Texas A&M Football: 5 Storylines Heading into Spring Ball

Texas A&M will enter their first season in the SEC and have a lot of things to be positive about. For one thing, they have a head coach in Kevin Sumlin who's done great things at Houston. They also have 17 starters returning as they are out to prove that they belong in the toughest conference.

Although we are still months away from college football kicking off, spring ball is right around the corner. The Aggies' first spring practice is scheduled for March 31, and the spring game will take place on April 28.

As we get ready for everything spring has to offer, here are the top five storylines to pay attention to.

Who Will Help Replace Jeff Fuller?

The Aggies were one of the best passing teams in the country last year, averaging 291 yards in the air a game. But that was with a senior quarterback leading the way and a huge target in Jeff Fuller, who caught at least 40 passes every season.

With both no longer on the roster, a wide receiver has to step up and emerge as one of the premier targets on this team. Alongside Ryan Swope, who caught 89 passes last season, somebody such as Nate Askew or Brandal Jackson has to provide the quarterback with another weapon.

Askew and Jackson have caught a combined 38 passes throughout their careers. Askew has fantastic size at 6'4", 220 pounds and has blazing speed. He could emerge as one of the better wide receivers in the entire conference. Jackson is a receiver that's never caught more than 16 passes in his career, but he has good hands and can make catches in traffic.

The Aggies had one of the most explosive offenses in the country last season and have the talent to repeat those numbers. Somebody just has to play to their potential.

We Need Running Backs

Now, the talent is there at the running back position, but the experience is not. It's hard enough to run the ball in the SEC, but with a new quarterback leading the way, the team will likely to lean heavily on the running game to succeed. 

With 1,000-yard rusher Cyrus Gray graduating, it opens the door for senior running back Christine Michael to become the starter. He has the most experience and has averaged at least five yards a carry throughout his career.

Other than that, the Aggies lack experience at running back. Players such as Ben Malena, who rushed for 259 yards his freshman season, should get more touches his sophomore year. And of course, one of the Aggies' prized recruits in Trey Williams should get an opportunity to play as well, with his great acceleration and game changing speed.

The talent is there—we just need to see them produce in their new home.

Is Jameill Showers Ready for the Big Time?

It's never easy replacing a senior quarterback, especially when that player threw for over 3,700 yards and 29 touchdowns last season. It's even more difficult when the quarterback you're replacing him with has only thrown five passes in his career.

Jameill Showers is a big kid at 6'2", 219 pounds and has an absolute cannon for an arm. He also has great mobility and is able to move the chains with his feet when he has to. Overall, he's a great prospect and should be able to earn the starting spot in spring.

But regardless of how he plays, he'll still be going up against SEC defenses, and that can't make any Aggie fan too comfortable. If he's not able to produce quickly enough, quarterbacks such as Johnny Manziel, Matt Joeckel and freshman Matt Davis will be waiting for their shot.

Can Kevin Sumlin Live Up to the Hype?

Kevin Sumlin was a solid head coach when he was at Houston, putting together a 35-17 record. But he's never held a head coaching job as big as the one he's currently in at Texas A&M. Especially with them moving to the SEC, the expectations and demands just got even bigger.

Sumlin is a great motivator, has a great offensive mind and knows how to get the most out of his players.

But this is a whole different level than he's ever experienced, and the pressure is on. Though he has done great work throughout his career, this is his biggest challenge, and it will demand results.

Can the Aggies Survive in the SEC?

If there's any team that should succeed in this conference, it's Texas A&M. They are just as physical as the majority of the teams in the conference and have enough talent on both sides of the ball to compete with the best of the SEC.

But just how long will it take to begin competing in the SEC West? With a new quarterback, losing a 1,000 yard rusher and having a whole new coaching staff, this is the question that everybody wants to know the answer to.

The Aggies have only won two bowl games since 1995, and this is a program that is hungry for success. It's time to get the job done and start winning ball games.

Randy Chambers is a B/R featured columnist that covers college football and the NFL. You can contact him @Randy_Chambers or [e-mail].