Scarcity of big-play receivers remaining problem for A&M
COLLEGE STATION — The drama started soon after Texas A&M’s spring game ended Saturday. Receiver Shadrach Banks entered the NCAA’s transfer portal, and a handful of his suddenly former teammates began taking cyber digs at the freshman who graduated early from North Shore.
Safety Leon O’Neal wrote, “Little homie couldn’t get open anyway” above a Twitter post announcing Banks’ pending exit. O’Neal later deleted his tweet but added another claiming it was “the truth” and that Banks ignored directives from a coach, team captains and team veterans “to sit up,” apparently during a team meeting.
“He disrespected us,” O’Neal opined.
“Can’t respect no one that’s scared of being great,” chimed in A&M defensive lineman DeMarvin Leal, the defense’s top player.
Banks, a consensus four-star prospect in the class of 2021, showed up heavy to A&M in January as an early enrollee. His official bio lists him at 6-1, 230 pounds. Banks wrote Monday that he’s only 7 pounds heavier than that right now. Apparently, some didn’t believe him.
“250 ain’t gonna cut it man,” deep snapper Connor Choate wrote, complete with a laughing/ crying emoji.
One more thing: When the deep snapper checks in on something other than deep snapping, you know things have gone a little sideways. Banks’ exit leaves a thin receiving corps a bit thinner, and receiver has been one of the few positions fourth-year coach Jimbo Fisher has not recruited exceptionally well.
Banks, built more like a linebacker even late in his North Shore days, was the Aggies’ top-rated receiver in the class of 2021, whose representation at the position is now whittled down to Yulkeith Brown (5-10, 174) from Miami. Fisher signed four receivers in the class of 2020, including five-star prospect Demond Demas.
The slender Demas (6-3, 180) did not make any impact as a freshman and in limited appearances had trouble getting off the line against sturdier SEC competition. His brief college career has had its share of off-field troubles, as well, including an arrest on charges of marijuana possession in March.
Class of 2020 members Moose Muhammad III and Devin Price showed promise in Saturday’s spring game, and veterans Chase Lane, Hezekiah Jones and Jalen Preston are in the mix for catches this fall from either Haynes King or Zach Calzada, who are in a tight quarterback competition.
Ainias Smith led the team in receiving yards last season with 564, but the Aggies didn’t have anyone among the SEC’s top 15 in that category. Fisher leans heavily on tight end and running back production, just as he did over eight seasons at Florida State, and A&M tight end Jalen Wydermyer has been among the team’s top three receivers in touchdown catches and receiving yards the past two seasons.
Still, the Aggies hope Demas can add some natural padding in the new few months, take care of business away from Kyle Field and develop into a deep threat they’ve lacked under Fisher.
Of the Aggies’ eight pledges to date in the class of 2022, two are receivers: four-star prospect Isaiah Sategna from Fayetteville, Ark., and three-star prospect Noah Thomas of Clear Springs.
Last summer, the Aggies’ leading receiver from 2019, Jhamon Ausbon, abruptly opted out of playing in 2020 to begin preparing for the NFL draft. In addition, receiver Kam Brown entered the transfer portal midway through last season and did not play in the Aggies’ final four games.
A&M also is crossing its fingers Caleb Chapman makes a capable return from a torn ACL. He played in the Aggies’ first three games last season before the injury — and still finished third on the team with three touchdown catches.
A&M is stout on defense, with nine starters returning from one of the nation’s top units, and Fisher has recruited solidly at quarterback and decently on the offensive line. Receiver under longtime Fisher assistant Dameyune Craig is another story to date, and this past winter Fisher explained his philosophy on using receivers.
“I’ve played five, six or seven, and I’ve played three to four,” he said. “I’ve done both, just depending on what makes your offense the most efficient.”
Smith and running backs Isaiah Spiller and Devon Achane are capable passcatchers out of the backfield, giving Fisher more options than the traditional receivers sprinting downfield and trying to get open. Still, if the Aggies are to truly challenge mighty Alabama, Fisher will need to follow the lead of one of his mentors, Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban, and add multiple threats to help spread out the field.
A decade ago, Saban’s offenses were considered antiquated alongside his always powerful defenses, but this past season an Alabama receiver, DeVonta Smith, won the Heisman Trophy. The always-threatening John Metchie III and Houstonian Jaylen Waddle were right up there with their Crimson Tide teammate as three of the nation’s top receivers.
Right now A&M doesn’t possess a threat like any one of the Alabama trio, save for perhaps Demas, and that must change if the Aggies are to contend annually with their potent SEC West opponent.