Defensive reunion big bonus for Fisher
COLLEGE STATION — Defensive tackle Jayden Peevy posted a memorable movie clip from “The Blues Brothers” — “We’re putting the band back together” — when happily announcing his return for one more round at Texas A&M.
Cornerback Myles Jones used LL Cool J’s enduring anthem “Mama Said Knock You Out” to proclaim his return to the Aggies. Both classics came out long before either player was born, but they didn’t mind.
A&M’s “Old Men of the D” went old school when letting fans know they intended to take advantage of the NCAA’s bonus season in 2021, and their old-school coach, Jimbo Fisher, was grinning as if his favorite artist, George Strait, were back on tour.
“We’ve got a lot of guys who can play,” Fisher said of his surprising returnees, “and a lot of experience.”
The Aggies’ reunion tour not actually requiring a traditional reunion this spring didn’t stop with Peevy and Jones among returning starters. Linebacker Aaron Hans
ford is back for another senior season, and so is defensive end Micheal Clemons.
In addition, two defenders who should provide depth on coordinator Mike Elko’s version of the “Wrecking Crew” are safety Keldrick Carper and cornerback Elijah Blades, who have a combined 13 starts between them over the past two seasons.
“It’s important with those older guys being around, with the culture of how we do things and how we think and what’s gotten us here,” Fisher said. “It’s very important not only translating on the field for the (young) guys, but off the field in all the things that we do.”
A&M finished 9-1 and No. 4 in the Associated Press poll, its highest final ranking since winning the national title in 1939. While the Aggies have plenty of questions on offense — namely replacing four of five starters on the line and fouryear starting quarterback Kellen Mond — the defense hasn’t been this loaded with talent and experience since A&M won a conference title in 1998 as a Big 12 member.
“There’s a lot of room for us to consistently be a more dominating defense play in, play out,” an expectant Elko said. “We’re just scratching the surface of what we’re capable of.”
With the major college football season still much in doubt last August because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the NCAA Division I board of directors opted to give players in all fall sports an extra year of eligibility, providing athletes the opportunity to opt out of the season if they didn’t feel comfortable playing because of the spreading virus.
The Aggies have taken full advantage this winter, especially on defense. Peevy of Bellaire and Jones of Magnolia West started 18 games between them this past season and likely would have earned a shot at the NFL this summer. Both chose to continue their education, however, with Jones declaring of his decision: “Patience is a virtue.”
Hansford is an intriguing returnee as well, considering he’s still learning linebacker after playing on offense the first couple of years of his college career. Hansford finished second on the Aggies behind departing senior linebacker Buddy Johnson with 49 tackles and added seven tackles for lost yards (including three sacks) on the nation’s No. 9 total defense.
“He’s (had) to take ownership of being out there on every down in the game, going through run schemes, knowing run fits, knowing pass drops and not just being a blitzer, which he’s exceptional at,” Elko said of Hansford’s growth in the past year. “He’s really embraced that challenge. Probably more than anyone, he’s gotten better every single time he’s gone out there on Saturdays, and we think he’s become one of the better linebackers in the country.”
Clemons was on a roll in the Aggies’ first five games of the season, collecting four sacks before an ankle injury that required surgery sidelined him the rest of the way. His return, along with Peevy, potential All-American DeMarvin Leal and Tyree Johnson among others, should give A&M one of the top defensive lines in the country.
Defensive tackle Bobby Brown, who was a junior in 2020, declared for the NFL draft primarily, he said, to help his mother with medical bills from what he described as “brain illnesses.” Despite Brown’s absence, the Aggies are deep and talented on the defensive line.
“That keeps your rotation fresh,” Fisher said of having multiple options on defense, particularly on the line. “When you’re going through an SEC schedule and you’re in game 11 or 12 or the conference championship game or a couple of playoff games, it (becomes) like an NFL season.
“If you can keep that rotation fresh early in September and October and have success and you get to November and December and those guys are still fresh-legged and fresh-bodied, that’s huge.”
Carper not only is a team leader but a community leader, having helped found a campus organization this past year called “BLUEprint” — “Black Leaders who Undertake Excellence.”
Blades, who last summer was returning from offseason shoulder surgery, originally opted out of the 2020 season but returned late in the year, earning snaps in the Aggies’ 41-27 victory over North Carolina in the Orange Bowl.
Boys
Jordan Fitch, Lake Creek
Notable: The senior dropped a school-record 13 assists in a 52-32 victory over Caney Creek. Fitch averages 15 points, four rebounds and a team-high five assists per game for the Lions, who are 14-8 overall and 9-3 in district heading into the final week of the regular season.
What coach Shannon Spencer said: “He’s done a tremendous job transitioning from a shooting guard last year to point guard this year. He’s done a great job scoring, but as we’ve gotten into the second half of the season, he’s really starting to find his teammates. We’ve got a ton of shooters, so when he’s doing that we’re playing our best ball.”
Other nominees
Jake Bigler, Magnolia: The freshman qualified for state in the 1-meter diving event, winning the Region VI-5A championship with a score of 404.15.
Tyler Hulet, The Woodlands: The Texas A&M signee was the swimmer of the meet at the Region IV-6A championships. He won the 200 medley relay in 1 minute, 32.18 seconds with Roberto Bonilla Flores, Cotton Fields and C.J. Sorensen, the 100 backstroke in 48.62 seconds, and the 400 freestyle relay in 3:05.03 with Aidan Flanagan, Flores and Fields.
Sam Randall, Episcopal: He posted a schoolrecord time of 52.48 seconds to win bronze in the 100 butterfly at the Southwest Preparatory Conference’s South Zone Championships.
Girls Hayden Miller, Cypress Creek
Notable: The Region V-6A championships’ swimmer of the meet pulled away to win the 200 freestyle in 1 minute, 46.37 seconds to break a pool and regional record.
Miller added a silver medal in the 100 freestyle.
Other nominees
Kayla Fu, Clements:
The freshman set a pool record in the 100 freestyle at the Region V-6A championships, winning it in 50.44 seconds. She also won the 50 freestyle in 23.29 seconds.
Kylie Minter, Clear Springs:
The junior finished the regular season with 13 and 23 points, respectively, in victories over Clear Brook and Brazoswood. Minter has scored in double figures in 14 straight games.
Ella Smoker, Cy-Fair: The freshman won the 100 breaststroke in 1:04.34 at the Region V-6A meet.