2020 status report: Wide receivers
Third in a position-by-position series by staff writer Brent Zwerneman looking at the Aggies:
WHO’S BACK
Jhamon Ausbon, sr.; Kam Brown, redshirt fr.; Camron Buckley, sr.; Caleb Chapman, soph.; Kenyon Jackson, redshirt fr.; Hezekiah Jones, redshirt jr.; Chase Lane, redshirt fr.; Jalen Preston, soph.; Dylan Wright, redshirt fr.
WHO’S GONE
Kendrick Rogers, Quartney Davis (both declared early for NFL draft); Roshauud Paul (transfer)
2020 SIGNEES
Demond Demas, Tomball; Moose Muhammad III, Charlotte, N.C.; Devin Price, A&M Consolidated
WHERE THEY STAND
Rogers and Davis skipped their senior seasons for the NFL draft, and while the Aggies could have used their experience, they’re still loaded at receiver.
Five-star receiver Demas is expected to step right in and contribute as one of the nation’s top prospects, although he wasn’t one of the Aggies’ 13 early enrollees. That is no longer as significant with no spring drills and no spring game because of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
While Rogers and Davis left, it would have been a much bigger deal if Ausbon had joined his fellow seniors in declaring for the draft. Instead, Ausbon, a team leader in every way, chose to see his college career through, and the Aggies should benefit greatly.
With 66 catches for 872 yards, Ausbon had a dozen more receptions and 256 yards more than the next guy on the team (Davis). Even when Ausbon was hurt a good chunk of his sophomore season in 2018, he provided leadership from the sideline, and Jimbo Fisher almost considered him another coach during that period.
The Aggies finished fifth in the SEC last season with 3,060 receiving yards, about half as many as the league’s top offense in LSU. But that was one of the all-time best units with the Tigers finishing 15-0 and as national champions.
A&M isn’t angling for 2019 LSU receiving numbers, just plenty of steady production from what should be a team strength. Much of that depends on Kellen Mond’s accuracy in his fourth season as starting quarterback.
Mond should feel quite comfortable, however, with options of all sizes at receiver and an acrobat in Demas who can brush past defensive backs and get down the field when needed.
PROJECTED DEPTH CHART
» Ausbon (starter) » Preston » Chapman » Brown » Demas (starter) » Buckley » Wright » Muhammad III