2011 record: 7-6
Players signed: 19
Signees from Texas: 15
Offense: First-year coach Kevin Sumlin landed two plums who committed to predecessor Mike Sherman and project as speedy difference-makers: QB Matt Davis (4-star signee) and RB Trey Williams (5-star signee). He also replenished at WR, landing three players capable of immediate contributions. The list is led by Thomas Johnson, a former Texas commitment whose signing offset the last-minute loss of fellow four-star WR Bralon Addison to Oregon. More than anything, the Aggies added speed on both sides of the ball -- a must for a team headed to the SEC. There is ample help for the offensive trenches, led by Mike Matthews (son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews). But Williams is the lone RB. There is no TE and no replacement for K Randy Bullock, the 2011 Lou Groza Award winner. That leaves 2011 signee Taylor Bertolet as the heir apparent to Bullock.
Defense: A pass defense in need of secondary help landed a potential plug-in starter in JC transfer Tremaine Jacobs, who will take part in spring drills. Other key newcomers at DB -- all of them fast -- include De'Vante Harris, Kenneth Marshall and Edward Pope, a late switch from TCU. But two late defections at the position (Darion Monroe, Corey Thompson) cut into the depth at a need position. The Aggies led the nation in sacks last season (51) and bolstered the pass rush with multiple DEs, led by Euless Trinity's Polo Manukainiu. More DTs would have been nice for a line that loses multi-year starter Tony Jerod-Eddie and was thin at that spot last season. At LB, the headliner at the position is Jordan Richmond, a four-star signee.
Immediate impact: RB Trey Williams. The five-star signee has 4.4 speed and elusive moves. He projects as a welcome addition to a team that loses RB Cyrus Gray, the school's career leader in all-purpose yardage, to the NFL.
Area ties: WR Sabian Holmes, Southlake Carroll; DE Polo Manukainiu, Euless Trinity; OL Kimo Tipoti, Hurst L.D. Bell
Players signed: | |||
Matt Davis | QB | 6-2/202 | Houston Klein Forest |
De'Vante Harris | DB | 5-11/160 | Mesquite Horn |
Sabian Holmes | WR | 5-11/175 | Southlake Carroll |
Germain Ifedi | OL | 6-5/304 | Houston Westside |
Tremaine Jacobs | DB | 6-1/180 | Gulf Coast (Miss.) CC |
Thomas Johnson | WR | 5-11/180 | Dallas Skyline |
Polo Manukainiu | DE | 6-5/255 | Euless Trinity |
Kenneth Marshall | DB | 6-0/191 | South Houston |
Mike Matthews | OL | 6-3/304 | Missouri City Elkins |
Julien Obioha | DE | 6-4/255 | New Orleans |
Edward Pope | ATH | 6-3/175 | Carthage |
Edmund Ray | DT | 6-5/290 | St. Louis |
Michael Richardson | DE | 6-2/230 | DeSoto |
Jordan Richmond | LB | 6-3/225 | Denton Ryan |
Tyrone Taylor | DE | 6-3/210 | Galena Park |
Kimo Tipoti | OL | 6-3/330 | Hurst Bell |
Derel Walker | WR | 6-2/175 | Trinity Valley CC |
Alonzo Williams | DE | 6-4/248 | Long Beach (Calif.) |
Trey Williams | RB | 5-8/175 | Spring Dekaney |