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Is Trevor Knight the Aggies’ answer at QB? Early returns say yes
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Trevor Knight may not win the battle for starting quarterback at Texas A&M.
The Oklahoma graduate transfer still has to take the job from Jake Hubenak, who made his first start as the Aggies quarterback in last year’s Music City Bowl.
But Knight already has the endorsement of one team leader on the defensive side of the football. Since arriving on campus Knight’s leadership and work ethic has earned the attention of his team.
Defensive end Myles Garrett said he’s already felt a change in attitude since the addition of Knight, as he recently told Sports Illustrated
“He came and he’s helped the offense a lot,” said Garrett, who led the SEC with 12.5 sacks in 2015. “He’s leading his side, and we have a lot of great leaders on our side. We’ve just come together and meshed as a team. And we’re ready to take on anything.”
Garrett said that Knight is leading on the field and in the weight room.
“The first workout, he caught everybody’s eyes. We were maxing out, and we were doing power cleans. He said, ‘I’m going to get 160 (kilograms).’ He drops it. Didn’t get it. He said, ‘Before I leave, I’m going to get this.’ Tries it three more times, and finally gets it on the third try.
“That was the most weight, other than a couple of other guys, that was done for power clean. The fact that a quarterback was doing it, and he’s that determined in everything he does, it’s ridiculous.”
Knight has made a believer out of Texas A&M’s leader on defense.
“Just the way he carries himself, how hard he works, you just want to follow him,” Garrett said of the Aggies’ heir apparent to the quarterback position. “It’s great to see he has that effect on people. If he can just maintain that during the season, a great season will unfold.”
Knight and Hubenak have both taken the long way around to end up in College Station.
A four-star recruit, Knight originally gave Texas A&M his verbal commit before ultimately choosing Oklahoma. His claim to fame in Norman was a Sugar Bowl victory over Alabama. However, through inconsistency and injury, Knight lost his starting job to walk-on Baker Mayfield.
Hubenak was a Texas high school star. But a season-ending injury during his junior year hurt his recruiting status. A walk-on at Oklahoma State, Hubenak quickly transferred to Blinn College where he once again excelled, drawing the attention of Texas A&M. He filled in admirably for the Aggies in their bowl game last December and displayed the potential to compete this year for the starting spot as well.
Both are competing for the job while learning under new OC Noel Mazzone and his up-tempo style.
“They’re all going through growing pains because they’re learning a new offense,” Mazzone said in a recent press conference. “It’s been really good competition between Trevor and Jake.”
There’s no reason to hurry a decision on naming a starting quarterback. Don’t look for that to happen this spring.
Spring practice concludes on April 9 with the Aggies’ first spring game in three years due to construction at Kyle Field over the last two springs.
Glenn Sattell is an award-winning freelance writer for Saturday Down South.
