Many things have changed in regards to the passing game since the Aggies last played a regular season game at Kyle Field. A few new faces have been brought in to provide answers to what has become a declining air attack at Texas A&M.

Gone is a pair of five-star recruits at quarterback, who paraded out the door after being juggled during the 2015 season. Both Kyle Allen and Kyler Murray sought greener pastures, transferring out of the Aggies program to make their marks at Houston and Oklahoma, respectively.

That opened the door for Oklahoma graduate Trevor Knight to play one more season at a quality program, and perhaps even elevate it to the level it was when the Aggies first entered into the SEC.

No, nobody expects Knight to fill the shoes of Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel, but he may not have to. Not with an incredibly talented group of receivers and a re-energized offensive approach under the up-tempo system installed by new OC Noel Mazzone.

Named the starting quarterback following his spring game performance of 282 passing yards and 2 touchdowns on a 25-for-36 effort with an interception, Knight was given the keys to the car by head coach Kevin Sumlin.

2015 Aggies Passing Stats, SEC Ranks

Passing yards per game: 255.6 (4th)
TDs: 25 (4th)
INTs: 15 (12th)

QB play

It’s really a whole new ballgame at the quarterback position for Texas A&M. Not only is the player different, but so is the system.

The Aggies are breaking in a new talent at quarterback. The transfer from Oklahoma brings a lot of big-game experience, something the program lacked last year despite the raw talent from not one, but two gifted athletes under center.

Knight has taken the Aggies’ locker room by storm. Since arriving on campus, he’s exuded leadership skills that had been lacking at the position. However, that’s because Knight is a much more mature person, having already graduated college, and that could prove to be highly beneficial as he becomes the main focal point of the Texas A&M offense in 2016.

He can be the spark the Aggies are looking for if he can return to 2014 form. That’s the last time Knight was a full-time starter at Oklahoma.  That year, he threw for 2,300 yards and 14 touchdowns (12 interceptions). He also added 339 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns.

Knight made a name for himself in the Jan. 3, 2014 Sugar Bowl by completing a bowl-record 32 passes for 348 yards and 4 touchdowns in the Sooners’ 45-31 victory over Alabama.

He wasn’t able to maintain that level of success into the 2014 season, and it all came crashing down with an injury that ended the season. He then lost the starting job to former walk-on Baker Mayfield in 2015, and the Sooners advanced to the College Football Playoff.

Receivers/Tight ends/RBs

The Aggies have as good a receiving corps as any program in the country, and that starts with freshman sensation Christian Kirk. He enrolled early and was able to participate in spring football, and that was the catalyst for an outstanding season as a true freshman.

The five-star recruit was named the SEC Freshman of the Year. He set the school’s single-season record for all-purpose yards (1,789) by a freshman. He led the highly talented corps of receivers with 1,009 yards and 7 touchdowns on 80 pass receptions. In addition, Kirk averaged 24.4 yards on 14 punt returns, two of those going for touchdowns. Kirk also averaged 19.3 yards on 20 kickoff returns.

Josh Reynolds is also a threat. As a junior last season, he finished with 907 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns on 51 catches.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Three more players contributed as sophomores. Ricky Seals-Jones piled up 560 yards and 4 touchdowns on 45 catches, while Speedy Noil and Damion Ratley combined for another 426 yards and 4 touchdowns on 36 pass receptions.

Tight ends and running backs weren’t used extensively in the passing game last season, but with Mazzone’s new system, that philosophy could be altered somewhat.

Play-calling

Early last season, the Aggies moved the ball through the air on first down with incredible efficiency against SEC West foe Arkansas, and then went steadily downhill in every game after that vs. SEC West opponents.

First down passing stats vs SEC West: 51-for-92, 672 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs.

The Aggies torched Arkansas through the air, at least on first down. Texas A&M gained 263 yards and a touchdown through the air on first down, completing 12 of 14 passes.

But from an efficiency standpoint, things went steadily south from there. The game plan was similar in that the Aggies threw 15 passes on first down against Mississippi State, but they only completed nine of those and managed just over half of the yardage (137 yards).

The Aggies completed 10-of-19 passes vs. Alabama but only managed 116 yards and one touchdown. To make matters worse, the Tide’s Minkah Fitzpatrick intercepted two passes – returning both for touchdowns.

It was another 15 pass plays called on first down against Ole Miss, but the Aggies completed just seven of those for a mere 61 yards. They also had a pass intercepted. And still, it only got worse from there.

Against Auburn, the Aggies threw 18 times on first down, completing eight of those for a total of 52 yards. And against LSU, it was more of the same. The Aggies made 11 pass attempts on first down, completing only five of those for 48 yards.

One stat that must improve

The Aggies have to improve on red zone conversion. They scored 77.8 percent of the time in the red zone. That was their worst showing since the same number back in 2009. And you have to go further back than that to find a lower percentage of touchdowns in the red zone (55.6).

Greatest concern

Aside from the general concern of bringing in a new quarterback on top of employing a relatively new system is the fact that the Aggies have to replace three starters from the offensive line. That’s a tall task for any program, and a must-do if Knight is to run Mazzone’s new offense with any consistency, but it’s easier said than done. Building a cohesive offensive line takes time.

Protecting Knight is a huge concern, and that includes taking the pressure off of him with a solid running game. In addition to meshing together an offensive line, the Aggies must also fill the void of 1,000-yard rusher Tra Carson.

Better or worse?

Obviously, the expectations are that a more experienced quarterback and a well-respected offensive coordinator will produce better results in the passing game than what the Aggies had last season.

However, that’s quite a tenuous approach. Knight hasn’t been a regular starter since 2014 and has had some injuries. Jake Hubenak is his backup, whose only start of his career was in the Aggies’ last game, a loss in the Music City Bowl following the transfer of both five-star quarterbacks.

Hubenak did throw for 307 yards and 2 touchdowns (1 interception) on Louisville’s defense while completing 58.3 percent of his passes. He was under the weather for the spring game and was limited to just 10 passes, completing five of those.

Yes, the Aggies passing game presents a huge question mark heading into the 2016 season. But by bringing in Mazzone and Knight, the Aggies at least have a fighting chance at a big improvement over last season.