It couldn’t have worked out any better if they’d planned it years in advance. That’s generally how schedules work. But for Texas A&M in 2021 breaking in a new quarterback won’t be quite as bumpy a road as it could have been.
That’s because the Aggies will introduce redshirt freshman Haynes King with a trio of, well, I hate to call programs “cupcakes” because that’s degrading to that school and the work and effort its athletes put in. But I’m not sure what else to call Kent State, Colorado and New Mexico? Cream puffs come to mind, but again, that seems a bit condescending as well. So, for the sake of common courtesy, let’s just call them the next opponent on the schedule.
The Aggies have 3 easy ones right out of the gate, including 2 at Kyle Field.
Let’s first take a look at the season opener Saturday. The Golden Flashes aren’t exactly what you would call college football blue blood. Only twice in 60 years have they been ranked in the Top 25, with the highest being a No. 18 ranking in 2012.
Granted the program is on the upswing. After 5 consecutive seasons of 3 wins or fewer, the Golden Flashes, in 2019, had their first non-losing season since that 2012 national ranking. They went 6-6 before claiming their first bowl game victory in program history, a 51-41 triumph over Utah State in the Frisco Bowl. Last year, they finished 3-1.
So, you say there’s a chance?
No, not really. Not even against a new quarterback. Certainly not a new quarterback with the talent that King possesses. All things considered, new quarterback and all, Texas A&M has been installed as a 29-point favorite.
That’s how you break in a new quarterback to the world of college football.
Now, playing Colorado in Denver’s Mile High Stadium is a horse of a different color. Or so it would seem. Not counting the shortened COVID season of 2020 in which they posted a 4-2 mark, the Buffs hadn’t had a winning season since 2016. You’d have to go all the way back to 2005 to find one before that.
The Pac-12 media recently voted Colorado 5th in the 6-team Pac-12 South.
But they do return 7 starters on defense. A defense that ranked 9th against the pass in a 12-team conference. I don’t believe that King will be too intimidated by those numbers, or any other quarterback the Buffs face this season for that matter.
Rounding out the trio of cup — errr, make that the trio of nonconference opponents — for King and Texas A&M to open the 2021 season with is New Mexico. The Lobos, out of the Mountain West Conference, have not won more than 3 games in any season since 2016, and have had just 2 winning seasons since 2007.
The Lobos ranked 11th last season out of the 12-team conference in passing yardage allowed. Only Nevada yielded more passing yards, which believe it or not, was an improvement over the previous season in which a porous New Mexico secondary gave up more total passing yards than any other team in the league – and they played 3 fewer games than did Hawaii, which ranked just ahead of them.
Yes, whether preplanned or not, the Aggies have put themselves in about as perfect a position as they could have hoped for to break in a new quarterback.
Just how Aggies coach Jimbo Fisher uses King in those first 3 encounters will be interesting to see. I mean, you don’t want to put too much on film for your opponents to analyze and plan for, but you do want your new signal-caller to settle into the position as well.
During those first 3 games, King should pile up the passing yardage and begin to feel the confidence he’ll need in order to compete down the road in the SEC.
Glenn Sattell is an award-winning freelance writer for Saturday Down South.
