Record-setting A&M quarterback Kellen Mond will enter NFL Draft

Quarterback Kellen Mond, who set several Texas A&M passing career records, announced on Thursday morning that he will enter the NFL draft.

The senior from San Antonio had the option to return for another season because the NCAA isn’t counting the 2020 season against eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mond leaves A&M as the career leader in passing yards (9,661), passing touchdowns (71), completions (801), attempts (1,358) and total offense (11,340 yards).

This season he completed 188 of 297 passes for 2,282 yards and 19 touchdowns while also rushing for 294 yards and 4 touchdowns. He led the Aggies to a 9-1 finish in 2020 and what should be a final ranking in the top 5, possibly as high as 3. A&M was 31-13 in games started by Mond.

Originally committed to Baylor, Mond came to A&M as a four-star recruit from IMG Academy in 2017.

As a true freshman, he was thrust into the lineup when starter Nick Starkel was injured in the season-opening loss to UCLA. The Aggies were 5-3 that season with Mond starting, but he was replaced when Starkel returned from injury.

Jimbo Fisher was hired as A&M’s head coach following the 2017 season and ultimately chose Mond in the quarterback competition with Starkel.

Mond had solid campaigns in 2018 and 2019. The 2020 season was easily the best of his career. He completed a career-high 63.3 percent of his passes and threw a career-low 3 interceptions.

Mond appears to be a mid-round draft prospect, though in November CBS sports draft analyst Chris Trapasso projected the 6-foot-3, 217-pound Mond could go as high as the No. 18 pick in the first round.