2017 Texas A&M Aggies football team

The 2017 Texas A&M Aggies football team represented Texas A&M University in the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Aggies played their home games at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas and competed in the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They were led by sixth-year head coach Kevin Sumlin. They finished the season 7–6, 4–4 in SEC play to finish in a tie for fourth place in the Western Division. They were invited to the Belk Bowl where they lost to Wake Forest. This season was the first time since 2009 that Texas A&M was not ranked in the AP Poll during the regular season.

2017 Texas A&M Aggies football
Belk Bowl, L 52–55 vs. Wake Forest
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
DivisionWestern Division
Record7–6 (4–4 SEC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorNoel Mazzone (2nd season)
Offensive schemeSpread
Defensive coordinatorJohn Chavis (3rd season)
Base defenseMultiple 4–3
Home stadiumKyle Field
Seasons
← 2016
2018 →
2017 Southeastern Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
East Division
No. 2 Georgia x$^   7 1     13 2  
South Carolina   5 3     9 4  
Kentucky   4 4     7 6  
Missouri   4 4     7 6  
Florida   3 5     4 7  
Vanderbilt   1 7     5 7  
Tennessee   0 8     4 8  
West Division
No. 10 Auburn xy   7 1     10 4  
No. 1 Alabama x#^   7 1     13 1  
No. 18 LSU   6 2     9 4  
No. 19 Mississippi State   4 4     9 4  
Texas A&M   4 4     7 6  
Ole Miss*   3 5     6 6  
Arkansas   1 7     4 8  
Championship: Georgia 28, Auburn 7
  • # – College Football Playoff champion
  • ^ – College Football Playoff participant
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
  • * Ole Miss ineligible for postseason due to NCAA sanctions
Rankings from AP Poll

On November 26, head coach Kevin Sumlin was fired.[1] He finished at Texas A&M with a six-year record of 51–26. Interim head coach Jeff Banks led the Aggies in the Belk Bowl.

On December 2, Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher was hired by Texas A&M as their new head coach.[2]

Schedule edit

Texas A&M announced its 2017 football schedule on September 13, 2016. The 2017 schedule consists of 7 home games, 4 away games and 1 neutral site game in the regular season. The Aggies will host SEC foes Alabama, Auburn, Mississippi State, and South Carolina, and will travel to Florida, LSU, and Ole Miss. Texas A&M will go against Arkansas for the fourth time in a row in Arlington, Texas.[3]

The Aggies will host three of its four non–conference games which are against Louisiana from the Sun Belt Conference, New Mexico from the Mountain West Conference and Nicholls State from the Southland Conference and travel to UCLA from the Pac-12 Conference.

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 36:30 p.m.at UCLA*FOXL 44–4564,635
September 96:00 p.m.Nicholls State*ESPNUW 24–14100,276
September 1611:00 a.m.Louisiana*
  • Kyle Field
  • College Station, TX
SECNW 45–2198,412
September 2311:00 a.m.vs. ArkansasESPNW 50–43 OT64,668
September 306:30 p.m.South Carolina
  • Kyle Field
  • College Station, TX
SECNW 24–1796,430
October 76:15 p.m.No. 1 Alabama
  • Kyle Field
  • College Station, TX
ESPNL 19–27101,058
October 146:00 p.m.at FloridaESPN2W 19–1786,114
October 286:15 p.m.Mississippi State
  • Kyle Field
  • College Station, TX
ESPNL 14–3596,128
November 411:00 a.m.No. 16 Auburn
  • Kyle Field
  • College Station, TX
ESPNL 27–42100,257
November 116:00 p.m.New Mexico*
  • Kyle Field
  • College Station, TX
ESPNUW 55–1499,051
November 186:00 p.m.at Ole MissESPN2W 31–2455,880
November 256:30 p.m.at No. 19 LSUSECNL 21–4597,675
December 2912:00 p.m.vs. Wake Forest*ESPNL 52–5532,784
Schedule Source:[4]

Roster edit

2017 Texas A&M Aggies football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
WR 1 Quartney Davis   Fr
WR 2 Jhamon Ausbon Fr
WR 3 Christian Kirk Jr
WR 4 Damion Ratley Sr
RB 5 Trayveon Williams So
WR 6 Roshaaud Paul Fr
RB 7 Keith Ford   Sr
QB 8 Connor Blumrick Fr
WR 9 Hezekiah Jones Fr
QB 10 Jake Hubenak   Sr
QB 11 Kellen Mond Fr
WR 13 Kendrick Rogers Fr
WR 14 Camron Buckley Fr
WR 15 Aaron Hansford   Fr
WR 16 Klyde Chriss Fr
QB 17 Nick Starkel Fr
QB 18 Bo Schneider So
QB 19 Colton Taylor Fr
QB 20 Tyler Bruggman Sr
RB 22 Kwame Etwi Jr
RB 23 Jacob Kibodi Fr
RB 25 Kendall Bussey   So
RB 27 John Clark Fr
RB 28 AJ Sanders Fr
WR 30 Andrew Boykin Fr
TE 31 Gannon Rawlins So
WR 33 Justice Bean Fr
WR 40 Will Gunnell Fr
WR 42 Ke'undre Azakytu   Fr
TE 43 Grant Gustafson So
TE 47 Jacob Groff Fr
OL 51 Riley Anderson So
OL 54 Carson Green Fr
OL 63 Cagan Baldree Fr
OL 64 Erik McCoy   So
OL 65 Dan Moore Fr
OL 66 Robert Congel Fr
OL 68 Justin Dworaczyk   So
OL 69 Brayden Talbert   So
OL 70 Connor Lanfear Jr
OL 71 Grayson Reed Fr
OL 73 Jared Hocker Fr
OL 74 Kellen Diesch Fr
OL 75 Koda Martin   Jr
OL 76 Colton Prater So
OL 77 Ryan McCollum Fr
OL 78 Keaton Sutherland Jr
OL 79 Christian Daimler Sr
WR 82 Matthew Kirchner Sr
WR 83 Kyle Whitley   Jr
WR 84 Moses Reynolds Fr
TE 85 Camron Horry Fr
TE 86 Tanner Schorp   Sr
TE 87 Greer Shetler   So
TE 88 Keynel Mczeal Fr
TE 89 Kalvin Cline   Sr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
DB 1 Nick Harvey Jr
DL 2 Micheal Clemons So
DL 3 Tyree Johnson Fr
DB 4 Derrick Tucker Fr
DL 5 Daylon Mack Jr
DB 6 Donovan Wilson Sr
LB 7 Buddy Johnson Fr
DB 8 Justin Dunning So
DL 9 Qualen Cunningham Sr
DB 10 Myles Jones Fr
DB 11 Larry Pryor So
LB 12 Cullen Gillaspia Jr
DB 13 Cade Prendergast   Fr
DB 14 Keldrick Carper Fr
DB 16 Kemah Siverand   So
DB 17 Devin Morris Fr
DB 18 Antonio Howard   So
LB 19 Anthony Hines III Fr
DB 20 Ikenna Okeke Fr
DB 21 Charles Oliver So
DB 22 Clifford Chattman So
DB 23 Armani Watts Sr
DB 24 Priest Willis   Sr
LB 25 Tyrel Dodson Fr
DB 26 DeShawn Capers-Smith Jr
DB 27 Roney Elam   So
DB 28 Travon Fuller Fr
DB 29 Debione Renfro Fr
LB 32 Santino Marchiol Fr
DL 33 Ondario Robinson Fr
LB 35 Riley Garner Jr
DL 37 Mitchell Howard So
DL 40 Jarrett Johnson Sr
LB 41 Mark Wagner Fr
LB 42 Otaro Alaka   Jr
DL 46 Landis Durham Jr
LB 50 Mac Labhart   Jr
LB 56 Keeath Magee II Fr
LB 58 Braden White Fr
DL 88 Kingsley Keke Jr
DL 90 TD Moton Fr
DL 92 Zaycoven Henderson Sr
DL 93 Jayden Peevy Fr
DL 94 Landry Estes Jr
DL 95 Justin Madubuike Fr
DL 96 David Darley Sr
DL 99 Josh Rogers Fr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
P 18 Shane Tripucka   Sr
PK 34 Braden Mann So
PK/P 36 Daniel LaCamera Jr
PK 38 Drew Riethman Fr
DS 39 Jake Pagel Fr
DS 45 Austin Frey   Jr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Jeff Banks – Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends
  • John Chavis  – Associate Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
  • Matt Fontenot – Director of Football Operations
  • Mikado Hinson – Director of Player Development
  • Larry Jackson – Director of Football Sports Performance
  • Scott Johnston – Director of On-Campus Recruiting
  • Terry Joseph – Secondary
  • Noel Mazzone – Offensive Coordinator
  • Clarence McKinney – Running Backs
  • Aaron Moorehead – Wide Receivers
  • Dennis Polian – Director of Player Personnel
  • Terry Price – Defensive Ends
  • Gary Reynolds – Associate Athletic Director - Football
  • David Turner – Defensive Tackles/Defensive Run-Game Coordinator
  • Jim Turner – Offensive Line
  • Jeremy Springer – Special teams quality control

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  •   Injured
  •   Redshirt

Roster
Last update: August 26, 2016

Coaching staff edit

Name Position Season at
Texas A&M
Kevin Sumlin Head coach 6th
John Chavis Associate head coach, defensive coordinator, and linebackers coach 3rd
Ron Cooper Defensive backs coach 1st
Terry Price Defensive ends coach 6th
David Turner Defensive run game coordinator and defensive tackles coach 2nd
Noel Mazone Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach 2nd
Clarence McKinney Running backs coach 6th
Aaron Morehead Wide receivers coach 3rd
Jim Turner Offensive line coach 6th
Jeff Banks Special teams coordinator and tight ends coach 5th
Strength and conditioning coach 1st
Jeremy Springer Special teams quality control coach 3rd
Reference:[5]

Game summaries edit

UCLA edit

Week One: Texas A&M Aggies at UCLA Bruins – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Aggies 17 21 6044
Bruins 3 7 72845

at Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA

  • Date: September 3
  • Game time: 6:30 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Temperature: 88 °F (31 °C) • Weather: partly cloudy • Wind: SSW 8 MPH
  • Game attendance: 64,635
  • Referee: John McDaid
  • TV announcers (FOX): Gus Johnson (play-by-play), Joel Klatt (color), Jenny Taft (reporter)
  • Sources:[6][7]
Game information

The Texas A&M Aggies opened up the 2017 season on the road against the UCLA Bruins at the Rose Bowl. Despite leading the Bruins 44–10 with 4:08 left in the 3rd, the Aggies were stifled in the 4th quarter, losing 45–44. The 34 point comeback victory is the largest in UCLA history.[8] Nick Starkel started at quarterback for Texas A&M before leaving the game with an apparent left foot injury, with Kellen Mond taking his place.[9]

Nicholls State edit

Week Two: Nicholls State Colonels at Texas A&M Aggies – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Colonels 0 6 0814
Aggies 14 0 01024

at Kyle Field, College Station, TX

  • Date: September 9
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Temperature: 84 °F (29 °C) • weather: sunny • wind: NNE 10 MPH
  • Game attendance: 100,276
  • Referee: Kevin Boitmann
  • TV announcers (ESPNU): Clay Matvick, Kirk Morrison
  • Source:[10]
Game information

Louisiana edit

Week Three: Louisiana–Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns at Texas A&M Aggies – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Ragin' Cajuns 0 21 0021
Aggies 7 7 171445

at Kyle Field, College Station, TX

  • Date: September 16
  • Game time: 11:00 a.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Temperature: 81 °F (27 °C) • weather: cloudy • wind: SSE 8 MPH
  • Game attendance: 98,412
  • Referee: Matt Austin
  • TV announcers (SECN): Dave Neal and Matt Stinchcomb
  • Source:[11]
Game information

Arkansas edit

Week Four: Texas A&M Aggies VS Arkansas Razorbacks  – Game summary
Period 1 2 34OTTotal
Aggies 7 10 719750
Razorbacks 7 14 715043

at AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX

Game information

South Carolina edit

Week Five: South Carolina Gamecocks at Texas A&M Aggies – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Gamecocks 0 10 7017
Aggies 0 7 31424

at Kyle Field, College Station, TX

  • Date: September 30
  • Game time: 6:30 p.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 83 °F (28 °C) • weather: partly cloudy • wind: ENE 5 MPH
  • Game attendance: 96,430
  • Referee: Matt Loeffler
  • TV announcers (SEC Network): Tom Hart and Jordan Rodgers
  • Source:[13]
Game information

Alabama edit

Week Six: No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide at Texas A&M Aggies – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
No. 1 Crimson Tide 7 10 7327
Aggies 3 0 7919

at Kyle Field, College Station, TX

  • Date: October 7
  • Game time: 6:15 p.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 89 °F (32 °C) • Weather: sunny • Wind: N 6 MPH
  • Game attendance: 101,058
  • Referee: Matt Austin
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Joe Tessitore and Todd Blackledge
  • Source:[14]
Game information

Florida edit

Week Seven: Texas A&M Aggies at Florida Gators – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Aggies 3 0 7919
Gators 3 7 0717

at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, FL

  • Date: October 14
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 83 °F (28 °C) • Weather: fair, humidity 64% • Wind: E 10 MPH
  • Game attendance: 86,114
  • Referee: Hubert Owens
  • TV announcers (ESPN2): Beth Mowins, Anthony Becht and Rocky Boiman
  • Source:[15]
Game information

Mississippi State edit

Week Nine: Mississippi State Bulldogs at Texas A&M Aggies – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Bulldogs 7 7 14735
Aggies 0 0 7714

at Kyle Field, College Station, TX

  • Date: October 28
  • Game time: 6:15 p.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 60 °F (16 °C) • Weather: mostly sunny • Wind: NNW 11 MPH
  • Game attendance: 96,128
  • Referee: Ken Williamson
  • TV: ESPN
  • Source:[16]
Game information

Auburn edit

Week Ten: No. 16 Auburn Tigers at Texas A&M Aggies – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
No. 16 Tigers 0 21 14742
Aggies 3 10 7727

at Kyle Field, College Station, TX

  • Date: November 4
  • Game time: 11:00 a.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 76 °F (24 °C) • Wind: S 9 MPH • Weather: cloudy
  • Game attendance: 100,257
  • Referee: James Carter
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Beth Mowins, Anthony Becht and Rocky Boiman
  • Source:[17]
Game information

New Mexico edit

Week Eleven: New Mexico Lobos at Texas A&M Aggies – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Lobos 0 7 7014
Aggies 13 35 0755

at Kyle Field, College Station, TX

  • Date: November 11
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 72 °F (22 °C) • Wind: ESE 7 MPH • Weather: clear
  • Game attendance: 99,051
  • Referee: Kevin Boitmann
  • TV: ESPNU
  • Source:[18]
Game information

Ole Miss edit

Week Twelve: Texas A&M Aggies at Ole Miss Rebels – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Aggies 14 7 7331
Rebels 14 10 0024

at Vaught–Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, MS

  • Date: November 18
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 55 °F (13 °C) • Wind: NW 15 MPH • Weather: cloudy
  • Game attendance: 55,880
  • Referee: Matt Austin
  • TV: ESPN2
  • Source:[19]
Game information

LSU edit

Week Thirteen: Texas A&M Aggies at No. 19 LSU Tigers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Aggies 0 7 14021
No. 19 Tigers 13 7 141145

at Tiger Stadium

  • Date: November 25
  • Game time: 6:30 p.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 57 °F (14 °C) • Wind: N 2 MPH • Weather: clear
  • Game attendance: 97,675
  • Referee: Ken Williamson
  • TV: SECN
  • Source:[20]
Game information

Rankings edit

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314Final
APRVRVRVRVRVRVRV
CoachesRVRVRVRV2424RVRVRV
CFPNot releasedNot released

References edit

  1. ^ "Texas A&M fires Sumlin, eyes FSU's Fisher". November 26, 2017.
  2. ^ "Sources: Fisher's Texas A&M deal richest ever". December 2017.
  3. ^ "SEC RELEASES 2017 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE" (Press release). Texas A&M University Department of Athletics. September 13, 2016. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  4. ^ "2017 Texas A&M Aggies Football Schedule". FB Schedules. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  5. ^ 2016 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Media Guide, p. 2
  6. ^ "Football vs UCLA on 9/3/2017". Texas A&M Athletics. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  7. ^ "8.28-Broadcaster-Schedule_CFB.pdf" (PDF). Fox Sports. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
  8. ^ Bolch, Ben (September 3, 2017). "UCLA scores 35 unanswered points to beat Texas A&M, 45–44". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
  9. ^ Greenspan, Dan (September 3, 2017). "UCLA stuns Texas A&M 45-44 after 34-point comeback in second half". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
  10. ^ "Texas A&M University Athletics - Football vs Nicholls on 9/9/2017". Texas A&M Athletics. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
  11. ^ "Texas A&M University Athletics - Football vs Louisiana-Lafayette on 9/16/2017". Texas A&M Athletics. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
  12. ^ "Texas A&M University Athletics - Football vs Arkansas on 9/23/2017". Texas A&M Athletics. Retrieved September 23, 2017.
  13. ^ "Texas A&M University Athletics - Football vs South Carolina on 9/30/2017". Texas A&M Athletics. Retrieved October 1, 2017.
  14. ^ "Football vs Alabama on 10/7/2017". Texas A&M University Athletics. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  15. ^ "Football vs Florida on 10/14/2017". Texas A&M University Athletics. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  16. ^ "Football vs Mississippi State on 10/28/2017". Texas A&M University Athletics. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
  17. ^ "Football vs Auburn on 11/4/2017". Texas A&M University Athletics. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  18. ^ "Football vs. New Mexico 11/11/2017". Texas A&M University Athletics. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  19. ^ "Football vs. Ole Miss 11/18/2017". Texas A&M University Athletics. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  20. ^ "Football vs LSU on 11/25/2017". Texas A&M University Athletics. Retrieved November 26, 2017.