Four wides? Why not?

Collin Klein was a quarterback in college. He was a quarterbacks coach. But he was also a player in a physical, run and tight end-heavy offense. You saw a lot of 2×2 formations (two wideouts, two tight ends, one back) with Klein, at least in part because that’s what he was comfortable with at Kansas State.

Now the Aggies have Holmon Wiggins, a former receivers coach, running the show as offensive coordinator and playcaller. That’s what he knows best, and he’s had very effective receivers at both Alabama and at Texas A&M (KC Concepcion and Mario Craver immediately come to mind). I’m not saying I can read his mind, but I do think that his default will be to go with more receivers than tight ends.

Wiggins isn’t chasing the Red October or a magma displacement, but his default mechanism is almost certainly to take advantage of his receivers. And in this case, why not? He’s got plenty of very good ones.

Right now, I would think the first four are Mario Craver, Isaiah Horton, Ashton Bethel-Roman and Terry Bussey. Craver we know. Horton was very good at Alabama last year, catching eight touchdowns. He brings a new element to the offense as a big, physical receiver on the outside. Bethel Roman averaged 21 yards a catch and the reports on Bussey in the spring were glowing.

But the Aggies can (potentially) come at you in waves. Aaron Gregory is going to play. If Jerome Myles is healthy, he could be a serious factor. Kelshaun Johnson has outstanding speed. TK Norman has proven to be a reliable receiver, and that’s not even considering Jayden Warren, Mike Brown and Madden Williams.

So, if Wiggins wants to use more four-wide sets this season, why would he not? The Aggies used some quick game last year with Concepcion and Craver; they could do the same with Craver and Bussey. They have the ability to push the ball down the field with all four starters and most of the backups.

If you want to get Marcel Reed going and to command the offense at his highest level, the receivers have to play a big role in it. That doesn’t just mean in camp; that means in games too. If you have weapons, exploit them. In this case, Wiggins knows exactly how many bullets are in the chamber.

So where does A&M go at running back?

With the commitment of Landon Williams-Callis to Texas Saturday, the Aggies appear to be out on running backs. Williams-Callis was the top target and he’s going elsewhere.

So, that’s that.

For now.

While it would have been great to add Williams-Callis to the backfield group, but let’s keep this in mind: they have six scholarship running backs right now and only one of them will be draft eligible for the 2027 NFL Draft.

Maybe it’s good to get a refresher on what the Aggies have in the backfield right now. RB1 is likely Rueben Owens, who was the number one back in his class and averaged 5.2 yards per carry. Jamarion Morrow showed flashes of excellence as a freshman and certainly is a weapon in the passing game. KJ Edwards was third-ranked back nationally this past year, and he showed a few things in the spring in spite of dealing with some minor injuries. Carsyn Baker was a unanimous 4-star and now has bulked up to 210 pounds. Tiger Riden is up to 219, so they have some potential options for short yardage backs. They also picked up DeDe Murray in the offseason, so if they’re willing to use a scholarship on a guy who redshirted at Arkansas State last year, they must think they have something.

That does not mean the Aggies are going to rest with what they have — I would expect the contrary is the case. They have certain positions where they want one or two players every year, and running back is one of them. I came coming back to this, but it’s becoming increasingly obvious: this coaching staff has no problem waiting until waiting late in the cycle to poach a back committed elsewhere. Both Morrow and Baker were added very late — in the case of Baker, he wasn’t even on the signee list when we attended Mike Elko’s press conference on the 2026 recruiting class. Murray and EJ Smith were both transfers. So if A&M needs to wait, they’ll wait.

If they do end up getting in the portal, they’ll likely be appealing to a lot of very good backs. If Owens breaks out this year, he’ll likely turn pro. If he doesn’t, then odds are the Aggies are looking for another RB1 anyway. Being the top back on a loaded offensive roster — especially at a school that pays well — should certainly get a transfer’s attention.

So, short version: I wouldn’t sweat this much, even though it may be unavoidable in this weather. I expect Callis-Williams will be good, but Texas was always going to get theirs as A&M gets theirs (so far, the majority of the better ones). You tip your cap and move on, because A&M will have their opportunities to make good.

What a mess

You guys probably already know what I think of Friday’s decision to allow class of ’22 players an extra year of eligibility. The first word that comes to mind is stupid, and it goes downhill from there. This was a mind-bogglingly dumb decision that throws college football into chaos as camp starts.

Let me give you an example: let’s say Le’Veon Moss wants to come back (which almost certainly isn’t happening, but go with me here). He comes back and is installed as RB1. Now you have seven scholarship backs on the roster, which provides security — and likely some pissed off players. Owens could possibly stick around for a fifth season, but would he have some resentment? Probably. And the younger players could see that as a slap in the face and a year they won’t play and could well decide to transfer to play somewhere else in 2027.

In an attempt to be — I don’t know, helpful? — Judge Charlotte Sweeney released an addendum over the weekend that there should be no change to roster limits, alterations of NIL deals or anything like that. I expected that, and most people probably did too, especially after the NCAA said they’ve fight the ruling.

So basically we now have a bunch of free agents hitting the market as camps start.

And there are ones that are going to be appealing enough, once they hit the transfer portal, that teams that are already backed up to the 105-man roster are going to cut players to make space. (Right now the Aggies have 123 players on the roster, and I’ve got them with 23 walk-ons, with several guaranteed spots, so it’ll be tight.)

That would be a disaster for the younger players, who have done nothing wrong except exist. It’ll be even worse in basketball, where there are fewer spots on rosters and now an influx of talent that wasn’t quite enough to be NBA-worthy but are still really good. A&M has a roster spot open and now seem sure to fill it, but what if a team really needs a center and now you’ve got a shot at getting a good one — a 23-year-old, no less — what are you going to do? We all know the answer, as crappy as it sounds.

This decision is stupid and foolish in the extreme. It was clearly decided by someone who has no knowledge of college athletics or the athletic calendar. She threw a stink bomb into a theater and now doesn’t get why people are running.

Our sponsor

Owned by two Texas Aggie lettermen, Crystal Creek Partners specializes in commercial and residential real estate properties in the College Station area. Their properties are all custom newer construction in prime locations, including homes in The Estates of College Station and Commercial Spaces in South College Station’s Tower Point and Tower Center. If you’re looking for a single-family home for 4 students or flexible space for your growing business, reach out to Crystal Creek Partners to learn more.Crystal Creek Partners is looking to expand their property portfolio in the College Station area to include additional student rentals and VRBO properties. If you are interested in selling a property, we’d love to talk.

Doug Brown, an owner in Crystal Creek Partners, is also an acclaimed real estate agent with Compass Realty specializing in The Woodlands, Tomball, Magnolia, and Montgomery markets. He is also well versed in the Bryan/College Station market if you are looking to find the perfect game day second home or investment property.For more information, Email doug@tammyhendricksteam.com.