A&M’s latest QB controversy also involves one that coach passed on.
Stephenville product finds a home as A&M deals with QB uncertainty
COLLEGE STATION — With one lopsided loss, the season has become so challenging for Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin that his latest quarterback controversy adds the passer from the Aggies’ current opponent.
“Jarrett Stidham is a fabulous player, and I’m sure he’s looking forward to coming back to Texas and playing,” Sumlin said of Auburn’s blossoming starter.
The Aggies, who play host to Auburn at 11 a.m. Saturday, passed on Stidham, a former Stephenville High star, not once but twice in recruiting. First in 2015 to recruit Kyler Murray, who has since transferred, and the second last winter to bring on board Kellen Mond, the current starter.
Stidham had plenty of interest in A&M out of Stephenville and then after leaving Baylor during a sexual assault scandal rocking the program (and not involving Stidham) prior to the 2016 season. He sat out last year, even attending at least one A&M game as a fan, and pledged to Auburn once it was clear the Aggies intended to go with the five-star Mond out of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.
Leads SEC
Stidham leads the SEC in completion percentage (.658) and has coolly guided the No. 14 Tigers (6-2, 4-1) on a climb up the rankings, with the two losses at Clemson and LSU by a combined 12 points.
“We had to make decisions in recruiting at our place,” Sumlin said of why Stidham didn’t wind up at A&M, “and we made those decisions.” Long-term it doesn’t appear to be a bad decision, considering the pro prospect Stidham already is eligible for the NFL draft following this season (not that he’ll turn pro) and Mond’s college career is just gathering steam. Mond encountered his biggest stumble to date last weekend in A&M’s 35-14 home loss to Mississippi State, when he finished 8-of26 for 56 yards with two interceptions, both picks following deflections.
“It’s not just one guy,” Sumlin said of the overall poor showing offensively by the Aggies (5-3, 3-2) against the Bulldogs. “Our execution was poor. That wasn’t just on the quarterback. There were times we had people who were wide open or were in tight coverage, and who could have made (catches) and didn’t.”
Starkel or Mond?
Here’s where the controversy comes in: fellow freshman Nick Starkel replaced Mond following a hard hit in the fourth quarter and threw for more than twice as many yards (133 to 56) on the same amount of passes.
Starkel, who had won the starting job in August but promptly broke his ankle in a 45-44 seasonopening loss at UCLA, was playing for the first time since. Starkel also threw an awful pass that Bulldogs cornerback Jamal Peters returned 90 yards for a touchdown on his first series, and 70 of his passing yards came on one play — a touchdown toss to Camron Buckley late in the blowout loss.
“Nick came in in those circumstances and did some good things, but there were also some issues,” Sumlin said. “… There’s a little rust on (Starkel) right now. As we continue to work down the road, the situation will remain the same.”
Sumlin knows he’s in a fight for his job right now, and based on last weekend’s results, it’s an uphill climb in November. There’s no doubt he’ll play whomever he believes gives the Aggies their best chance to win, and right now he believes that is Mond.
Four comebacks
The Aggies had won five of their previous six games before the MSU meltdown, with the lone loss in that span the closest anyone has played No. 2 Alabama to date (27-19). A&M also had four second-half comebacks with Mond as starter, including a 19-17 victory at Florida on Oct. 14.
“Everybody said (Mond) was making steps, but we were making steps across the board on the perimeter,” Sumlin said. “We saw some (defensive fronts vs. MSU) it took us a little time to adjust to from a protection standpoint, which had him moving around a little bit. When he was able to throw accurate balls, we weren’t able to make competitive plays for him.”
Receiver Christian Kirk and offensive tackle Koda Martin both said Mond is their guy moving forward.
“He’s made strides,” Kirk said. “There have been some rough patches here and there, but that’s to be expected when you have a freshman quarterback.”
Added Martin: “He doesn’t get rattled easily. He’s never been one to show any panic, and that’s been one of his strengths.”
It’s a strength Mond must continue flexing Saturday, to combat the notion of a quarterback controversy, including both sides of the field for an embattled coach.