Wydermyer to miss spring
Replacing Mond, much of O-line among Fisher’s main priorities
COLLEGE STATION — Texas A&M cranks up spring drills on Monday, and Aggies coach Jimbo Fisher said starting tight end Jalen Wydermyer will miss this spring with a “cut finger and hand (from) a freak off-field accident.”
Fisher said the injury required surgery on a tendon and that Wydermyer is recovering nicely but “can’t take any hits on it” — therefore it was best to sit out spring drills.
In addition, Fisher said receiver Caleb Chapman will miss spring drills as he fully recovers from a knee injury from early last season, as will offensive lineman Grayson Reed (leg injury). Also, tight end Blake Smith “tweaked” his knee as he recovered from a knee injury from last season and will miss spring practice.
Fisher also addressed the March 16 arrest of freshman receiver Demond Demas on a charge of possessing less than two ounces of marijuana. The five-star recruit in the class of 2020 was arrested by the Brazos County Sheriff’s Office and released later the same day after posting $2,000 bond. Fisher said Demas currently is suspended from the university until a meeting takes place concerning his status.
“It’s normal (university) procedure that has nothing to do with us,” Fisher said of the meeting. “When that gets cleared up, he’ll be back in action with us. If it’s before (spring drills), it’s before; if it’s not, it’s not.”
Fisher in spring practice
will begin the task of replacing four starters on the offensive line and tabbing a quarterback among Haynes King, Zach Calzada and Eli Stowers to replace fouryear starter Kellen Mond.
The lone returning starter on the offensive line is Kenyon Green, who spent his first two seasons at guard on a veteran line anchored by tackles Dan Moore Jr. and Carson Green. Fisher said Kenyon Green is capable of playing any position on the line.
“He can play guard, he can play tackle and he can play center,” Fisher said. “You can’t have enough centers and developing guys in there to make calls. Not all linemen have those capabilities, but Kenyon does. We’ll incorporate him at different spots to see where he fits — where it fits for him and where it fits for our team, to have the best
possible five guys on field at one time.”
At quarterback, King relieved Mond in two games last season, but Fisher said the competition is wide open heading into the spring among the trio. Stowers is an early enrollee in the class of 2021.
“Just let things play out, let things happen,” Fisher said of his approach in replacing Mond. “(Where) your actions speak so loud I can’t hear what you’re saying. It’s what you do and how you do it — and give each guy a fair chance to do it. We talk about (a quarterback) who can throw it and can run it, and he can think and he can make decisions.
“But how does he get all 11 guys to act around him? The greatest attribute (NFL star) Tom Brady has is his team camaraderie, and how he fits 11 guys together and makes them want to the play and do things. That’s a big part of (quarterbacking) that’s underrated.”
The 9-1 Aggies, whose No. 4 ranking in the Associated Press poll marked their highest finish since 1939, return nine starters on defense. Included in that are three players who were seniors last season but took advantage of the NCAA not counting a season of eligibility because of the COVID-19 pandemic: defensive tackle Jayden Peevy, linebacker Aaron Hansford and cornerback Myles Jones.
“Defensively, we’ve got a lot of guys back, so hopefully the experience there will pay off,” Fisher said. “But experience is one thing; you’ve got to go make plays. Hopefully, they can expand and get better in the things they’ve done.”
Defensive tackle Bobby Brown and linebacker Buddy Johnson are the two starters who have moved on. Brown bypassed his senior season for the NFL Draft, and Johnson, a senior last season, opted not to take the NCAA up on its bonus-season offer and will give the NFL a shot.
A&M’S annual pro day is Tuesday, and the spring game is scheduled for April 24 at Kyle Field. The Aggies, like most programs a year ago, did not hold spring drills in 2020 because of the then-burgeoning pandemic.
A&M played last season at 25 percent capacity in attendance, and fans will be allowed to attend the spring game. Turnout typically is sparse for the Maroon & White game, so attendance caps likely won’t be necessary April 24.