Texas A&M uses apparent decoy for Max Johnson in bizarre attempt to fool Mississippi State
Published:
Texas A&M went to extraordinary lengths to preserve its competitive advantage over Mississippi State on Saturday.
Aggies quarterback Max Johnson has been considered questionable this week after sustaining an injury to his ribs last week vs. Ole Miss.When Texas A&M took the field on Saturday to begin pregame warmups, a left-handed passer in a No. 14 warmup shirt began playing catch.
However, that person was not Johnson.
Instead, it was an apparent decoy sent out to warmup seemingly in an attempt to make Mississippi State believe that Johnson would be healthy enough to start the game. Here’s video of the person warming up as well as a close-up of the person during the pregame workout:
There is a player on the field in No. 14 for Texas A&M who is throwing left handed, but consensus in the press box is that is not QB Max Johnson. Decoy?
Wearing a hat and everything. pic.twitter.com/tnoMCHVm1C
— ?????? ?. ????? (@Travis_L_Brown) November 11, 2023
That is most certainly not Texas A&M QB Max Johnson throwing left handed during warmups in a hat and a No. 14 shirt. Only player on the field wearing a hat.
Photo by @MeredithSeaver pic.twitter.com/zmbS1hMHoT
— ?????? ?. ????? (@Travis_L_Brown) November 11, 2023
Shortly after this person was seen warming up in place of Johnson, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that the Aggies quarterback would not play on Saturday. Instead, it will be Fresno State transfer Jaylen Henderson making his first-ever start for the Aggies.
Henderson began the year as Texas A&M’s third string quarterback. The Aggies lost starter Conner Weigman to an injury earlier this season.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday night in College Station.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
