore Olubobola from New Jersey is ranked 20th overall has gotten the Adam Cushing and Elijah Robinson treatment. He’s a big Aggie lean right now.

Linebacker Kaden Henderson, ranked 21st overall, visited A&M last week and they now appear to be very significant leaders for him.

So those are just players in the top 21. If you could A&M commit Kamarui Dorsey (18th) and the players A&M leads for, that’s five 5-stars right there. Add in Matthews and you have six. That’s just silly.

Just outside of 5-star territory, but still in the top one-fifth of the rankings, are Aggie commits JayQuan Snell, Jaden Upshaw and Myles Smith. Targets who presumably have A&M as their leader and are also in the top 60 include running back Landen Williams-Callis, offensive tackle Kennedy Brown (who may be nearing a decision), and speedy wideout Eric McFarland.

Optimistically, A&M could have as many as seven 5-stars and 13 players in the top 60. That’s nearly 22% of the total! I don’t think the haul will be quite that good, but it could still be breathtaking if things hold up.