No. 15 Texas A&M Loses Leading Rusher for the Season

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No. 15 Texas A&M (7-2, 5-1 Southeastern Conference) will be without one of its best offensive weapons for the rest of the 2024-25 season.

Junior running back Le'Veon Moss is done for the year after suffering a knee injury during the first quarter against South Carolina on Nov. 2, head coach Mike Elko announced as he met with the media for his weekly press conference on Nov. 4.

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Moss' Impact

The junior running back was in the midst of a breakout season, leading the team with 765 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns, only trailing Tennessee's Dylan Sampson and Auburn's Jarquez Hunter among SEC running backs.

Moss was easily the most consistent player for the Aggies' offense, often providing the sparks it needed at the exact right moments. He averaged 6.3 yards per carry and eclipsed 100 yards three times this season, with four multi-TD games.

Coaches and teammates raved about his work ethic and determination throughout the offseason and the early parts of the season, and his play on the field reflected what those around him had said to the media.

Texas A&M's Backfield

Moss is the second running back Texas A&M has lost for the year, joining sophomore Rueben Owens, who was lost to a lower-leg injury before the season began. Between the two injured running backs, the Aggies will be without 1,062 total yards and 8 TDs from their 2023 offense.

Initially, there was some optimism that Owens may be able to return this season, but that now seems more unlikely.

Junior backup Amari Daniels seems most likely to assume the starting role for the rest of the year. Daniels has played well as a complement to Moss throughout the season, running for 466 yards and 6 TDs on the year. He runs with less power than Moss but is still an effective player with the ball in his hands.

Senior EJ Smith, son of legendary Dallas Cowboys running back Emmit Smith, should also see an increased workload. Smith has played sparingly as the No. 3 running back for the Aggies this season, putting up 107 yards on 33 carries since transferring from Stanford. Smith was a four-star high school recruit but has yet to take off at the college level.

Outlook

Texas A&M has struggled offensively throughout the 2024-25 college football season despite earning plenty of wins. Its running game and Moss were its most consistent performers, and now that will be put to the test. Daniels and Smith will have to prove they are just as capable of carrying a depleted rushing attack.

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The Aggies' next opponent is New Mexico State on Nov. 16, which struggles mightily against the run. However, the following two games against Auburn and No. 5 Texas will be against top-22 run defenses.