Spring game: April 9, 6 p.m. ET

Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin will get an early jump on spring practice when he opens camp Feb. 29.

Many questions await the Aggies. New faces in prominent positions and a new offensive coordinator who will try to resuscitate a unit that has gone steadily downhill since Johnny Manziel took his talents to the NFL.

Noel Mazzone arrives from UCLA and brings his up-tempo style of offense to a program desperate to return to the days when opposing defensive coordinators woke up in cold sweats at the prospect of keeping them off the scoreboard. That hasn’t been the case the past couple of years for a number of reasons.

Spring practice signals a new beginning of sorts for the program, which ended 2015 in turmoil. That has to be turned around in a hurry if the Aggies are to fill their newly renovated stadium which now seats 100,000-plus.

Speaking of that, the spring game will be played in Kyle Field for the first time since 2013. Construction kept the Aggies from playing a spring game the past two seasons while the $450 million renovation continued.

THREE BIG QUESTIONS

1. What will the offensive line look like?

Molding an offensive line to the style of play that fits Mazzone’s system will be the tallest task. Perhaps this is perfect timing for it considering it’s a line that needed revamping anyway.

Three of the five interior linemen are gone, and only one returns with extensive game experience. Tackle Avery Gennesy (6-5, 310), who started every game last season, will be called upon to lead a group of relative newbies. The JUCO transfer must, however, pick up the new system as well. He’ll be joined by Keaton Sutherland (6-5, 301), who played in 12 games last season, starting seven at guard.

JUCO transfers, Jeremiah Stuckey (6-4, 300) and Jermaine Eluemunor (6-4, 315) have the most experience of those returning from last season. Stuckey is the only other returning lineman with starting experience. Coming from California, Stuckey played in six games last season, starting five. Eluemunor played in 12 games and made his first start in the bowl game.

Connor Lanfear (6-6, 315) played in 12 games as a freshman, and tackle Koda Martin (6-6, 302) saw action in seven games as a redshirt freshman.

2. Who will fill the middle of the defensive line?

Replacing both defensive tackles is the biggest concern on defense. Thankfully, Daeshon Hall and Myles Garrett return to bookend the defensive line and should be among the nation’s most feared pass rushers again in 2016.

Findng a couple of defensive tackles in between them is the big question. Daylon Mack (6-1, 335) is next in line at one tackle position. The raw talent played in all 13 games last season as a true freshman and contributed 32 tackles. His 9.5 for a loss ranked third on the team after Garrett (19.5) and Hall (14.5). He will be a good one and 2016 could be his breakout year.

Zaycoven Henderson is another tackle high on the depth chart. The 6-1, 297-pounder played in 11 games as a sophomore, recording 28 tackles, including 6.5 for loss (3 sacks).

3. Will the secondary suffer at cornerback?

The Aggies were second in the SEC last season against the pass, yielding just 166.3 yards per game.

But replacing both corners won’t be easy. Fortunately, the secondary also possesses talented players, led by Donovan Wilson, who had five interceptions last season.

Nick Harvey appeared in all 13 games last season and piled up 29 tackles. Alex Sezer will be a senior next year and played in 12 games in 2015.

NEWCOMERS TO WATCH

  • QB Trevor Knight: The graduate transfer from Oklahoma is expected to take the starting role. There’s no question he is capable of leading a high-profile program. It will be interesting to see how the new quarterback takes to the Mazzone’s system.
  • RB Trayveon Williams: An early enrollee, the 5-9, 185-pounder all-purpose back has all the athletic ability to be a good one. He rushed for nearly 4,000 yards and more than 40 touchdowns over his final two high school seasons.
  • OG Colton Prater: Also an early enrollee, Prater already has the size to be a factor in the Aggies’ offensive line. The 6-4, 270-pounder is a 3-star athlete out of Louisiana, where he was named to the 5A All-State team as an honorable mention.

OFFENSIVE STARTERS TO REPLACE

  • C Mike Matthews
  • RG Joseph Cheek
  • RT Germaine Ifedi
  • TB Tra Carson

You could add quarterback if you count late-season transfers Kyle Allen and Kyler Murray — though QB Jake Hubenak made his first career start in the Music City Bowl. Hubenak will battle Knight for the starting job.

Replacing Carson won’t be easy. He was the first 1,000-yard running back in the Sumlin era and quietly became a go-to player when the passing game struggled. How important was he to the Aggies’ attack? He was voted the team’s Offensive MVP for the 2015 season.

But the toughest task will be replacing the three key figures on the offensive line. Who steps up and is able to execute Mazzone’s new scheme will go a long way in determining the next group of blockers at Texas A&M.

DEFENSIVE STARTERS TO REPLACE

  • DT Alonzo Williams
  • DT Julien Obioha
  • CB Brandon Williams
  • CB De’Vante Harris

The Aggies still have ball-hawk Wilson in the secondary. The rising junior will be a leader next season as the team brings along two new everyday corners. Wilson was fourth on the team in tackles (63) and tackles for loss (8.5).

The linebackers will be tested, at least early, as the Aggies replace the middle of the front line. Shaan Washington and A.J. Hilliard have a year of experience and will be key players in the defense’s development in 2016.

Although technically a special teams player, punter Drew Kaser was outstanding at pinning opponents deep in their territory. Kaser averaged 46.2 yards per punt for his career at Texas A&M (168 punts), narrowly missing the NCAA all-time record (46.3).

TOP RETURNERS BY CATEGORY

  • Top returning passer: Jake Hubenak (399 yards in 2015)
  • Top returning rusher: James White (196 yards)
  • Top returning receiver: Christian Kirk (1,009 yards)
  • Top returning tackler: Armani Watts (126)
  • Top returning pass rusher: Myles Garrett (12.5 sacks)
  • Top returning pass defender: Donovan Wilson (5 INTs)

POSITION OF CONCERN: KICKER

Taylor Bertolet was one of the most prolific long-range field-goal kickers in Texas A&M history. He will be sorely missed.

Bertolet connected on eight field goals of 50-plus yards, including five in 2015. He was third in the SEC in field goals made (22) last season, a mark that ranks second all-time for a single season at Texas A&M.

Bertolet and RB Jorvorskie Lane are the only players in school history with multiple 100-point seasons.

Daniel LaCamera is next on the depth chart. A placekicker and punter, LaCamera is big (6-4, 210) for a kicker with a powerful leg.

He’s yet to attempt a field goal and has just four kickoffs and three PAT attempts to his credit. He booted four kickoffs vs. Ball State, two of which went for touchbacks, and was successful on all three extra-point tries.