Can Texas A&M's Ryan Tannehill Break the Curse of the Senior Quarterback?

With the 2011 college football season quickly approaching, expectations are the highest they've been in 12 years (the magic number?) for the Texas A&M Aggies. Only a few mental barriers (plus a trip to Norman, OK) stand in the way of their first Big 12 title since 1998.

Those blockades include living up to the expectations brought on by preseason hype, avoiding slow starts and building from the momentum of last season's strong finish.

However, one of the biggest issues in the minds of Aggie fans is if Ryan Tannehill can end the "Curse of the Senior QB."

Best defined by Houston Chronicle's Brent Zwerneman:

"

"Every A&M starting quarterback since the turn of the millennium has put up worse numbers his senior season than the year before - and led the Aggies to a worse record."

"

Here's a look back at each player who fell upon this curse, whether by injury or other means, and how it resulted in the end.

Mark Farris

Junior stats (2001): 11 games; 2,094 pass yd; 8 TDs; 8-4 record

Senior stats (2002): 2 games; 251 pass yd; 0 TD; 6-6 record

Despite signing a commitment to Texas A&M in 1994, Mark Farris was selected in the first round of the MLB draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates. He played in the Minor Leagues before returning to Texas A&M in 1999.

Farris had a good junior year in 2001 that included an 8-4 record and beating TCU in the now defunct GalleryFurniture.com Bowl—the Aggies' only bowl victory since 1995.

However, a nagging arm injury his senior year led to his demotion to the bench in favor of junior QB Dustin Long (who transferred after that season) and later freshman Reggie McNeal.

Despite six wins and a late season victory over No. 1 Oklahoma, the Aggies did not make it to a bowl game, leading to the controversial firing of coach R.C. Slocum.

Reggie McNeal

Junior stats (2004): 12 games; 2,791 pass yd; 14 TDs; 7-5 record

Senior stats (2005): 11 games; 1,963 pass yd; 16 TDs; 5-6 record

In Aggie hearts, Reggie McNeal will always be remembered for his heroic performance in their victory over No. 1 Oklahoma during his freshman year. The rest of his career showed great stats, but not results.

McNeal's junior year included breaking the school's then single-season passing record and taking the Aggies back to a bowl game after a two-year hiatus.

In an attempt to take advantage of his excellent decision-making skills, coach Dennis Franchione fell in love with the option during McNeal's senior season—something he was not thrilled about.

Never an "option quarterback" in his mind, McNeal's stats slipped his senior season, putting coach Fran on the hot seat after his third season at Texas A&M.

Stephen McGee

Junior stats (2007): 13 games; 2,311 pass yd; 12 TDs; 7-6 record

Senior stats (2008): 6 games; 586 pass yd; 2 TDs; 4-8 record

Despite being a pro-style QB, Stephen McGee was able to make the best of coach Fran's love for the option with several reliable players like Jorvorskie Lane and Mike Goodson around him.

McGee played well his junior year and helped lead the Aggies to a second-straight win over Colt McCoy's Longhorns, which was also Fran's final game before retirement.

McGee's senior season marked the beginning of the Mike Sherman era and what should have been a great chance for McGee to show off his pro-skills heading into the NFL draft. 

However, an early injury led to a disappointing finish to his collegiate career, but he was still selected in the fourth round of the 2009 NFL draft—he has even started a game for the Dallas Cowboys.

Jerrod Johnson

Junior stats (2008): 13 games; 3,579 pass yd; 30 TDs; 6-7 record

Senior stats (2009): 7 games; 1,947 pass yd; 14 TDs; 9-4 record*

*Note: Texas A&M was 4-3 in the seven games Johnson started.

Like McNeal, Jerrod Johnson had record-breaking stats that did not match the results. Not all of that was his fault, though.

Johnson broke almost every school record for QB during his junior year. The record could have been much better if his fifth-best offense nationally was backed up by something better than a 106th nationally-ranked defense.

Johnson's body frame and stellar offensive abilities got him selected as the preseason Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year in 2010. However, a shoulder injury obtained during the previous bowl loss and resulting surgery hampered his passing ability and led to 10 turnovers in the first four games of the season.

Johnson was eventually benched in favor of then-receiver Ryan Tannehill, but his humility and hard work throughout the entire ordeal paid off. He holds just about every QB record in school history, and he was signed by the Philidelphia Eagles to compete for the backup QB position.

Ryan Tannehill?

Junior stats (2010): 7 games; 1,306 pass yd; 10 TD; 9-4 record*

Senior stats (2011): ???

*Note: Texas A&M was 6-1 in the seven games Tannehill played QB.

Now the fifth senior QB of the millennium, Ryan Tannehill has helped lead the Aggies into relatively unknown territory with wins against Oklahoma, Nebraska and at Texas in 2010.

Texas A&M is expected to start the season in or near the Top 10. They are picked to finish second in the newly-constructed Big 12 and are the favorites to challenge probable No. 1 Oklahoma for the title.

The question is: Will the "Curse of the Senior QB" catch up with him, or will he break it, once and for all?

Tannehill is perfectly healthy, has more talent around him than most of his predecessors and a mature line to protect him in the pocket.

All odds point to him breaking the curse; this will be his first and only full season starting at QB. Only time will tell, but things are definitely looking brighter these days in Aggieland.