After a bye week after it took on Alabama and Oklahomaon the road in back-to-back weeks, South Carolina will return to the field on Nov. 2 as it welcomes Texas A&M to Williams-Brice Stadium.
The Aggies, who finished with a 7-6 record in 2023, will be led by a new head coach as Mike Elko takes over for Jimbo Fisher, who was fired in November.In the series between the two teams, Texas A&M owns a 9-1 record with South Carolina's one win coming two years ago in a 30-24 victory in Williams-Brice Stadium. Last season, the Aggies took down the Gameco*cks 30-17 in College Station.
Below, we will take a look at what Texas A&M will bring to the table in all three phases in 2024.
OFFENSE
Texas A&M will be led by quarterback Conner Weigman, who threw for 979 yards in the first four games of the season before suffering a season-ending injury against Auburn. Weigman enters his third season in College Station.
The Aggies' leading rusher from last season in Amari Daniels, who rushed for 532 yards and six touchdowns, returns as does Le'Veon Moss and Rueben Owens who combined for 879 yards last season.
At wide receiver, Texas A&M will have to replace Ainias Smith who is off to the NFL, but Weigman should have multiple options in 2024. Jahdae Walker and Noah Thomas are the top two pass catchers returning as Walker was second on the team with 590 yards on 35 receptions while Thomas was on the receiving end of 359 yards and five touchdowns on 29 receptions. Moose Muhammad III (345 yards) also makes his way back to College Station while the Aggies added Jabre Barber (Troy) and Cyrus Allen (Louisiana Tech) from the transfer portal. Allen recorded 778 yards and four touchdowns in 2023.
The offensive line returns a few starters including Trey Zuhnwho started 13 games at left tackle a year ago and 11 in 2022. Kam Dewberry also returns after playing in 13 games last season, as well. In the transfer portal, the Aggies added Ar'maj Reed-Adams and Kolinu'u Faaiu. Reed-Adams started 11 games last season at Kansas while Faaiu started eight games at center for Utah in 2023.
DEFENSE
In 2023, Texas A&M took the field with one of the top defenses in the SEC and has multiple players returning this year. The Aggies allowed opponents to score 21.3 points per game, which was third in the league. Opponents averaged 295 yards per game (1st) on 188.3 passing (2nd) and 106.7 rushing (1st) yards per game.
The Aggies will have to replace its top tackler from a year ago as linebacker Edgerrin Cooper will suit up for the Green Bay Packers this season. However, the second leading tackler from last season in linebacker Taurean York, who recorded 74 stops, is back for the Aggies.
Texas A&M should have another talented defensive line once again as Shemar Turner, who tallied 33 tackles and six sacks last season, returns to College Station. The Aggies also added a few instant impact players from the transfer portal at EDGE including Cashius Howell (Bowling Green) and Nic Scourton (Purdue).In his three years at Bowling Green, Howell logged 56 tackles with 13 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks. He was a third team All-MAC selection this past season after being credited with 9.5 sacks in 2023. Scourtonled the Big Ten in sacks a year ago with 10. In addition, Scourton also logged 50 tackles with 15 being for loss with the Boilermakers.
In the secondary, Bryce Anderson returns after finishing fourth on the team in tackles last year with 55. He also broke up four passes and intercepted one. Tyreek Chappell also makes his way back to the Aggies' secondary while Dezz Ricks (Alabama), BJ Mayes (UAB), Jaydon Hill (Florida), Donovan Saunders (Cal Poly), Marcus Ratcliffe (San Diego State), Trey Jones III (Central Michigan) and Will Lee III (Kansas State) were all added from the transfer portal.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Randy Bond returns at placekicker after connecting on 26-of-35 field goal attempts while also making each of his 48 extra points. While he was 4-for-10 on field goals 40-49 yards out, he went 5-of-6 on field goals of 50 or more yards.
Punter Nic Constantinou will have to be replaced as the Aggies have three options on the roster in Keegan Andrews, Truette Tumey and Tyler White.
In the return game, Moose Muhammed III returned six punts a year ago as Ainias Smith was the main punt returner. Rueben Owens, alongside Smith, returned 12 punts for 249 yards last season.
