With Knight injured, Hubenak next at QB
STARKVILLE, Miss. — Less than a year ago, Texas A&M quarterback Jake Hubenak earned a chance to start after the transfers of two quarterbacks before the Aggies’ bowl.
This year, it appears an injury will pave Hubenak’s way to the top of the depth chart. On Saturday, the Aggies (7-2, 4-2 Southeastern Conference) not only lost at Mississippi State to end their College Football Playoff hopes, but they also lost starting quarterback Trevor Knight to a right (throwing) shoulder injury.
The Aggies were No. 4 in the first playoff rankings released Tuesday, but might drop into double digits following their 35-28 loss to the Bulldogs in Davis Wade Stadium, a game in which they trailed 28-7 late in the first half.
“Yeah, we’re disappointed, everybody is disappointed,” fifth-year coach Kevin Sumlin said. “But the message is, ‘What now? What now?’ ”
What now is likely another starting opportunity for Hubenak, a junior transfer from Blinn College and Oklahoma State. He stepped in for the suddenly departed Kyle Allen and Kyler Murray last December, and nearly led A&M to a last-second victory over Louisville in the Music City Bowl in Nashville before the Aggies fell 27-21.
Answering the call
That’s been the story of Hubenak’s two primary appearances to date for the Aggies: near misses, first against Louisville and then against Mississippi State. He took over for Knight in the second quarter Saturday, and threw two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter to give the game a respectable final score — respectable at least compared to the Aggies’ three-touchdown deficit early.
Hubenak is a better pure passer than Knight — an example came on his strike
to Christian Kirk for a 54yard touchdown over the middle against the Bulldogs — but Knight is a better runner.
Running is what got Knight hurt Saturday, as he landed on his shoulder in diving for the end zone on a 19-yard yard touchdown sprint late in the first quarter. He tried giving it a go in the second quarter but appeared to aggravate the injury after being thrown down out of bounds.
His status is unknown as of Sunday night, but Sumlin spoke of the Aggies “having confidence in Jake” if Knight’s not able to go the rest of the season.
Hubenak said of A&M’s sudden swan dive in Starkville: “We’re all disappointed, this isn’t how we wanted this to go. (But) we’ve got to keep our heads up, and this is the strongest team I’ve been around in my life.”
Had A&M left Starkville with a win, it might be sitting pretty for one of the four playoff berths. The Aggies host Mississippi, UTSA and LSU (on Thanksgiving night) to round out their schedule.
“What we have to do is look at (the loss) for what it is and accept it for what it is,” Sumlin said, in trying to preach optimism. “Coaching, playing, the whole bit. We have to go back to work and not let this affect anything more than today. We have a lot to play for, and a lot of games left.”
Strong bowl likely
Four, with a playoff bid out the window. But with a strong finish the Aggies could find their way into the Sugar Bowl or perhaps the Cotton Bowl, as opposed to the middling bowls in which they have played the last three seasons (Chick-fil-A, Liberty and Music City).
The Aggies catch a break for starters against Mississippi as quarterback Chad Kelly suffered a knee injury in the Rebels’ 37-27 victory over Georgia Southern on Saturday. Kelly, one of the SEC’s top players, will have season-ending surgery this week.