Sumlin checking out recruiting, coaching targets
COLLEGE STATION — A little less than a month after a third consecutive 8-5 season, and a little less than two weeks to the culmination of the season after the season, Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin on Thursday marveled at any perception his recruiting class needs a final kick to the finish line Feb. 1.
“People are talking about the need to finish strong,” Sumlin said. “We’ve got 26 guys committed, and nine of them are already here. Signing days now are a little less dramatic.”
Much of the college football drama in January these days involves assistant coaching shifts, and the Aggies have been a big part of that in recent winters. Secondary coach Terry Joseph has left A&M for a similar spot at North Carolina, and Sumlin has replaced longtime strength and conditioning coach Larry Jackson with Mark Hocke, a Florida State assistant strength coach.
“Having been at Alabama, Georgia and Florida State, Mark has been around championship programs,” Sumlin said. “That’s what we’re looking to be.”
Hire carries weight
The Aggies have finished 11-2, 9-4 and the three 8-5s in Sumlin’s first five seasons at A&M, which coincide with the Aggies’ first five years in the Southeastern Conference, with no titles in that span. Hocke was a longtime assistant at Alabama, and he spent a season as Georgia’s top strength coach prior to then-coach Mark Richt’s dismissal a little more than a year ago. Hocke was a part of three national titles at Alabama.
“Attitude and intensity in the weight room translate to performance on the field,” Sumlin said. “It’s all part of player development, and we’ve spent time, effort and resources over the last couple of years in that area. It’s worked for most (of the players), but we need it to work for all.”
Sumlin also is interviewing candidates to take over for Joseph, with defensive coordinator John Chavis playing a big part in the process. When Chavis arrived at A&M two years ago from LSU, he kept nearly the entire defensive staff he inherited from then-coordinator Mark Snyder. This will be a chance for Chavis to hire one of his guys, as he did last year in bringing onboard defensive tackles coach David Turner from Mississippi State. Last year, Sumlin replaced offensive coordinator Jake Spavital with Noel Mazzone, who’d served as UCLA’s offensive coordinator in the four prior seasons.
In another example of no dull moments between the end of the season, in this case a 33-28 loss to Kansas State in the Texas Bowl on Dec. 28, and signing day, a 247Sports.com report on Thursday cited Mazzone as a top candidate to fill Auburn’s vacancy at offensive coordinator. Multiple A&M insiders on Thursday shot down the report, claiming Mazzone was telling recruits and fellow staff members at A&M he was staying in College Station. In Mazzone’s first season, the Aggies improved to 24th overall in total offense from 50th in 2015, and to 34th from 71st in scoring offense. Both Sumlin and Mazzone were on the road recruiting Thursday, with 15 prospects expected to visit this weekend.
The nine early enrollees include ballyhooed quarterback Kellen Mond, linebackers Anthony Hines and Santino Marchiol, and receivers Roshaudd Paul and Jhamon Ausbon. Mond is expected to contend with redshirt freshman Nick Starkel to replace Trevor Knight, who played his senior season at A&M after transferring from Oklahoma.
“Look at the three freshmen who enrolled early from last year’s class,” Sumlin said of running back Trayveon Williams, offensive lineman Colton Prater and kicker Braden Mann. “They not only played, they helped us win games. Now, we’ve got nine guys here early.”
Chance to be first
The Aggies’ current class ranks ninth nationally, according to 247Sports. com, tops in Texas but still behind SEC West foes Alabama (one), LSU (seventh) and Auburn (eighth). One angle the Aggies are using in recruiting this year: Defensive end Myles Garrett projects as the top selection in this spring’s NFL draft. A&M has never had a No. 1 selection in the draft but has five at No. 2. Offensive lineman Luke Joeckel (2013), linebacker Von Miller (2011), linebacker Quentin Coryatt (1992), running back John David Crow (1958) and John Kimbrough (1941) were second overall selections.
“Unlike some guys this year, Myles played hurt — he played his way through the pain,” Sumlin said of his pride in the selfless defender. “When he could play, he played, and (NFL personnel) see that, a guy who’s not just a talent but who really likes to play the game.”