Texas A&M Aggies Vs. Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks: Game Preview

The Aggies open the 2010 college football season with a game against the defending Southland Conference co-champion Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks. SFA enters the game ranked between 6th and 12th in various preseason polls, with a #8 ranking in the FCS coaches top 25 poll. SFA has an all-time record of 0-2 against A&M, with the last meeting between the two schools coming in 1935.

Today, we're going to begin getting ready for Saturday by taking a look at SFA's team:

Offense

The Lumberjack offense is led by DI-AA All-American candidate Jeremy Moses, who passed for 4124 yards, 40 TDs,  and 21 INTs last season. Moses is a fairly accurate passer, completing 385-566 passes last year (68%). The Lumberjacks attempted 600 passes in 13 games last season, an average of 46 passes per game. To say they like to throw the ball around is an understatement. Moses was named the Southland Conference Co-Offensive Player of the Year last season, and is on several preseason All-American teams. Moses is SFA's all-time leader in total offense, passing yards, attempts, and TD passes. He should be a solid test early for Tim DeRuyter's new 3-4 defense.

Sophomore RB Romonte' Hampton, who rushed for 324 yards and 4 TDs last season in a limited role, is expected to lead the 'Jacks ground game. The 5'9, 184 lb Hampton is a second-team All-Southland Conference pick this preseason. Hampton had 17 recpetions for 77 yards last season, so SFA may use him in the passing game.

After losing three of their top receivers from last year, SFA will be looking at  sophomore Gralyn Crawford to lead their offense in the early going, Crawford (5/'10, 175 lbs) started as a true freshman last season, and finished the year as the team's third-leading receiver, with 51 receptions for 785 yards (15.4 ypc), and 7 TDs.  Sophomore Cordell Roberson (6'3, 192 lb) caught 20 passes for 380 yards and 4 TDs last season. Robinson had four receptions (20% of his total) go for 40 or more yards last season, so he can be a deep threat. Sophomore Anthony Foster (10 receptions, 70 yards, 0 TDs) is another returning receiver with experience.

On their offensive line, SFA returns three starters, junior George Bias (6'3, 304 lbs), sophomore John Steel (6'3, 273 lbs) and sophomore Austin Wright (6'2, 295 lbs). Wright and Steel started at the offensive guard positions, and Bias was the starter at RT. Given that they'll be facing an odd-front defense, the most important position to watch in this game will be the offensive tackles. SFA only averaged 125 yards per game last season rushing the ball, so our defense should be able to pin their ears back and get after Moses. I wouldn't be surprised to see SFA try to run the ball a little early, though, to test out the soundness of our defense.

SFA's offensive strength is their passing game, and I expect them to lean on it here in their first game. SFA finished last season 72nd in the nation in rushing offense, and I don't see them trying to run the ball early on A&M, unless it is to test our defense, or slow down the game.

Defense

On defense, SFA returns 7 full-time starters from last season, including four players with starting experience on their defensive line. Senior LB Jabara Williams, a preseason All-American and Buck Buchanan Award candidate (the DI-AA version of the Bernarik Award, given to the top collegiate defensive player) leads the returners on defense. Williams had 113 tackles last season, 9.5 TFL, 2 sacks, 7 PBU, and 2 forced fumbles. A second-team All-American last season, Williams is a playmaker and leader for the 'Jacks defense.

On the defensive line, senior Kenneth Charles (6'3, 266 lbs) is an All-American candidate after compiling 50 tackles (12 solo), 11 TFL, 9 sacks, 5 forced fumbles, and 3 pass deflections as an interior lineman last season, Charles is moving from the interior to the strongside defensive end position, so the 'Jacks have someone who can hold their ground against a TE and RT. Senior Rainey Sterns (6'3, 245 lbs), who is expected to man the weakside DE position across from Charles, had 19 tackles, 4.5 TFL, and 2.5 sacks last season. Senior Broderick Gaffney (6'3, 241 lbs), who played in seven games and had 3 tackles last season, will provide depth. On the interior line, senior Sean Warren (6'0, 292 lbs) returns at the NT position. Warren had 37 tackles (19 solo), 4.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks, and 3 PBUs last season. Junior Weekendfer Saurit (6'0, 310 lbs), who is my early candidate for name of the year, joins Warren on the defensive interior. Sauirt played in spot duty last year, recording 19 tackles (9 solo), and 1 TFL.

In the defensive secondary, the 'Jacks return both of their starting cornerbacks from last season in senior Andre Banks and sophomore Josh Aubrey. Aubrey (5'11, 191 lbs) had 59 tackles (34 solo), 2 TFL, 2 sacks, 6 PBU, and 2 interceptions last season. Aubrey is an aggressive playmaker who started as a true freshman last season. Andre Banks (6'3, 208 lbs) was the SLC Newcomer of the Year after transferring from Navarro College. Banks had 65 tackles (32 solo), 2 TFL, 6 PBUs, 3 forced fumbles, and 2 interceptions on the season. The 'Jacks lost both of their starting safeties, with senior Jerrel Barnett (5'10, 180 lbs) being the only player with returning experience (Barnett started 18 games during the 2007 and 2008 seasons before working as a backup in 2009).

The strength of this defense is the defensive line and up the middle with Jabara Williams returning at MLB. SFA ranked #22 in the nation last year in rushing defense (115.9 ypg),  #97 (230.46 ypg) in pass defense, and #61 overall in total defense (346 ypg). With the weakness of their pass defense and the inexperience at the safety positions, this could set up to be a good game for our interior receivers, as we probe the soft underbelly of their defense early. This could be a game where Ryan Swope, Kenric McNeal, and Hutson Prioleau have a field day in the early going.

Special Teams

At the punter position, junior Drew Nelson returns after a season that saw him earn second-team All-SLC recognition. Nelson averaged 41.5 yards per punt last season. SFA lost their starting kicker from last year, and Nelson will compete with sophomore Logan Barrett and freshman Thomas Henshaw for the kicking duties.

At punt returner, Gralyn Crawford is the only person returning with experience, with one return for 29 yards last season. At kick returner, Crawford and Brandon Scott (2 returns, 71 yards) both have a little experience.

Special teams is the one area I am really concerned about, because we were horrid on special teams last year, and it cost us several games.

Overall, I think this team will be a decent test for us for about a quarter, but our overall talent and depth should wear them down, and help lead us to a blowout victory.