Jimbo Fisher discusses optimism for Texas A&M's 2021 season, touches on looming quarterback race
Texas A&M can look at the 2020 season as one where it took a major step forward en route to a 9-1 record, its only blemish coming to eventual national champion Alabama.
And while the Aggies weren’t able to break into the College Football Playoff’s top 4 when it was all said and done, Jimbo Fisher’s group hopes that 2021 will be much different, especially with the players projected to return.
“Each team has a one-year life expectancy,” Fisher said on Wednesday, according to The Eagle newspaper in Bryan-College Station, Tex. “No team is ever together greater than one year. It has to develop its identity, its work ethics, its goals, its desires and its work habits and day-to-day habits very quickly. That’s going to be a challenge, but that’s always a challenge. I feel very confident in our guys to do it, because they know how to do it and I think we still have a very strong nucleus of leadership coming back.”
One thing to watch is a major quarterback battle for the Aggies with senior Kellen Mond having declared for the NFL Draft. Haynes King served as the backup to Mond in 2020, with Zach Calzada—who did not see playing time this season—entering the fray along with a true freshman 4-star dual-threat Eli Stowers.
“We’ll find out who the better player is and who fits our scheme and our system and who our players respond to best,” Fisher said. “They are three outstanding guys who we are confident in.”
As far as seeing players depart the program with an eye toward a professional career, Fisher noted that it was certainly something to be expected considering the talent on the team.
“When you have good teams, you’re always going to lose good players,” he remarked. “I think they set a standard for how things are going to be done and the next group that watched them will be able to step up and hopefully do those things that they do. I feel very confident in the guys that are coming back.”
However, there are returnees that will take advantage of the NCAA’s “bonus year” of eligibility, with one in particular, linebacker Aaron Hansford, mentioned by Fisher.
“I think it’s a very smart decision,” he said. “You get a great special teams player. You get a drop guy. He can rush the passer. He can play inside. You get three or four players in one, who has already been there and has tremendous experience.”
The ’21 football season can’t come fast enough.
It seems like the next step is beat Bama. Such is life in the SEC.
That’s the next step for everyone in the SEC. Our guys didn’t start believing in themselves as a team until after they beat Florida, then they realized how good they really are. Until Nick Saban retires, it will always be “beat Bama”.
Would you guys be satisfied if you lost to Bama but made the playoffs? It would be a step forward still (should have happened this year).
After we beat yall and our guys started believing in themselves, Alabastage may have beaten us in the playoffs, but it’d be a heck of a lot closer than 52-24 (our 2nd game, Ohio state’s whippin).
I’d say the short answer to this question is “Absolutely”. As you said, it is another step forward and even a loss in the playoffs boosts recruiting because now you’ve shown you can get there. Hell, look at OU. They may never win a playoff game, but they still hit it pretty good in recruiting.
“Alabastage may have beaten us in the playoffs, but it’d be a heck of a lot closer than 52-24 (our 2nd game, Ohio state’s whippin).”
52-27…
O-line and how quick the QB gets comfortable with live game play are the two key questions. There’s no other significant questions with the returning player groups. Spring practice will be interesting.