Texas A&M College Football: The Top 10 Players for the 2012 Season

The Texas A&M Aggies are heading into the SEC with most of last year's team intact and a new head coach. The Aggies return a total of 14 starters, including eight on the offensive side of the ball. But just because there is experience, does not mean that this team is quite ready to make the plunge into their new conference. Certain players on both sides of the ball must step up in order to avoid another collapse at the end of the year.

Who is the most important player of this 2012 Texas A&M roster?

You can argue that it is going to be on the offense due to losing three key players on that side of the ball. Or you could make a case that it will be on defense, the same unit that fell apart at the end of the season and gave up over 30 points a total of six times.

As we get closer to the 2012 college football season, here are the top 10 most important players for your Texas A&M Aggies.

10. Cornerback: DeShazor Everett

The Aggies enter the season with a lot to be positive about, but the secondary is simply not one of them. This is a team that allowed 276 passing yards last season, which was good for eighth in the Big 12. Now that many of those players are no longer on the roster, it is up to some of the younger players to step up to the plate.

Everette is entering his sophomore season and has a lot that the coaches like. He is a very solid tackler, great in coverage and isn't afraid to get his hands dirty in run support despite his small 5'11", 175-pound frame. While it is no guarantee Everett will be the full-time starter this year, expect to see a lot of the young corner and for him to stand out this season.

9. Wide Receiver: Uzoma Nwachukwu

The No. 1 wide receiver on this team is without question Ryan Swope, but one receiver isn't enough to make up for several key losses on the offensive side of the ball. Players such as Uzoma Nwachukwu must step up. The senior receiver has shown bits and pieces of being a solid player but sometimes fades away when his team needs him most.

He needs to play with a little more consistency and become a reliable No. 2 option for this offense to begin clicking once again.

8. Linebacker: Jonathan Stewart

The linebacker position for the Aggies this season is paper-thin. Inside linebacker Jonathan Stewart returns for his senior season and will be one of the leaders on this squad. He led the team in tackles last year with 98 and added three sacks as well.

Stewart has quickly become one of the better defensive players on this team and has All-SEC potential; he just has to prove he can play in the toughest conference in college football.

7. Running Back: Christine Michael

With a main receiver, last year's starting running back and the starting quarterback, no longer on the roster, this is an offense that is desperately searching for answers. Christine Michael is an experienced player as he heads into his senior season and will finally have a chance to lead this team full-time.

Michael has big play ability and has averaged over five yards a touch in each of the last three seasons. He has rushed for over 2,000 yards in his career and scored 23 combined touchdowns. Michael will have to be the workhorse for this offense if the Aggies are going to experience success offensively this season.

6. Defensive Tackle: Jonathan Mathis

In 2010, Mathis was a very productive player for this Aggies defense, finishing the year with 41 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and two broken up passes. In 2011, he suffered a leg injury that sidelined him for the whole year. He is expected to be back on the field by the time September rolls around, and he will be key for this defensive line.

In the SEC, the games are often won in the trenches, and at 6'2", 285 pounds, he is the biggest defensive lineman that the Aggies have to offer. Mathis has to have a huge senior season for this defense to be successful.

5. Quarterback: Jameill Showers

With Ryan Tannehill a member of the Miami Dolphins, the Aggies are left searching for a new starting quarterback. While a starter has not been named yet, all indications lean towards sophomore Jameill Showers getting the nod. Showers has played well throughout the spring and is a dual-threat quarterback who can add a little excitement to this offense.

The sophomore quarterback must continue to work on his accuracy, but overall he has a lot of potential heading into the season.

4. Defensive Tackle: Kirby Ennis

Ennis must bulk up his 6'4", 248-pound frame. For a defensive tackle in the SEC, he is just simply too small and too lengthy. With that being said, he is very quick off the ball and can get in the backfield in a hurry. In limited action last season, Ennis picked up 11 tackles, two sacks tackles for loss and 1.5 tackles for loss.

Look for the junior to get increased playing time, and hopefully for Aggie fans, he will have a much bigger impact this time around.

3. Left Tackle: Luke Joeckel

The Aggies had one of the best offensive lines in the country last season, allowing only nine sacks on the year. That unit remains intact and the best player from that squad is left tackle Luke Joeckel. He has been a starter since he arrived on campus and hasn't looked back since.

The junior was a 2011 All-Conference player and if he decides to leave early for the NFL draft, should be a very high selection. Although this season will tell us a lot about just how good he is when he goes up against some tough defensive lines in the SEC.

2. Wide Receiver: Ryan Swope

This offense lost quite a bit of offensive production during the offseason but still has its best wide receiver in Ryan Swope on the roster. In the last three seasons, Swope has combined for 180 receptions, 2,204 yards and 16 touchdowns.

He is a shifty player who will be in the NFL someday, but for now he will be the No. 1 option against some of the toughest defenses in the country.

1. Linebacker: Sean Porter

Sean Porter shows that he can get relentless pressure on the opposing quarterback on the outside. While the Aggies defense wasn't consistent throughout the year, Porter finished the season with 79 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks. He was also a 2011 All-Conference player.

The senior linebacker has a ton of experience haven played since his freshman season, and he has bulked up to 6'2", 230 pounds. While many question if Texas A&M will be able to handle the physicality of the SEC, the offensive lines in that conference better know where No. 10 is on the field at all times.