More questions than answers for Sumlin
Decisions at quarterback, secondary and lines pending as opener looms
COLLEGE STATION — Quarterback is the poster boy of questions for Texas A&M, the pinup model in a sea of maroon inquiries springing into the Aggies’ Sept. 3 opener at UCLA.
The glamour position might also be down the list when it comes to whether A&M has a successful season. Aggies coach Kevin Sumlin cut off media access Monday for the rest of camp — the weekly news conference for the UCLA game will be Tuesday — without naming a starter at quarterback among senior Jake Hubenak, redshirt freshman Nick Starkel and true freshman Kellen Mond.
Sumlin likely will try to keep any decision as quiet as possible for as long as possible, but that also means no quarterback among the trio separated himself in camp.
Running scenario
Hubenak has played sparingly over the past two seasons, and Starkel and Mond have never taken a college snap, so whoever will be taking snaps will deliver the ball plenty to running backs Trayveon Williams and Keith Ford. Williams said early on in camp that offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone told him to prepare to shoulder the load on offense.
Between Williams and Ford, running back might be the most question-free position on the team.
The big men in front of them suddenly have plenty more. Offensive line coach Jim Turner shifted Colton Prater from center to left tackle and Koda Martin from left tackle to second-string right tackle.
Turner likes to run players at different positions so they can step in where necessary, but as program insider Billy Liucci of TexAgs.com has pointed out, this move appears more permanent in a disconcerting act of trying to better protect the quarterback’s blind side.
Meanwhile, redshirt freshman Ryan McCollum has taken over at center, with Erik McCoy (last year’s center) at left guard, Connor Lanfear at right guard and Keaton Sutherland at right tackle. While most eyes will be on quarterback in that first A&M offensive series at the Rose Bowl, the guys grabbing the grass in front of him will be just as important.
A&M defensive coordinator John Chavis must replace the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, defensive end Myles Garrett, and his pass-rushing buddy on the other side of the line, Daeshon Hall (also in the NFL).
Who will replace the sack-happy duo isn’t quite clear, with junior-college transfer Micheal Clemons battling with veterans Jarrett Johnson and Qualen Cunningham for playing time. Sumlin said Clemons is enjoying his time in the R.C. Slocum Nutrition Center and needs to. He’s long and lean (6-5, 255) and in need of more heft in his lower body against SEC offensive tackles.
The most surprising player in the mix at defensive end started his career at A&M as a safety. Justin Dunning (6-4, 240) missed last season with a torn ACL.
Safety first for Dunning
In his most recent comeback, Dunning shifted from safety to linebacker, and he has now spun down even further to defensive end.
“He’s more of a droprush kind of guy on the edge, and Justin is really happy about (the move),” Sumlin said. “The first day, the hardest part was getting him in a threepoint stance. I don’t think he’s ever been in a threepoint stance at any time in his life. Clemons stood up the whole time (previously), too. The first week, and this sounds crazy, we had to get them in a stance.
“As good as athletes as they are, I don’t care if they stand up or put their hand down, we’re going to need those (two) guys to play, because they’re tremendous athletes who are long and athletic and working really hard at it.”
The Aggies appear to be OK at linebacker depthwise, but cornerback is another pressing question. Nick Harvey suffered a likely season-ending leg injury in the spring and Priest Willis has been banged up. Sophomores Charles Oliver and Clifford Chattman might see loads of playing time against Bruins quarterback Josh Rosen, the possible No. 1 pick in the 2018 NFL draft.
It adds up to loads of questions for the Aggies heading into their opener.
brent.zwerneman@chron.com twitter.com/brentzwerneman