Knight thinks he could be ready for LSU
COLLEGE STATION — Texas A&M’s Trevor Knight has earned his scholarship as a quarterback, but Monday, he delivered one heck of a curveball.
Knight showed up at A&M’s news conference in advance of Thursday night’s game against LSU and claimed he might be ready to play against the Tigers. Knight exited the Aggies’ loss at Mississippi State on Nov. 5 with a right (throwing) shoulder injury and was announced as out for the regular season at minimum.
Making progress
The regular season ends Thanksgiving night against LSU at Kyle Field, and the Aggies (8-3, 4-3 SEC) are trying to beat the Tigers (64, 4-3) for the first time since A&M entered the SEC in 2012.
“I’m progressing really well,” Knight said. “The doctors are going to make that decision.”
Knight said he had not yet received any kind of medical clearance to play, but he has been lightly throwing the ball.
“It’s the competitor in me; I feel like I can go out there and play,” he said. “But is (the shoulder) structurally ready? I don’t know yet.”
At the very least, Knight’s optimism gives the Tigers someone else to consider in game-planning, with junior Jake Hubenak set to earn his third start this season in place of Knight. Hubenak is a better passer, Knight a better runner.
A&M offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone said Monday Hubenak auffered his own right (throwing) shoulder injury in the Aggies’ loss to Mississippi on Nov. 12 but had toughed it out the rest of the way against the Rebels. His injury isn’t considered nearly as serious as Knight’s.
“We practiced all of (last) week and Jake didn’t throw a football,” Mazzone said. “The first football he threw was Saturday in the pregame, because of the injury.”
Hubenak on Saturday earned his first victory as A&M’s starting quarterback, 23-10 over Texas-San Antonio, following losses in last year’s Music City Bowl to Louisville and the loss to Mississippi this season.
“The toughness and grit he showed in having some pain basically every time he threw the ball is a tribute to the kid and how tough he is, and him being a true Aggie,” Mazzone said. “He knew he was important, and we had to have him play (against the Roadrunners). He’s working hard to get his shoulder back and in usable shape.”
Starkel ready
Should Hubenak not be able to go against the Tigers, and Knight isn’t quite ready to return, the Aggies would remove the redshirt from freshman Nick Starkel in the 12th of 13 games this season (including a bowl).
Mazzone said Starkel has told him he’s ready to do whatever it takes to help the team down the stretch. Hubenak was 19-of-32 for 248 yards against UTSA, with his lone touchdown pass in the first quarter. The Aggies’ 23 points were their second lowest total of the season, only trailing their 33-14 loss at top-ranked Alabama on Oct. 22.
“Most of our mistakes were on me; the other guys played really well,” Hubenak said of A&M’s inability to reach the end zone more than twice against the Roadrunners and relying on three Daniel LaCamera field goals. “It’s on me to fix those mistakes, and we’ll be ready come Thursday.”
Despite missing the last two games, Knight is still second on the team in rushing behind Trayveon Williams (956 yards), with 583 yards on 88 carries. That’s why Knight would be especially useful against the Tigers in providing another dimension — a running quarterback — to A&M’s offense against one of the nation’s top defenses.
The Tigers have allowed 11 touchdowns in 10 games this season, lowest among 128 FBS programs. A&M coach Kevin Sumlin urged anyone to tap the brakes on Knight’s bravado, however, considering the severity of his injury a little more than two weeks ago.
“That’s the kind of guy he is; he wants to play,” Sumlin said. “But his health and safety to me is what’s most important. Just because you want to do something doesn’t mean it’s the right thing to do.”