Texas A&M in the 2011 Texas Bowl: 5 Players You Need to Know

The Texas A&M Aggies, who were more than a disappointment this season by only winning six games, are facing off against the Northwestern Wildcats in the Texas Bowl this postseason. 

Led by a superstar QB in Ryan Tannehill, the Aggies defeated a strong Baylor squad but lost to Texas, Oklahoma State and Arkansas by a total of seven points. Nothing seemed to go A&M's way this season, as they went from possible championship contenders to seventh in the Big 12. 

Tannehill may have been the star of the team, but he didn't do this all alone. He had some help from some big-time playmakers on both offense, defenseand special teams. As the Texas Bowl creeps closer, some of those guys deserve some credit as well.

We take a look at the top five athletes on the Aggies' side that you'll need to know once the 31st rolls around.  

Cyrus Gray

No. 32 has been a star at A&M for over two years now. His quickness and speed has helped the Aggies win many a ball game, making it all the more difficult to have him on the sideline during his final rivalry matchup against Texas.

The shoulder injury he sustained versus Kansas knocked this senior RB out for the season finale, but things are looking up for the Aggies' matchup against the Wildcats this New Year's Eve.

If Gray plays, watch for him to make a huge impact in the offense's play-calling. His presence goes beyond running ability, as he also can catch the ball quite well. Gray has 198 carries for 1,105 yards and 12 TDs, as well as 31 receptions for 239 yards and three TDs. 

Randy Bullock

A&M's placekicker was the Aggies' only All-American for the season. He also grabbed the Lou Groza Award, the achievement one receives for being the best kicker in college football, and broke school records for accuracy and career point totals.

Bullock was actually Texas A&M's top scorer with 127 points on the year, went 25-of-29 on field goals for an 86.2 accuracy percentage, and nailed 52-of-54 extra points. His range exceeds 50 yards as he put a 52-yard field goal in versus Texas.

A valuable offensive asset, Bullock knows how to make a difference in a big-time game. 

Ryan Swope

Although senior WR Jeff Fuller held the spotlight for most of the offseason, junior WR Ryan Swope stole the show this year with his incredible play. The team's leading receiver as well as second overall in all-purpose yards, Swope was an Aggieland favorite.

Connecting on 81 passes with QB Ryan Tannehill, the junior totaled 1,102 yards receiving along with 11 TDs. His longest reception was for 79 yards against powerhouse Oklahoma. Known around A&M as the Wes Welker of the squad, this slot receiver can beat you any which way.

Definitely one of the most exciting players to watch when the Aggies line up, Swope should provide ample entertainment when Northwestern visits Houston. 

Sean Porter

Easily the most recognizable defensive player for the Aggies, No. 10 was more than dangerous this season to defenses. Attempting to replace Von Miller, Porter did a much more stellar job than most analysts thought possible preseason. 

The junior LB out of Schertz, TX, totaled the most sacks for the team with 8.5 as well as the second most tackles with 73. His 16 TFL is the statistic that stands out the most as it shows that Porter was in opposing backfields a lot more than he was supposed to be. 

Ryan Tannehill

Compared to last season, Ryan Tannehill had a less than impressive year. He is one of the most talented players on the Aggies' squad and is destined for the NFL, but most nothing went this superstar's way.

Leading an offense that had 10 starters returning, including himself, No. 17 was just about on top of the world. An early loss to Oklahoma State by one point quickly shut that down. Problems closing out games against the OSU, Kansas State, Arkansas and Missouri plagued Tannehill and the Aggies all season long.

Owning a 132.6 QB rating, a 61.1 completion percentage on 491 attempts, 3,415 yards passing, 28 TDs, and 14 interceptions, the senior was the key to offensive success. Also a dual-threat QB, his running ability allowed him to gain 338 yards on 55 carries with four TDs.