Senior QB Kellen Mond is ‘on a mission’ to lead Texas A&M to a higher level this season

As he enters his fourth season as a starter in the SEC, Kellen Mond has seen pretty much everything a quarterback can see.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Texas A&M senior quarterback decided to watch everything again as part of his personal improvement plan, both on the field and to develop a different mentality.

“I Iooked over every single play I ran my junior year,” Mond said this week ahead of Saturday’s season opener at Kyle Field against Vanderbilt. “I just wanted to evaluate myself and find out what I can do better and figure out the best way to basically improve myself.”

Not all of the game film from an 8-5 A&M season were exactly feel-good moments.

Mond was solid last year, completing 61.6% of his passes for 2,897 yards and 20 touchdowns, and leading A&M past Oklahoma State in the Texas Bowl. He also struggled at times in the Aggies' losses to three No. 1 teams, notably in the late-season loss at LSU with three interceptions.

At the start of preseason camp, the usually introspective Mond had talked about struggling with his confidence.

“Last year, my fear of failure at times was pretty high,” he said.

If A&M, currently ranked 10th in the AP Top 25, is to contend in the SEC West this season, things will start and likely end with how Mond performs. Earlier this year, he pointed to the rapid ascent of LSU quarterback Joe Burrow in 2019 and wondered about doing the same thing.

“This year, I’m on a mission not only for myself but for my teammates,” Mond said. “I just want to be a great leader and elevate everyone and take them to a higher level.”

The challenge for Mond grew in the last few weeks. Five A&M players have decided to opt out of the season including three projected starters — defensive back Elijah Blades, receiver Jhamon Ausbon and linebacker Anthony Hines. Ausbon was a close friend of Mond going back to high school, as well as his favorite target.

The two talked several times before Ausbon announced his decision to prepare for the NFL draft. Mond listened but said he didn’t want to pressure his friend.

“What you saw was the maturity of Kellen. You didn’t see anything different,” coach Jimbo Fisher said. “I’m sure inside it hurt him. I know it did. But the responsibility he has to this program and to his other teammates, it’s a tribute to him about how he’s handled that situation.”

Now he’s dealing with the loss of his top four receivers.

Fisher likes what he’s seen from the way Mond has communicated and impacted the talented — but quite young — receiver corps and everyone else.

Teammates have praised the way Mond has taken charge.

“He’s really grown a lot, especially mentally,” sophomore running back Isaiah Spiller said. “He’s really stepping up and being leader on this team which we need.”

Mond is poised to break a handful of A&M career records this season, including passing yards and touchdowns throws.

SEC Network analyst Matt Stinchcomb pointed to Mond’s improved completion percentage and decision-making each year.

“I think Kellen Mond is going to be the best quarterback in the conference at the end of the year,” Stinchcomb said during an appearance on the network.

At the same time, Mond has a strained relationship with some parts of the fan base that have never really embraced him. His mistakes have been scrutinized. He even chuckled last month when the issue of criticism was raised during a media availability.

He was also a key figure in the protests of the Sullivan Ross statue on campus this summer, which also featured some counter-protests. Ross was a former A&M president and Confederate general.

This summer, Mond helped lead a protest for the statue’s removal that included a verbal confrontation with counter-protesters. He has also debated the subject on social media. Mond said the support he received, even beyond football, outweighed any criticism.

“No matter what type of push back that I get, I’m going to be open-minded,” Mond said, “but I’m also going to stand firm on what I believe in.”

Since then, Mond has been appointed by A&M President Michael Young to a special committee on diversity, equity and inclusion.

“Even with my conversations with President Young before that, I think we had great conversations,” Mond said. “With him, I think he understands that certain changes need to be made within the university.”

Fisher noted the progression of Mond and likened it to players who use to stay for four years at school. He rattled off qualities like confidence, awareness and presence.

“It’s not that he’s matured, because he’s always been very mature, but you’re seeing him growing up,” Fisher said. “He’s turning into a man.”

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