Kevin Sumlin wraps up Aggies' Fall Camp, talks offensive line changes

On Wednesday night, Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin said he’s decided on a starting lineup for the football season-opener against UCLA and indicated that he would start senior Jermaine Eluemunor at right tackle.

Sumlin said the two-deep would be released on Thursday.

“There may be some 'ors’ on there,” he said. “There will be more than eleven positions on defense because we play a lot of different defenses. Donovan Wilson has played some corner, has played some nickel, so that depends on what we put out there.”

Sumlin said he would put out an offensive line that just two weeks ago might have been a surprise because Eluemunor had worked primarily at right guard previously.

But Eluemunor shifted to right tackle last week and performed so well he’s apparently won the job over sophomore Koda Martin.

“We’ve been able to move some guys around. We’ve kind of settled on where we are there,” Sumlin said. “Jermaine Eluemunor has been flexible to do a lot of things. He was one of the top tackles in the country (as a junior college transfer). He’s shown the ability to excel at tackle. When we move him out there, which we’ve done, he’s played really well.

“That’s nothing against Koda Martin. Koda’s been really, really good, too. But right now – Jermaine played very well last week. Moving him to right tackle give us two older guys that are very, very athletic guys with he and Avery (Gennesy) to protect the passer on both sides.

“We’ve got a lot of pieces that can play inside at guard.”

One of those pieces is Colton Prater, a true freshman from Shreveport, La., who has bulked up to 295 pounds and has drawn high praise for his play at left guard since arriving as an early enrollee in the spring.

“He’s a tough guy. He’s smart. He’s 295. He’ll hold his own in there,” Sumlin said. “He’s been here in spring. He’s supposed to be going to the prom, and he’s in there against (defensive tackles) Kingsley Keke and Daylon Mack and those guys. That helped him. He’s going to play for us a lot this year.”

That would seem to leave the right guard position between sophomores Keaton Sutherland, a 6-5, 310-pounder, and Connor Lanfear, who is 6-6, 315.

“We’ve got that whole mix at guard that can really help us. We have big-body types – Connor Lanfear – those types of guys,” Sumlin said. “It’s different than being on the edge playing tackle.”

The Aggies need to upgrade the offensive line. Last season A&M ranked 66th in the nation in rushing offense by averaging 169 yards per game.

The Aggies also allowed 37 sacks, which was tied for 107th in the country.

“Some of the other pieces have been moving around,” Sumlin said. "Three out of the five guys have been a part of that the whole time. The communication, I think, has gotten better because there is a respect. They’ve played those positions. They can understand and anticipate.”

Sumlin did not reveal a starter at running back, but did say junior Keith Ford, junior James White and freshman Trayveon Williams will share playing time, while sophomore Kwame Etwi and redshirt freshman Kendall Bussey will provide depth.

“We feel real comfortable with the top five backs,” he said. “The three guys (Ford, White and Williams) that have put themselves (in good position to secure playing time).

“James White … he knows a little bit more and is a little bit bigger. Trayveon has had a good fall camp. You can look for him to do some things also on special teams.

“The three of those guys have had really good falls. It will be a situation where we can rotate those guys.”

Sumlin also said that linebacker Josh Walker, a junior from Gilmer who was recently arrested on domestic violence charges, remains indefinitely suspended.

“He’s been suspended indefinitely, and so he’s no longer here,” Sumlin said. “He’s gone back home.”