Texas A&M has been lighting it up on the ground in 2016.
The Aggies lead the SEC in rushing offense, total offense, rushing yards per game (274), yards per rushing attempt (6.8), and rushing touchdowns (19). Stud freshman running back Trayveon Williams also tops the conference with 704 rushing yards on only 82 attempts.
A big reason for this resurgence is offensive line coach Jim Turner.
He’s taken a makeshift, inexperienced group and turned them into a sound unit. The group had only 13 combined starts heading into this year — all held by starting left tackle Avery Gennesy.
Turner’s work with the OL group hasn’t gone unnoticed by offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone:
“[Turner is] totally involved with the run game. He is unbelievable during the game, during the week of practice. The thing I’ve noticed about him more than most guys I’ve been around is his in game adjustments to what’s happening out there and even how our guys are playing and what the fronts are doing and what runs should be….he’s been awesome with that. He makes some really great halftime adjustments from what we’re seeing so he’s a very good coach.”
Head coach Kevin Sumlin echoed Mazzone’s sentiments:
“[Turner] is a real technician and understands what it takes to coach every level of player in that offensive line. We’ve got two redshirted third year junior college guys, we’ve got a true freshman, so the oldest to the youngest guys…the ability to get all of that to gel regardless of age level has been great.”
