Texas A&M Football: Predicting the Pre-Spring Two-Deep Depth Chart

Multiple positions are up for grabs as Texas A&M's Spring football practice begins on March 31.

The Aggies have question marks at quarterback, on the defensive line, and in the secondary. How the Aggies answer these questions will go a long way towards determining what kind of season they will have in 2012.

The first Spring practice under new Head Coach Kevin Sumlin offers the players a fresh start under new eyes. Sumlin purposely did not look at any game tape from last year so that he could be as objective as possible when evaluating his new team.

Expect some players to step up and surprise the coaches with their performance. 

It will be interesting to see what the team looks like after three months of working with Strength Coach Larry Jackson's program. Sumlin wants to build the team mentally and physically, and Jackson's program is the first step in that process.

This is a look at the likely two-deep for the team as they head into Spring practice.

Quarterback

The position the media and most fans will focus on is the open quarterback spot, where the Aggies have four players vying for the starting position.

Jameill Showers is the prohibitive favorite because he has seen the most experience of any of the quarterbacks on campus. But, Showers will have to fight it out with Matt Joeckel, Matt Davis and Johny Manziel for the starting spot.

While Showers has the most experience, Manziel is probably the best fit for Sumlin's offense.

It is unlikely that Sumlin will name a starting quarterback after Spring ball, unless one of the quarterbacks is head and shoulders above the rest.

Right now you have to assume that Showers has the lead headed into Spring.

1st Team: Jameill Showers

2nd Team: Johny Manziel

Running Back

The Aggies are currently dealing with some injury issues at the running back position.

Christine Michael will not participate in Spring practice while he recovers from ACL surgery, and Junior RB Ben Malena will be the starter by default heading into Spring practice.

Malena will likely be the second team running back in the Fall when Michael gets healthy. Depending on whether Michael is 100 percent or not, Malena may be the Aggies starter when they play Louisiana Tech.

Will Randolph will be the second team running back during the Spring. It will be interesting to see how Sumlin decides to best use the lightning-quick sophomore.

Walk-on Jay Tolliver rounds out the depth chart for the spring.

1st Team: Ben Malena

2nd Team: Will Randolph

Wide Receiver

The Aggies lost one of their best receivers in history with Jeff Fuller graduating and moving onto the NFL. The A&M coaches will spend much of the Spring trying to find a replacement for Fuller.

However, the Aggies return multiple seniors at the position, including record-setter Ryan Swope. Along with Uzoma Nwachukwu, Brandal Jackson and Kenric McNeal, the seniors make this one of the deepest positions on the roster.

Nate Askew and Derel Waliker should fight it out for Fuller's vacated spot. Expect Swope and Nwachukwu to start at the other two WR positions as the Aggies employ a three wide receiver set as their base offensive formation.

1st Team: Derel Walker, Ryan Swope, Uzoma Nwachukwu.

2nd Team: Nate Askew, Malcome Kennedy, Brandal Jackson

Tight End

The most gifted tight end on the roster is Nehemiah Hicks, who will miss his second straight Spring practice with shoulder surgery. That leaves Michael LaMothe and Hutson Prioleau at the position for the Spring.

It remains to be seen how much Sumlin will use tight ends in his offense.

Considering how much he used Greg Porter when he was the offensive coordinator at A&M, expect Sumlin to do everything he can to get the most out of the tight end talent on campus.

1st Team: Michael Lamothe

2nd Team: Hutson Prioleau

Offensive Line

The Aggies return their entire starting offensive line from 2011.

However, because of injuries and transfers, the Aggies will have a limited two-deep on the OL during the Spring.

Jarvis Harrison had shoulder surgery and will miss the Spring, and the first team should get a lot of reps since there will no be a complete second team during the Spring.

1st Team LT: Luke Joeckel

2nd Team LT: Cedric Ogbuehi

1st Team LG: Shep Klinke

2nd Team LG: Garrett Gramling

1st Team C: Patrick Lewis

2ns Team C: Ben Comptom

1st Team RG: Cedric Ogbuehi

2nd Team RG: Garrett Gramling

1st Team RT: Jake Matthews

2nd Team RT: Nate Gutekunst

Defensive Line

The Aggies are moving from the 3-4 to Mark Snyder's 4-3 Under scheme.

They will feature a nose tackle, defensive tackle and two defensive ends in their base alignment. It should be an easier transition than normal, as Snyder's defense employs a lot of the same concepts as Tim Deruyter's 3-4 scheme.

It should be interesting to see how Damontre Moore handles the transition from his rush outside linebacker position to the weak side defensive end position.

1st Team WDE: Damontre Moore

2nd Team WDE: Brandon Alexander

1st Team NT: Jonathan Mathis

2nd Team NT: Kirby Ennis

1st team DT: Gavin Stansbury

2nd Team DT: Shayvion Hatten

1st Team: SDE: Spencer Nealy

2nd Team SDE: Ivan Robinson

Linebackers

The Aggies will start three linebackers for the first time in three years. They have a solid first team at the linebacker position, but their depth is suspect.

The Aggies will have three senior linebackers starting for them in 2012, including All-American candidate Sean Porter. The big question is how their depth will hold up in the SEC.

It will be interesting to see how Tyrell Taylor, Shaun Ward, Dominique Patterson and Donnie Baggs respond to new coaching.

1st Team SLB: Sean Porter

2nd Team SLB: Charlie Thomas

1st Team MLB: Jonathan Stewart

2nd Team MLB: Shaun Ward

1st Team WLB: Steven Jenkins

2nd Team WLB: Donnie Baggs

Secondary

The Aggies lost three of their four starters from the 2011 secondary to graduation, but they return a lot of experience in seniors Steven Campbell, Steven Terrell and Dustin Harris.

The question is whether new DB coach Marcel Yates can mold this group of veterans and newcomers into a functional secondary their first season in the SEC. The Ags have a lot of bodies, so in turn they should have a lot of depth. But will they be any good?

The player to watch will be junior college transfer Otis Jacobs. He could solve a major question at corner for the Aggies.

1st Team CB: Dustin Harris

2nd Team CB: Floyd Raven

1st Team CB: Otis Jacobs

2nd Team CB: Tony Hurd

1st Team SS: Steven Campbell

2nd Team SS: Howard Matthews

1st Team FS: Steven Terrell

2nd Team FS: Kenneth Marshall

Kickers

The Aggies have to replace Lou Groza Award Winner Randy Bullock at place kicker.

Hopefully they will find more consistency at punter in 2012 after Ryan Epperson's struggles in 2011. It is unclear how many kickers and punters are currently on the Aggie roster, so it is almost impossible to make a depth chart for them.

Expect Drew Kaser and Ryan Epperson to compete for the starting punting spot during the Spring.

Taylor Bertolet is the de facto kicker right now, but there are going to be open tryouts to see if there are any kickers in the student body who can offer him some competition.