A Look At the Texas A&M Aggies

"Everyone knows its easy to be labeled as “ready to contend” for a conference title but to actucally do it is a whole other endeavor of its own proportion. After last years 9 win season and a share of the Big XII South title the Aggies are poised and ready to prove this year that they belong. The Aggies look to reclaim a Big XII chamionship.With the return of Jeff Fuller this task isn’t by any means a given but did indeed increase their chances to do so. Standing at 6’4″, Jeff Fuller is the Texas A&M all time leader in receiving touchdowns. Along with being projected by many as one of the top three NFL ready receivers in this next years draft class, Fuller looks to become the Aggies all-time receptions leader once the season begins needing only twelve receptions to do so.On defense the Aggies lost Von Miller to the NFL but second year defensive coordinator Tim Deruyter is up to the task of replacing Miller’s production from last year. Coach Deruyter was able to turn the Aggie defense around and get them back on track almost reminescent of the days when the defense was known as the “Wrecking Crew”. Von Miller’s presence will be missed.Expectations are high for Aggie fans and players in College Station and with 18 returning starters the Aggies are looking for more and are looking to “Prove it”. The Aggies are predicted by many to be a top 10 team coming into this years college football season. Head Coach Mike Sherman has the team this spring buying into this seasons motto “Prove it!”.Last year the Aggies finished the season by winning six in a row, including wins over Oklahoma and Texas. It had been along time since A&M had a season like that in College Station in quite some time. The Aggies did end the season on a sour note losing to LSU in the Cotton Bowl by a score of 41-24. There is no doubt that Texas A&M will build on last seasons great run and even the team defeat in the Cotton Bowl. Possibly using it for motivation and a stepping stone to a BCS bowl game in 2012. Asperations for the team along with goals by team members themselves are the highest they have been in years and all with good reason.Quarteback Ryan Tannehill,  wide receiver Jeff Fuller and running back Cyrus Gray are leading an explosive offense and many believe all three could be chosen in next years NFL draft all as high as round one and two. Tannehill is quite the gifted athlete doing just about it all on the field. Tannehill can run, throw, kick, punt, even play center if he was asked to and probably his most important attribute is he is an extra coach on the field. The Biology Major and future doctor was due to be a receiver in 2010 but when Aggie quarterback Jerrod Johnson struggled after off season shoulder surgery, Tannehill took over in week seven and never looked back leading the Aggies to six straight wins and a Cotton Bowl birth. With Tannehill’s teammates stepping up around him last year and prepared to do it again this year Ryan Tannehill preps to be the Aggies starting quarterback after already playing in 37 games. Going in as the true starter this year is a first for Tannehill but shouldn’t be a problem considering just how well he played when called upon to do so last season especially playing on an offense returning 10 of 11 starters.Developing an offense is important and when you have that many starters returing from an excellent performance then a great rapport on offense is the likely end result. At running back last year Christine Michael returns after missing five games last year. Michael should be back this year sharing the carries with the back who benefitted most from Michael’s injury last year, Cyrus Gray. Gray capitalized on last years opportunity by finishing the season with 6 one hundred yard games. One of those games being against a stingy LSU defense in last years Cotton Bowl. Both of these backs come with size, speed and quickness so expect a combination of both Michael and Gray in 2011.With an Aggie defense that turned itself around, the total returing number of starters on both sides of the ball and the cohesion that seemed apparent the last six games of 2010 leading into the 2011 season its no wonder College Station and Aggie fans abroad can’t wait for the college football season to begin.The Texas A&M Aggies will play three of ESPN’s preseason top ten ranked teams in 2011. It all starts with Oklahoma State on September 24th in College Station at night which should indeed make for must see TV. The Big XII championship is definitely in the Aggies crosshairs and a national title game could end up a by product of a stellar run if the Aggies can in fact live by Coach Sherman’s season motto and just “Prove it!”Be sure to follow us on twitter @NFLmocks and be sure to check me out over at the fansided sister site ToroTimes.com for all the latest news and opinions on things Houston football related especially the Houston TexansPublished on 06/01/2011 at 10:48 PM EDTLast updated on 11/21/2016 at 4:51 PM EDT"