Following an encouraging bounce-back performance against McNeese State after a comatose season opener, Texas A&M football’s offense looks to build momentum as it takes on a fierce Florida defense Saturday.
Through the first two games of the season, it is clear that the Maroon and White want to create an identity as a hard-nosed rushing attack. Averaging 240 yards per game, the Aggies’ rushing offense ranks 24th nationally.
Junior running back Le’Veon Moss has been the bell cow for the ground operation with 154 yards and three touchdowns on the year. Coach Mike Elko said Moss was one of the team’s players of the game against McNeese State.
“[Moss] ran the ball really well,” Elko said. “[I] thought he made the strides that we had hoped to see him make from Week 1 to Week 2. [I] think he’ll continue to improve as the year goes on.”
If the Aggies want to continue their success on the ground, they will have to run into the teeth of the Gators’ defense. Senior defensive tackle Cam Jackson anchors a Florida rushing defense that only allows 103 yards per game. The 6-foot-6, 342-pound behemoth plays next to redshirt junior edge rusher Tyreak Sapp, who already has two sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss on the season.
Sophomore quarterback Conner Weigman quieted the chatter about his potential compatibility in offensive coordinator Collin Klein’s scheme against McNeese State. After finishing as Pro Football Focus’ worst passer in Week 1, Weigman was the nation’s highest-graded passer against the Cowboys.
Finishing his day when the starters got pulled after garnering 125 yards and two touchdowns, Weigman reminded the 12th Man of his 2023 campaign where he dazzled from the pocket before his season-ending injury. While McNeese State was not the most rigorous competition, Weigman looked more comfortable operating within the structure of the offense, with highlight throws to junior wide receiver Noah Thomas and sophomore WR Jacob Bostick standing out.
Against a stouter Gator defensive line, more of the onus for offensive production might fall onto Weigman to create with his legs. The Florida defense struggled to get off the field on third down, letting opponents convert at a 44% rate and finding difficulties containing Miami senior QB Cam Ward on the ground in Week 1. Weigman tacked on 34 yards on the ground a week ago and might need to pick up a few timely firsts on his own on Saturday.
The Gators’ passing defense is patrolled by junior inside linebacker Shemar James, who hauled in his first career interception in Florida’s first game. The rangy playmaker was named to the 2024 Bednarik Award Preseason Watch List. Joining James to slow down the Aggies’ aerial assault is senior cornerback Jason Marshall Jr., who led the team with 10 pass breakups in 2023.
“[Florida’s cornerbacks] can cover at an elite clip, which is always a challenge,” Elko said. “They have playmakers at the second level.”
After the starters were taken out of the McNeese State game, Aggie fans got an introduction to five-star phenom freshman athlete Terry Bussey. The jack-of-all-trades took a jet sweep 65 yards to the house late in the game to electrify the Kyle Field crowd. It appears to be a priority for Klein to get the ball in Bussey’s hands, with scripted touches potentially factoring in if the offense gets stagnant down in Gainesville, Florida.
“Terry has done a really good job,” Elko said. “Some of the decisions Terry’s making back [as a punt returner] are really smart, like letting the ball go over his head and not running back and catching it running backward inside the 10-yard line.”
Aside from the challenges Florida’s defense provides, the opening road trip of the season for the Aggies will mark the first time Weigman and the coaching staff will have to use the new in-helmet communication technology in a hostile environment.
“It’s going to be a very difficult environment Saturday to go down into The Swamp, one of the tougher places to play in this conference,” Elko said. “Getting the primetime afternoon slot, we know that place is going to be rocking.”
