Texas A&M season preview: Will QB Kellen Mond’s experience give Aggies a leg up on the rest of the SEC?

Here’s an overview of Texas A&M ahead of the 2020 college football season ...

Last season: 8-5 (4-4 in the SEC)

Coach: Jimbo Fisher (100-32, 17-9 in two seasons at Texas A&M)

Star watch

Bobby Brown, DL: Arlington Martin produced Myles Garrett, one of the greatest Aggie defenders in program history and an eventual No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft. While those are obviously near-impossible shoes to fill, nearby Arlington Lamar has given the Aggies another gift along the defensive line in the form of Brown. The third-year defensive tackle is the most decorated returning Texas A&M defender, earning preseason All-SEC 2nd-team honors this offseason. The 325-pound defensive tackle already has more than 25 games under his belt as an Aggie and looks to anchor the defensive line this fall and beyond.

Kellen Mond, QB: There’s no quarterback in the SEC with more experience than Mond. And there are barely any QBs in the entire country that can dare make that claim. Can he use those traits to his advantage and help make up for some other areas where the deck may be stacked against him -- namely in terms of how few proven weapons he’s surrounded by in the passing game? One determining factor will likely be how well he uses his legs. He was very boom or bust in that area of his game last fall, averaging 90 yards per game in contests against Alabama, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and (bowl opponent) Oklahoma State, but averaging negative yardage in A&M’s matchups against three other top-5 opponents; Clemson, Georgia and LSU. Some consistency could go a long way this fall.

Isaiah Spiller, RB: Jashaun Corbin looked to be the next man up in a long line of successful RBs at Texas A&M once Trayeon Williams made his way to the NFL. But once Corbin went down with an injury last fall, Spiller got the opportunity to be the Aggies' lead back and he never gave anyone the opportunity to take it from him. By rushing for 950 yards and adding 200-plus more yards through the passing game, Spiller solidified himself as “the guy” both for the present and future, leading Corbin to transfer to Florida State. Now we get to see what Spiller’s encore performance looks like.

Breakout candidates

Demond Demas, WR: Hope you didn’t get too attached to Texas A&M’s top receiving weapons from last season. Through graduation, injury and attrition, Kellen Mond’s top targets from a year ago are all gone. And while that means there may be some hiccups as young players look to get acclimated to the system, it’s a great chance for freshmen to break out earlier than many would have expected. And if you’re betting on one guy to fit that profile this fall, look no further than Demas -- the No. 3 overall receiver in this year’s recruiting class and a five-star, top-25 player overall.

Demani Richardson, DB: It didn’t take long for Richardson -- a Waxahachie product -- to crack into the Aggie starting lineup. He started in 11 of 12 games as a freshman and received SEC All-Freshman Team honors for his contributions on the field. So while 2019 may have already been a mini breakout for Richardson, given how early he became a contributor, 2020 looks to be the year that Richardson makes the leap and joins the conversation as one of the conference’s best defensive backs regardless of age.

Ainias Smith, RB: Smith wowed coaches and teammates alike with explosive showings in practice last season as a wide receiver. He was moved over to running back to help shore up some depth concerns when injuries struck the Aggie offense last fall. Now he’s sticking around in the running back room ... for now. But whether Fisher uses this Swiss Army Knife in the backfield or as a wideout, Smith is likely to make an impact regardless of his position. The fact he’s able to seamlessly switch between positions is a testament to his athleticism, versatility and football smarts.

Three games to circle on the calendar

1. Florida (10/10): Texas A&M’s third game of the season should be fans' best bet at seeing a really competitive, entertaining matchup in 2020. Most expect the Aggies to make short work of Vanderbilt in College Station during this weekend’s season opener, and even the most optimistic of fans can’t feel great about the following weekend’s matchup on the road against Alabama. But Florida coming to Kyle Field in the third week of SEC play is a great middle ground -- the Aggies will meet a great opponent, but it should still be very winnable. And bonus points for actually getting to see these two teams play -- weird SEC scheduling quirks mean this is just the second time in eight years that they’ll face off on the field.

2. LSU (11/28): LSU got sweet revenge for A&M’s memorable 74-72 win during the 2018 season when the two teams met for a rematch last fall. The Tigers walked away with an emphatic 50-7 victory. The 2020 edition of this rivalry will say a lot about where things currently stand. Was 2018 an anomaly, and should Tiger fans expect to go back to winning most of the head-to-head games in this matchup (LSU had won seven straight prior to the 2018 matchup). Or was the 2018 matchup, not the 2019 one, more emblematic of how competitive this rivalry will be in the Jimbo Fisher era?

3. Auburn (12/5): A&M has actually been incredibly successful on the road against the Tigers since joining the SEC. The Aggies are 3-1 in Auburn, with the lone loss being a 4-point loss in 2018 in Jimbo Fisher’s first start in this rivalry. With this year’s matchup happening on the last day of the regular season and there being major divisional standing implications likely on the line, that makes the stakes even higher in this winnable road game.

Why Texas A&M could be better

When it comes to success at the college football level, there aren’t many better and more consistent correlations of success than having an experienced QB leading your team. And that’s exactly what the Aggies have with Kellen Mond. A look around the SEC West shows just how inexperienced A&M’s biggest rivals are at that position: Alabama will break in first-year starter Mac Jones, who replaces Tua Tagovailoa. LSU will break in first-year starter Myles Brennan, who replaces Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow. And Auburn will be led by true sophomore Bo Nix. Mond has more than double the career starts than those teams' three QBs combined.

Why Texas A&M could be worse

There’s no place to look other than the schedule. A couple months ago, Texas A&M’s schedule included the likes of Abilene Christian, North Texas, Fresno State and a Colorado team bringing in a new coaching staff. Now, all four of those teams are off the schedule and a pair of new SEC opponents (Tennessee and Florida) take their place. There aren’t many soft spots in this year’s schedule that is now compromised exclusively of SEC opponents.

Schedule/predictions

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