Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman plans to take a long, hard look at multiple players in new positions when spring drills begin today in Aggieland. Among the key players who will shift positions include:
Matt Featherston: moving from LB to DE
Lucas Patterson: moving from DT to LT on offense (but missing spring drills because of off-season surgery)
Jordan Pugh: moving from CB to S
Lee Grimes: moving from RG to RT (but missing spring drills because of off-season surgery)
Michael Shumard: moving from LT to LG to compete with incumbent LG Evan Eike
In addition, the QB situation will be a three-man competition between incumbent Jerrod Johnson, redshirt freshman Tommy Dorman and WR-QB Ryan Tannehill. Realistically, it sounds like the spring competition will boil down to a two-man race because Tannehill will not take part in contact drills and has yet to be cleared to throw a football after suffering a torn labrum in last year's Texas game. Sherman said the brunt of the QB snaps will be divided between Johnson, who he called "a great leader," and Dorman, a Birdville HS graduate who Sherman called "a tough kid ... (who will) give Jerrod Johnson a run for his money" during spring drills.
Below is a look at how the Aggies stack up, in terms of returning starters, from last season. Positions listed are where the players lined up in 2008:
TEXAS A&M FOOTBALL BREAKDOWN FOR 2009
OFFENSIVE STARTERS RETURNING: 9
QB-- Jerrod Johnson, 6-5, 229, Jr-2L, Humble, TX (9 QB starts in 2008)
WR-- Terrence McCoy, 6-4, 198, Jr-2L, Midland, TX (8 starts in 2008)
WR-- Jeff Fuller, 6-4, 209, So-1L, McKinney, TX (8 starts in 2008)
WR-- Ryan Tannehill, 6-4, 204, So-1L, Big Spring, TX (6 starts in 2008)
OG-- Lee Grimes, 6-6, 339, Sr-2L, Brownwood, TX (12 straight starts in 2008)
C-- Kevin Matthews, 6-4, 297, Sr-2L, Sugar Land, TX (12 straight starts in 2008)
OG-- Evan Eike, 6-4, 303, So-1L, Bryan, TX (12 straight starts in 2008)
OT-- Michael Shumard, 6-5, 301, Sr-3L, Fort Hood, TX (12 straight starts in 2008, 18 career)
TE-- Jamie McCoy, 6-3, 224, Sr-1L, Midland, TX (8 starts in 2008)
OFFENSIVE STARTERS LOST: 2
OT-- Travis Schneider, 6-8, 303, Four Letters, Bellville, TX (8 starts in 2008, 24 career starts)
RB-- Mike Goodson, 6-0, 196, Sr-3L, Klein, TX (7 starts in 2008, 15 career starts)
DEFENSIVE STARTERS RETURNING: 7
DT-- Lucas Patterson, 6-4, 297, Jr-2L, Kingsville, TX (11 starts in 2008, 12 career starts)
NG-- Tony Jerod-Eddie, 6-5, 256, So-1L, DeSoto, TX (7 starts in 2008)
MLB- Matt Featherston, 6-2, 235, Sr-3L, Poughkeepsie, NY (12 starts in 2008, 15 career starts)
OLB- Garrick Williams, 6-2, 217, So-1L, DeSoto, TX (5 starts in 2008)
CB-- Jordan Pugh, 5-11, 191, Sr-3L, Plano, TX (12 starts in 2008, 25 career starts)
FS-- Trent Hunter, 5-10, 185, So-1L, Katy, TX (8 starts in 2008)
DB-- Terrence Frederick, 5-10, 170, So-1L, Katy, TX (5 starts in 2008)
DEFENSIVE STARTERS LOST: 4
DE-- Cyril Obiozor, 6-5, 266, Four Letters, Pearland, TX (12 starts in 2008, 28 career starts)
DE-- Michael Bennett, 6-4, 261, Four Letters, Alief, TX (11 starts in 2008, 16 career starts)
OLB- Alton Dixon, 5-11, 196, Four Letters, Lufkin, TX (12 starts in 2008, 23 career starts)
DB-- Arkeith Brown, 6-0, 174, Four Letters, El Campo, TX (9 starts in 2008, 17 career starts)
SPECIAL TEAMS STARTERS RETURNING: 5
SNP-- Corey Gibas, 5-11, 209, Jr-2L, Covina, CA (punts)
PK-- Randy Bullock, 5-9, 208, So-1L, Klein, TX (6-of-7 FG, 20-of-21 PAT)
KR-- Cyrus Gray, 5-10, 188, So-1L, DeSoto, TX (23.9 avg. per return/1 TD)
KR-- Bradley Stephens, 5-10, 204, So-1L, McAllen, TX (16.2 avg return)
PR-- Jordan Pugh, 5-11, 191, Sr-3L, Plano, TX (5.5 avg. return)
SPECIAL TEAMS STARTERS LOST: 3 positions/2 players
P-- Justin Brantly, 6-4, 228, Four Letters, Sealy, TX (45.7 avg in 2008)
HOL-- Justin Brantly, 6-3, 241, Four Letters, Sealy, TX
SNP-- Cory Davis, 6-1, 255, Three Letters, Conroe, TX (place kicks)
Lettermen Returning: 51
26 Offense— Frank Avery, Danny Baker, Ben Bass, Cody Beyer, Evan Eike, Robbie Frost, Jeff Fuller, Cyrus Gray, Lee Grimes, Roger Holland, Jerrod Johnson, Kevin Matthews, Jamie McCoy, Terrence McCoy, Howard Morrow, E.J. Shankle, Michael Shumard, Keondra Smith, Bradley Stephens, Ryan Tannehill, Anthony Vela, Joseph Villavisencio, K.J. Williams, Vincent Williams, Drew Williamson, Jeff Wood
22 Defense—Eddie Brown, Kenny Brown, Chevar Bryson, Billy Chavis, Matt Featherston, Terrence Frederick, Paul Freeney, Amos Gbunblee, Marcus Gold, Will Harris, Kellen Heard, Trent Hunter, Tony Jerod-Eddie, Anthony Lewis, Justin McQueen, Von Miller, Matt Moss, Lucas Patterson, Jordan Peterson, Jordan Pugh, DeMaurier Thompson, Cody Williams,
3 Special Teams—Randy Bullock, Corey Gibas, Ryan O’Bryant (12th Man)
Lettermen Lost: 24
8 Offense— Pierre Brown, Lorenzo Calloway, Mike Goodson, Nick LaMantia (12th Man/FB), Jorvorskie Lane, Stephen McGee, Josh Russell, Travis Schneider,
13 Defense– Matt Almaraz, Johnathan Batson, Michael Bennett, Arkeith Brown, Jarrett Cantu, Alton Dixon, Danny Gorrer, Devin Gregg, Johnathan Haynes, Tyler Kociuba, Cyril Obiozor, Colby Renfro, Dustin Riewe,
3 Special Teams– Richie Bean, Justin Brantly, Cory Davis,
_ Jimmy Burch
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