Texas A&M Aggies Football: 4 Players with the Most to Gain in Spring Practice

The Texas A&M Aggies have seen a lot of change on their coaching staff since the end of the regular season. There are a number of players who should benefit from those changes during spring practice and going forward.

There are three new coaches on staff: John Chavis is the defensive coordinator, Aaron Moorehead is the wide receiver coach and Dave Christensen is the offensive line coach. Chavis is going to coach the linebackers, so Mark Hagen will move over and coach the defensive tackles.

The coaching changes will result in a lot of opportunities for players; those who were previously backups will start over with a clean slate.

This is a look at some of the players who have the most to gain in spring practice.

CB Victor Davis

Grant Halverson/Getty Images

Victor Davis should benefit from John Chavis becoming the defensive coordinator. Chavis covets tall defensive backs who are long and physical, and Davis' 6'0", 192-pound frame fits that to a T.

Chavis wants defensive backs to play press-man coverage. Davis should excel in a scheme that features cornerbacks who jam opposing receivers at the line of scrimmage and try to knock them off their route.

He was solid in 2014 as a redshirt freshman but should really be able to step up his game as a sophomore. He has the type of skill set Chavis desires and should be a difference-maker in the new defensive scheme.

NG Zaycoven Henderson

Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

Zaycoven Henderson was in the rotation at nose guard in 2014. The 6'1", 315-pound freshman garnered a start against LSU and responded with a season-high five tackles in the game.

Henderson had 13 total tackles last season. Since he is a nose guard, his statistics are never going to be eye-popping, but he did a solid job of taking up the double-team and being strong at the point of attack.

Henderson should take a quantum leap forward on the field after getting a season under his belt and spending the offseason in the Aggies strength and conditioning program. With a new defensive coordinator taking over, all players are starting out on equal footing.

Henderson will have the chance to prove he should be the starter in 2015 over Hardreck Walker. Spring practices will also give him the opportunity to leave a lasting impression in Chavis' mind before uber-recruit Daylon Mack arrives in the fall and competes for playing time at nose guard. 

WR Edward Pope

Tom Pennington/Getty Images

Edward Pope caught 40 passes for 454 yards and four touchdowns in 2014. The rising junior will have a chance to move up the pecking order in the receiver rotation and possibly earn a starting spot during the spring.

Pope has exceptional body control in the air and excels at high-pointing the ball. He used his 6'4", 180-pound frame to make a lot of big plays for the Aggies in 2014. He averaged 15.1 yards per reception. 

Pope needs to show new wide receiver coach Aaron Moorehead that he can be consistent in running his routes and catching the ball. He is a proven player in the SEC, but he needs to work hard during the spring so he can take the next step and become a go-to receiver for A&M.

RB Tra Carson

Mark Humphrey/Associated Press

The Aggies have a new offensive line coach and run-game coordinator in Dave Christensen. Tra Carson will have the opportunity to impress Christensen during spring practice.

In 2014, the team had a running-back rotation with three backs splitting around 20 carries per game. Christensen should put an end to that rotation in 2015, and the Aggies should feature one running back.

If Carson has a strong spring, he might convince Christensen he can be the starter and deserves to carry the ball 20 times per game. If Carson gets 20 carries per game, then he will rush for close to 1,000 yards in 2015.

A strong spring could precede an All-SEC type of season.

Stats and player information courtesy of the Texas A&M team website, 12thMan.com.