Sumlin on hot seat entering big season

Orlando Sentinel college insider Matt Murschel ranked all 130 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in the country entering the 2017 season. The Sentinel staff takes a closer look at a new team daily, counting backward from No. 130 to our projected No. 1 team.

A&M

5 Texas

Kevin Sumlin (44-21, entering sixth season; 79-39 overall)

8-5 overall, 4-4 Southeastern Conference; fourth in West Division

Another fast start gave way to a seasonending swoon, placing coach Kevin Sumlin firmly on the hot seat following his sixth season in College Station.

On the heels of overtime wins against UCLA and Tennessee and at Auburn, the Aggies opened last season 6-0. But a subsequent 33-14 loss at Alabama began a skid that saw A&M lose its final four conference games. Other than the loss at Alabama, Sumlin’s offense held its own, scoring at least 28 points during each defeat. But the defense yielded an average of 40 points during the losses. 2016, he totaled 14 plays 30 yards or longer and averaged 11.9 yards on 105 touches.

Meanwhile, TB Trayveon Williams burst onto the scene as a freshman, rushing for 1,057 yards and eight scores while averaging 6.8 yards a carry.

The Aggies lost DE Myles Garrett, the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, and the team’s top two tacklers from a struggling defense, but they do return some impressive pieces on that side of the ball. Playmaking senior S Armani Watts registered 181 stops the past two seasons; OLB Otaro Alaka recorded 74 tackles as a sophomore; and junior DL Kingsley Keke had 37 stops, seven for loss (four sacks), in 2016.

Sumlin’s future with the Aggies hinges on whether he can find a top-notch quarterback this season. First-year freshman Kellen Mond is the future, but could be rushed into the lineup. Senior Jake Hubenak, who is 1-2 as a starter, is the safety net.

Defensively, no one will replace Garrett, but behind Keke and DT Zaycoven Henderson the Aggies defensive front hopes to have better depth. Beyond Alaka, linebacker is a concern. In the secondary, the Aggies need UCLA transfer Priest Willis to bounce back from an injury-riddled first year at A&M.

After a visit at UCLA to open the season, the Aggies schedule favors another fast start. This time, Sumlin needs his team to close well, too.