Youthful Ags expect to build on valuable experience & lessons learned

In five months, Texas A&M will be counting on the accuracy of two well-known adages to avenge the 5-7 debacle of the 2022 football season.

• Youth will be served.
• Experience is the best teacher.

Those ideas seem to send conflicting messages. But if they successfully intersect when football season arrives, the Aggies can anticipate a redemptive campaign similar to 2012.

Last year, a ridiculously youthful A&M roster was served up to the apex predators that lurk in the weeds of the treacherous Southeastern Conference.

In a loss at Auburn, 13 of the Aggies’ 22 starters were sophomores, redshirt freshmen or true freshmen. A&M started seven true freshmen in a loss to Florida. Overall, 13 true freshmen made at least one start.

That’s not conducive to consistently winning in a conference that year in and year out produces the most players selected in the early rounds of the NFL Draft.

Make no mistake, A&M will be quite young in 2023.

Approximately two-thirds of the roster will be freshmen and sophomores. But last year’s heralded true freshmen like defensive linemen Walter Nolen and Shemar Stewart, quarterback Conner Weigman, tight end Donovan Green, guard Kam Dewberry, receiver Evan Stewart and others gained valuable experience.

Coach Jimbo Fisher said the benefits of that experience are being seen in spring drills.

“When you’re young, a lot of times, you understand what you do,” Fisher said. “Now (with experience), you understand what the guys around you do, which in turn the more experience you get allows you to trigger keys to how your job is done … about what’s to happen or adjustments you have to make.

“There’s nothing that can replace experience. Talent is wonderful. We have very talented guys. But you have to have experience. I think that’s what you’re starting to see from those guys in the second year and third year.”

Evan Stewart caught 53 passes for 649 yards last season. Green caught 22 passes for 233 yards. Weigman passed for 896 yards and eight touchdowns with no interceptions.

LT Overton was credited with five quarterback pressures. Shemar Stewart had four and 1.5 sacks. Nolen had 2.5 tackles for loss.

That’s nice production as true freshmen. Think of what they might do with more understanding to go along with increased strength and quickness.

Of course, there is no guarantee players will make major strides in their second year. Some players tend to hit a peak as freshmen and decline. Does the name Speedy Noil ring a bell?

Still, most players show significant improvement from their first season to their second.

Senior defensive tackle McKinnley Jackson, who last season led A&M defensive linemen in tackles and tackles for loss, said he did.

Jamie Maury, TexAgs

Now considered a veteran leader on the A&M defensive front. McKinnley Jackson is prepared to guide a young but talented unit this fall.

“I saw it gradually happen,” Jackson said. “I noticed me being a leader from my freshman year. That usually happens, but at the same time, I could see me being better as a football player. (I was) understanding the game, being a student of the game, being a gym rat also. It takes overtime to go where you want to go.”

Jackson said he’s seen last year’s freshmen defensive linemen like Nolen, Overton and Shemar Stewart putting in that overtime.

“I’ve noticed a lot of guys getting way better,” he said. “I see myself in a lot of them. Coming in with great talent that just needs to be developed. At the same time, (they) just want to learn. I see that in a lot of young guys we have.”

Maybe what Jackson is seeing in the spring will mean Kyle Field fans will see a better run defense and pass rush in the fall.

Perhaps the experience that Dewberry and Trey Zuhn got will help boost the offensive line.

Maybe the growth of Weigman, Evan Stewart, Green and Noah Thomas will lead to a more explosive, higher-scoring offense.

By now, all Aggies are painfully aware that A&M endured five losses by six points or less. One more touchdown a game could’ve meant a 10-2 finish.

That evokes thoughts of 2011.

That year, A&M endured five losses by a touchdown or less.

The next season — with more experience, more leadership and a terrific quarterback — the Aggies went 11-2.

It was an amazing turnaround. Obviously, the Aggies aim to experience a similar rebound.