2024 Texas A&M Football: The Spirit of the 12th Man

It is one of the great traditions in college football that unifies a fan base in support of a gridiron band of brothers clad in maroon and white. Known as the 12th Man, the passionate fans stand and cheer for their beloved Texas A&M football team from kick-off to the final gun. And the Aggies will give them something to cheer loud and proud about in 2024 as 18 starters return to assume the role of stewards of past football glory.

Texas A&M Offense

The Aggies' offense has experienced playmakers at the skill positions. At the most important position on the field, it was a revolving door due to injury and a desire to transfer as four quarterbacks saw action throughout the season. Three of those quarterbacks return in 2024. Projected starter Conner Weigman played in just four games last season before suffering a season-ending injury in the Auburn game.

In 2023, Weigman threw for 979 yards, 8 touchdowns and 2 INTs and completed 69 percent of his passes. In the season-opener against New Mexico, Weigman threw 5 TD passes. That was the most in a game by an Aggie quarterback in a decade (since the "Johnny Football" days).

Jaylen Henderson started three games, including the final game on the road at LSU. In that game, Henderson passed for 294 yards and 2 touchdowns, and completed 71 percent of his passes against the Tigers "Swiss-cheese" defense of a season ago. In the Texas Bowl against Oklahoma State, Henderson threw one pass for 11 yards and then gave way to Marcel Reed. Against the Cowboys, Reed threw for 361 yards and added a rushing touchdown in a losing effort.

These guys will be well-protected as they operate behind an offensive line that boasts more than 100 career starts and averages 320 pounds per man.

Running Backs

Texas A&M returns their No. 2 and No. 3 rushers from a season ago. Le’Veon Moss averaged 5 yards per carry and rushed for 484 yards and 5 touchdowns in nine games. Rueben Owens played in all 13 games as a freshman and recorded 385 yards and 3 TDs.

Wide Receivers

The transfer portal reared its ugly head at the end of last season as WR Evan Stewart packed up his belongings and moved to the Pacific Northwest to catch passes from Dillon Gabriel at Oregon. However, the Aggies' wide receiver room is not empty, far from it.

Texas A&M will have three talented targets on the perimeter to stretch opposing defenses:

• Jahde Walker: 35 catches, 590 yards, 2 TDs

• Noah Thomas: 29 rec., 359 yards, 5 TDs

• Moose Muhammad III: 27 catches, 345 yards, 2 TDs

Thomas announced his presence with authority in the season-opener against New Mexico last season by scoring 3 receiving touchdowns on 6 catches for 74 yards.

Texas A&M Defense

An underrated unit, the Aggies return nine starters on that side of the ball. This unit will be led by LB Taurean York, DL Shemar Turner and DL Nic Scourton. York was second on the team in tackles as a true freshman with 74 stops, including a season-high 11 tackles against Auburn, and was named to the Southeastern Conference All-Freshman Team and was named a freshman All-American by ESPN.

Turner recorded 33 tackles, was third on the team with 10.5 tackles for loss, second with 6 sacks and forced 2 fumbles.

Scourton is a transfer from Purdue and earned second-team All-Big Ten Conference honors last season. Scourton racked up 50 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and led the Big Ten in sacks with 10. This is a homecoming for Scourton, a native of nearby Bryan, Texas.

Bryce Anderson and Will Lee III will lead the secondary on the field for Texas A&M. Anderson recorded 54 tackles, 1 INT, 7 tackles for loss and 4 pass breakups. Lee is a transfer from Kansas State and posted 42 tackles, 2 INTs and 6 pass breakups for the Wildcats last season.

The Schedule

The Aggies open the 2024 season by hosting the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The Irish hold a 3-2 record in the series. The last victory by the Aggies over Notre Dame occurred in 2001 at Kyle Field. Led by RB Derek Farmer’s 100 yards rushing and a touchdown, and Randall Webb’s punt return for a score, Texas A&M was walking tall and took the Irish shillelagh and shoved it up the collective rear orifice of Notre Dame in a 24-3 Aggie victory.

This season, Texas A&M has better playmakers and more of them. Look for the Aggies to open 2024 on a winning note and post a home victory over the Fighting Irish. The Aggies also draw McNeese, Bowling Green and New Mexico State in the nonconference part of the slate.

SEC games include a neutral-site game against Arkansas at "Jerry’s World" in Arlington, Texas. Home games include Missouri, LSU and rival Texas. Road games will see the Aggies travel to Mississippi State, South Carolina, Florida and Auburn.

Look for Texas A&M to improve significantly in Mike Elko's first year and finish 9-3, with losses to Missouri, LSU and Texas.