Jimbo Fisher pleased with Texas A&M’s developing freshmen in win over UTSA: ‘They are growing, getting better each week’
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Despite featuring a young roster and playing in an 11 a.m. local kick, Texas A&M took care of business on the field Saturday, beating UTSA 45-14.
While the Aggies did come out of the gate sleepwalking a bit, UTSA jumped out to a 7-0 lead in this game, the Aggies reeled off 45 consecutive points to put this game away early.
Jimbo Fisher’s offense was led by freshman running back Isaiah Spiller, who busted loose for 217 yards on only 20 carries. More importantly, he found the end zone three times in the game, with two of those runs coming from 50 yards or longer.
After the game, Fisher was asked to share his thoughts on Spiller’s career performance.
“First of all, he ran well, he’s been having a good week,” Fisher said of his freshman tailback. “We blocked well, our offensive line did a great job, our tight ends, our other backs, everybody did a good job. Quarterback did a good job getting them in and out of the right plays but he ran well.”
Spiller wasn’t the only freshmen to have a solid day as tight end Jalen Wydermyer continues to grow in Fisher’s offense. The freshman had four catches for 52 yards and a touchdown. Fisher offered up these comments when asked about how the youth on his roster continues to develop on the field, week in and week out.
“Well, their maturity and understanding that they have to be consistent,” Fisher answered. “Wydermyer had them, saw 17 (receiver Ainias Smith) have them, some of the young guys get on the field there. They are growing, getting better each week and we are going to have to have them.”
Kellen Mond’s stat line may not jump out at you, he completed 16 of 21 passes for 211 yards and a single touchdown, but the flow of the game dictated that the Aggies keep the ball on the ground and the junior signal-caller kept taking advantage of the looks UTSA’s defense gave him on Saturday.
Fisher praised Mond’s willingness to make the right call throughout the game.
“We had a lot of RPO things where he could have thrown or run but we knew where to run, he was reading it, wasn’t selfish, just giving the ball off, content to do it,” Fisher said. “Whatever we had to do to be successful. His leadership and command is really good right now.”
Finally, on leading Texas A&M to bowl eligibility, Fisher is eager to get to the open week before facing South Carolina, Georgia and LSU to finish out the regular season.
“Exactly right, get bowl eligible, get an open week, try to play these last three (games) well,” he concluded.
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Michael Wayne Bratton oversees the news coverage for Saturday Down South. Michael previously worked for FOX Sports and NFL.com
