Spring practice is over. The Maroon & White Game was interesting and afforded us a glimpse of what we might expect from the Aggies this fall.

Some questions may have been answered, but others still remain. Nobody expects that spring practice will provide all the answers. There’s a long way to go until August and here are just 6 of the biggest questions I still have as the Aggies head to the offseason.

1. Is Max Johnson better than Zach Calzada?

The most experienced of the group of 3 candidates for the starting job at Texas A&M, Johnson won’t be confused with Joe Burrow or Johnny Manziel. Still, Johnson won some football games as starting quarterback at LSU.

Like Calzada, Johnson stepped in for the injured starter and though both endured up-and-down seasons at their respective programs, they both came up with big victories. None bigger, of course, than Calzada taking down No. 1 Alabama. But nobody has to be reminded that Johnson led an underdog Tigers team to victory over the Aggies in last season’s finale.

Should Johnson earn the starting role at Texas A&M this season, how does he compare to Calzada? What would or should be the expectations? Would he be an upgrade from Calzada? That’s a question that may or may not be relevant come September.

2. Can Haynes King win back his starting position?

The undersized overachiever won the quarterback battle over Calzada a year ago but was injured early and wasn’t able to show what he could do. King watched from the sidelines as Calzada finished out the year.

Now he has to win it back, and against not just one, but two legitimate contenders. He didn’t really do much in the Maroon & White Game to strengthen his case, but then again on a very windy afternoon, neither did Johnson. Completing just 11-of-33 passes (2 interceptions) for 130 yards, King was the only QB who did not throw a touchdown pass.

But that was just one scrimmage, albeit the most important one of the spring. There’s still a long way until September and many more opportunities to state his case. The anticipation will be great as the competition heats up with the weather over the summer months and into fall.

3. How long will it take for Conner Weigman to own the QB spot?

He certainly didn’t light it up Saturday, but Weigman displayed a maturity beyond his years. Command of the offense and command of the huddle are important to head coach Jimbo Fisher.

Weigman looked the part Saturday. His numbers, like the other 2 QBs on that day, were not good but he was the only one of the main 3 QB candidates who didn’t throw an interception. Taking care of the ball is perhaps the most important aspects of playing the position.

He completed just 7 passes (7-for-19, 116 yards, 1 TD). He did throw a touchdown pass and he avoided being sacked. So relative to the competition, Weigman was every bit as good as either Johnson or King.

It would appear that all Weigman lacks is reps, and he’ll get plenty of those between now and September. How many he will need to gain the confidence of Fisher and the team appears to be the only question in Weigman’s apparent appointment with destiny in College Station.

4. Did Amari Daniels rise on the depth charts at RB?

The Aggies have to have a solid running back who can give Devon Achane a rest. Though Fisher insists that Achane can carry the ball 25 times a game, the most the speedy back has toted it in a game is 20 (last season vs. South Carolina). It’s the only game in which Achane has carried more than 16 times in his 2 seasons at Texas A&M.

So having a backup ready to make a contribution is key.

Daniels showed Saturday that he could be the guy. Daniels carried 20 times over 4 games last year as a freshman, but on Saturday he was the man. With LJ Johnson sidelined by a hamstring, Daniels led the Aggies with 16 carries for 128 yards.

He was impressive in running to daylight and then finishing with authority on contact. Though Johnson might be viewed as No. 2 on the running back depth chart, it was Daniels who made a statement on Saturday, a standout performance that just might propel him to the backup role to Achane.

5. Who are the big-play receivers?

Ainias Smith will be the Aggies’ go-to receiver, but they still need others to step up and take the pressure off the team’s top returning receiver (47 catches).

Evan Stewart, one of the many 5-star recruits from the class of 2022, made his case on Saturday. The 6-foot, 175-pound speedster caught 7 passes for 75 yards. He worked his way open for better stats but several passes targeted for him missed the mark.

Moose Muhammad III, Yulkeith Brown and Jalen Preston are other candidates. That group flashed moments of extreme athleticism, Brown made a nice catch-and-run for a touchdown, but as of yet, nobody has really stepped forward to present themselves as the answer. Not just yet, anyway, although more accurate quarterback throws would also help in that regard.

6. Does Avery Hughes have a place on this team?

Among all the 5-stars and lost down the depth chart with the nation’s top recruits, stands Avery Hughes. A walk-on, Hughes was one of the stars of the Maroon & White Game, perhaps the biggest.

In 2 seasons, he has yet to see the field during a regular-season game. But on Saturday, Hughes came up big with 3 interceptions. He returned one for a touchdown – the only TD scored after the offenses combined for 5 TDs in the first quarter. It proved to be Maroon’s margin of victory in a 30-24 triumph.

So, is there a place for Hughes on this incredibly talented squad? One would hope so after his performance on Saturday.