Texas A&M Football: Bold Predictions for Aggies' 2013 Recruiting Class
Texas A&M's success in the SEC transferred over to the 2013 recruiting class, as the Aggies put together a top-notch group of players.
With numerous gifted wide receivers and a handful of defensive recruits who could contribute immediately, coach Kevin Sumlin and his staff continue to make their presence felt in the new conference.
But what exactly should Aggies fans expect from this class?
I say dream big.
There are a couple of receivers who will become household names by the end of their freshman season. One defensive player will become the most productive pass-rusher on the team in his first year in College Station. I also see an underrated player in this class pushing one of the biggest names in college football to the breaking point.
This will be another fun year for the supporters of the maroon and white.
Here are the bold predictions for the 2013 recruiting class for the Texas A&M Aggies.
True Freshman Ricky Seals-Jones Hauls in 10 Touchdowns
1 of 5Johnny Manziel has been given a weapon to replace Ryan Swope, in wide receiver Ricky Seals-Jones. Arguably the best receiver prospect of the 2013 class, he will see the field quite a bit as a true freshman, due to the lack of depth at the position for the Aggies.
Once this kid gets onto the field, there will be no stopping him.
Seals-Jones has a great frame at 6'5", 230 and can get down field in a hurry. His skill set just screams deep threat in College Station. He should provide Mike Evans with a legitimate complementary wide receiver on the opposite side to take off some of the pressure.
But what stands out most for this 5-star recruit is his ability to make plays after the catch. He is elusive in the open field and has a knack for making defenders miss.
The 10 touchdown receptions would be more than any Aggies player had last year and only one fewer than Alabama freshman Amari Cooper in 2012. Seals-Jones has this type of play-making ability and should be in store for a breakout season as a first-year player.
Tommy Sanders Leads the Team in Sacks
2 of 5Texas A&M is thin on experience when it comes to the linebacker position. This is terrific news for linebacker Tommy Sanders, who is widely considered the best outside linebacker of the class when discussing JUCO players.
Sanders is an aggressive player who flies to the football and knows how to make plays. He is comfortable in space and makes sure the ball-carrier knows when he is on the field by unleashing a tremendous tackle. He will be effective at either the strong or weak-side position. He will only improve his game when he adds more bulk to his solid 6'1", 210-pound frame.
Due to the aggressive style of play and ability to cover a lot of ground, Aggies fans should expect Sanders to be on the field a lot this year. With his ability to blitz the quarterback and get into the backfield in a hurry, Sanders should help replace some of the production that Aggies defenders have left behind.
JaQuay Williams Finishes His Freshman Year with at Least 50 Receptions
3 of 5Ricky Seals-Jones isn't the only recruit that is looking to make an impact at wide receiver this season. JaQuay Williams was a highly recruited player in his own right and is actually one of the top players you to watch this spring.
Even with Seals-Jones and Mike Evans likely drawing most of the attention, there are enough footballs to go around for Williams to have a big season.
He is a tall athlete at 6'4". Not only can he go up and get the football, but he doesn't mind going across the middle to make those tough catches in traffic. In fact, Williams is still raw with his route running and isn't as flashy after the catch, so he may end up starting in the slot early on.
This means even more receptions for the 4-star recruit, as he will soon become a security blanket for Manziel.
As long as Seals-Jones and Evans do their job on the outside, Williams will fave many favorable matchups and should be yet another Texas A&M receiver to put up big numbers as a freshman.
Isaiah Golden Makes All Aggies Fans Forget About Damontre Moore
4 of 5Texas A&M just lost a stud of a defensive player in Damontre Moore, who decided to throw his name into the hat for the NFL draft.
Don't worry Aggies fans; Isaiah Golden has got your back.
The comparisons start with the versatility Golden brings to the table, as he has spent time playing defensive tackle and defensive end in high school. Don't let the size (6'2", 330 pounds) fool you; this kid carries his weight well and explodes off the football. He is an athletic big man who will continue to surprise you the more you watch him on tape.
Golden fires out of his stance with good explosion and makes a lot more plays in the backfield than one would expect from typical defensive tackle.
Moore was a terrific player who really helped carry the way on defense the last few seasons for the Aggies. Golden has that ability to now become the face of the defense and, with what we have seen so far, there is no question he will live up to those expectations.
Kohl Stewart Creates a QB Controversy with Johnny Manziel in 2014
5 of 5Folks in College Station are ready to build statues for Johnny Manziel after one season. At 20, he has become a college football icon in such a short amount of time and nobody expects this magic carpet ride to end anytime soon.
But what if Manziel's production takes a turn for the worse? Oh, don't act like that can't happen. We saw it last season with a surefire quarterback in Matt Barkley. Geno Smith wasn't as hot as he once was in the 2012 season. Let's not even begin to dive into the Tyler Wilson and Logan Thomas talk.
The bottom line is that there is a possibility that defensive coordinators soon figure out how to defend the Heisman Trophy winner and he doesn't produce nearly the same as he did a year ago.
This is when I give Kohl Stewart a shot for the starting job in 2014. A solid 4-star recruit, Stewart is also an athletic player who can make plays with his legs. But he also does a good job of getting rid of the ball quickly, throws the ball with tremendous velocity and has a smooth release for somebody who also plays baseball.
I know this may be tough to imagine at this point in time, but Stewart will give Manziel all he can handle down the throat and may eventually push him as starter.
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