Kevin Sumlin said he was pretty happy with his recruiting class of 2016. He called it “solid,” a class that includes 12 new faces on offense and seven more on defense.
He named a couple of athletes who could play a number of positions. Both Moses Reynolds (younger brother of Josh Reynolds) and Aaron Hansford are a couple of versatile athletes he mentioned along those lines.
A four-star recruit out of Washington, D.C., Hansford was recruited as an outside linebacker, an area in which the Aggies could use some help right away. But Sumlin has indicated that the 6-foot-2, 210-pounder could play on offense.
“(Offensive coordinator Noel) Mazzone gets first dibs on him because he knew him first and recruited him,” Sumlin said. “He’s the guy who recruits him, he gets to pick. (Aaron is) going to be on offense. A guy who has tremendous upside. Athletic.
“Can play a number of positions for us. Big, physical, fast. Parents both collegiate sprinters. He inherited that speed for a big, physical guy. Can play a lot of different things.
“Thinking all our coaches are excited. See what happens when he gets here. He’s probably 210, 215 right now but will get to be 240 easily.”
In his view, Sumlin filled a lot of needs with the latest recruiting class. Of course, the arrival of graduate transfer QB Trevor Knight will be the most critical of all the new faces to Aggieland in the fall. But what sort of impact the 2016 recruiting class will have on the upcoming season remains to be seen. Given spring practice and the latest depth charts, here are three players who could have an immediate presence on the team this season.
Trayveon Williams, RB – At 5-foot-9 and 185 pounds, Williams has exhibited a solid work ethic and an attitude that says he wants to play immediately. Sumlin said he has seen the desire in Williams to be a meaningful player on the Aggies’ roster from the outset.
Williams is listed as third team on the latest texasags.com depth chart. But he could see playing time along with first- and second-team players James White and Oklahoma transfer Keith Ford. It’s a demanding position where depth is significant for a team’s success over the long and brutal SEC schedule.
He rushed for 3,800 yards and 45 touchdowns over his final two years of high school and as an early enrollee was able to participate in spring workouts. There, he took advantage of an injury to Ford, got some reps, and displayed big-play ability both running with and catching the football.
Braden Mann, P – The 6-foot, 200-pounder from the suburbs of Houston was one of the top punter/kickers in the country in high school. An Under Armour All-American, Mann averaged 45.1 yards per punt in his senior year of high school and connected on 15-of-18 field goal attempts over his high school career.
Mann could be one of those who fills the shoes of departed Aggies kicker Taylor Bertolet or punter Drew Kaser. Both are mighty big shoes to fill, but Mann has the leg to do the job. He is listed on the depth chart as the second-team punter, behind junior Shane Tripucka. Mann battles sophomore Daniel LaCamera for kicking duties as well.
Tyrel Dodson, LB – The 6-foot-2, 235-pounder from Tennessee is just what the Aggies are looking for as they try to shore up the run defense. A true Mike linebacker, Dodson has a nose for the football and an ability to fight through congestion in the middle to make stops. But he’s also laterally gifted and can get to the edge when needed.
Second-year defensive coordinator John Chavis, a.k.a. “Chief,” used his Tennessee roots to pluck two standouts from the Volunteer State. In addition to Dodson, the Aggies were able to land standout DB Ikenna Okeke.
“Without a doubt (we were) able to make some strides to get into some homes and talk to some guys,” Sumlin said. “Can’t say that Chief’s contacts and knowledge of Tennessee didn’t get us two really good players.”
Those are just three of what will likely be several freshmen who contribute in some form or fashion to Texas A&M’s 2016 season.
Glenn Sattell is an award-winning freelance writer for Saturday Down South.
