It’s still more than a month away from the start of the 2016 season, but the anticipation is building. Around College Station, a sense of optimism has risen from the ashes of a somewhat disappointing 2015 season, the Aggies’ second consecutive 8-5 showing.

There is good reason for that optimism. Things are falling into place since the Aggies lost two quarterbacks and then the Music City Bowl to end last season. Head coach Kevin Sumlin has seemingly rallied his troops over the last several months, and the Aggies look to contend for SEC West honors.

Here are three of the biggest reasons why Texas A&M fans can feel confident in their team’s ability to compete in the nation’s most competitive division.

1. John Chavis: Ever-improving defense

Chavis is still one of the best defensive coordinators in college football. He’s proven it at Tennessee and again at LSU. Now, in his second year in College Station, you can bet that Chavis is putting together a scheme to shore up the Aggies’ run defense and linebacking corps. He’s already got the best bookends in the SEC with sack artists Myles Garrett and Daeshon Hall. The Aggies also have one of the best secondaries in the conference, led by free safety Armani Watts.

Sumlin said it best at SEC Media Days on Tuesday: “The key for us is our second level, how linebackers come along,” Sumlin said. “Shaan Washington continues to improve.

We got guys in there that can get the job done who are bigger and stronger. We can be a top-level defense if our linebackers continue to improve.”

2. Trevor Knight: A leader at quarterback

After losing two five-star quarterbacks, the Aggies gained a graduated senior transfer from Oklahoma with a Johnny Manziel-like victory over Alabama under his belt. Since arriving on campus, Knight has become a leader in the locker room and was quickly named the Aggies’ starting quarterback heading into the 2016 season. He has the experience and now must regain the confidence that led to a promising 2014 season (2,300 yards passing, 14 TDs).

“My transfer process has been pretty unique,” Knight said at Media Days. “It’s been a leap of faith in a lot of ways, but looking back on it, it has been perfect. I did get to step in and the culture at A&M, specifically the team, wrapped their arms around me and let me know that I was a part of the family. I got to become a leader of the team pretty quickly, which was very unique. Going through 15 team practices, I feel that we got better and better each day and we have solidified a few things.”

3. Down year: Division is ripe for the picking

There doesn’t seem to be a clear-cut favorite in the SEC West. Obviously, until someone knocks it off, Alabama is the favorite. But the Tide lost a lot of its top talent from last year’s team. Granted, the level of talent never drops off much in Tuscaloosa, but it’s the inexperience that could leave the door open for someone else to pick up the gauntlet. That’s where the Aggies come in.

The Tide isn’t the only team in the SEC West with question marks. LSU should be the team primed to wrestle the hardware away from Alabama. But until the Tigers show some life in their passing game, they too, are vulnerable. Ole Miss is solid at quarterback but lost some NFL-caliber talent and may not be quite as powerful as the past couple of years. Auburn and Arkansas are capable but haven’t made that leap to serious contention lately, and Mississippi State is in transition following the Dak Prescott era.

So, the expected improvement against the run, coupled with a veteran quarterback and a perceived down year in the SEC West should give Aggies fans legitimate reason for optimism as we inch forward towards the start of the 2016 season.