Aggies fire offensive coordinator Dickey
COLLEGE STATION — Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher has started clearing the path to hiring a true offensive coordinator, one who will take over the primary play-calling duties from Fisher moving forward.
The Aggies on Monday announced that offensive coordinator Darrell Dickey, who served as more of a consultant to Fisher from the press box than an actual play-caller, had been “relieved of his duties” from the program.
A&M (5-7, 2-6 SEC) wrapped up its season on Saturday night with a 38-23 home victory over No. 5 LSU, in snapping a sixgame losing streak to league opponents. The Aggies, who are not eligible for a bowl for the first time since 2008, lost six consecutive games for the first time in 50 years under Fisher’s watch, and the offensive-minded coach has been under scrutiny for an offense that ranks outside the top 100 of 131 FBS programs in scoring (101 at 22.8 points per game).
Fisher is expected to announce the hire of a true offensive coordinator in coming weeks, especially with the early signing period starting on Dec. 21. Dickey, a former North Texas head coach, has been with Fisher at A&M since 2018, after Fisher arrived from Florida State in taking over for the fired Kevin Sumlin.
Five players enter NCAA transfer portal
Texas A&M running back LJ Johnson, kicker Caden Davis, linebacker Ish Harris and defensive linemen Donell Harris and Elijah Jeudy all have entered the NCAA transfer portal, according to social media posts.
None of the anticipated transfers are surprising. Johnson, a former Cy-Fair standout, was passed on the depth chart this season by Amari Daniels and Le’Veon Moss.
Davis won the starting job in place of the departed Seth Small but shanked a kick in Week 2 in the Aggies’ 3-point loss to Appalachian State and was replaced by Randy Bond, who finished 13-of-17 in field goals the rest of the way.
The strong-legged Davis still handled kickoffs for the Aggies’ during their 5-7 season, but he’s seeking the chance to showcase his leg on field goals with a potential shot at the NFL in a couple of years.
Donell Harris and Jeudy were down the depth chart because of an influx of highly-recruited defensive linemen who’ve entered the program in the past two years, and Ish Harris didn’t play this season as a true freshman despite a lack of quality linebackers in front of him.
More transfers are anticipated in coming days and weeks, while Fisher likely will draw from the portal more than he has in the past in a search for key veteran players to sprinkle among what will still be a youthful lineup in 2023, particularly at linebacker and offensive tackle.