Fast-talking Jimbo Fisher's excitement for the 2022 season is palpable

ATLANTA — Transcribers who compile coaches' quotes at Southeastern Conference Media Days were ready to throw in the towel on Thursday.

Keeping up with Texas A&M football Jimbo Fisher’s auctioneer-like cadence is a lost cause.

A questioner representing the transcribers asked: “How do you speak so fast?”

Fisher, of course, responded quickly.

“Got to get the thoughts out,” he said. “How long you want to be here? I give you lots of information in a short amount of time. I'm a reporter's dream.”

Fisher was indeed talking fast. Real fast.

Jamie Maury, TexAgs

Haynes King is among a number of players Jimbo is eager to have return from injury in 2022.

What else is new, right? He always talks fast.

But Fisher's turbo-charged tongue was going faster than ever. Perhaps because his football team may be better than ever.

“I’m very excited about (this season) as much as I’ve ever been,” Fisher said. “Probably, we’re in a better position going in right now for the future of our organization since I’ve been here. By far.

“We have a lot of youth on this football team. There are only 11 seniors, but there’s a very talented group of guys. That’s what makes it exciting.”

Fisher came to College Station to build a championship contender. As he enters his fifth season at A&M, his critics wonder when that will happen.

Maybe it already has.

Two seasons ago, the Aggies finished 9-1 and ranked No. 4 in the nation.

Last season, the Aggies might have contended if not for a plague of injuries at quarterback, receiver, offensive line and cornerback.

A&M endured four losses, but also beat SEC champion and national runner-up Alabama. That win illustrated their potential and provided some national street cred.

Or maybe not.

“We really don’t take much street cred from that,” junior guard Layden Robinson said. “We just take it, keep going and keep building. It's like building blocks. We keep building on that.”

Completion of Fisher’s construction job would require developing an elite quarterback, accumulating big-play threats, assembling strong lines and acquiring the depth necessary to hold up in the treacherous SEC.

“I like the depth,” Fisher said. “It’s the first time we’ve had the amount of depth we have. The quality of players at all positions. The competition at positions across the board.

“And getting a lot of guys back from last year, too. You had a lot of injured guys that didn’t get to play last year. There’s some guys that, I think, will really make a contribution in some key moments.”

Of course, the main guy returning from injury is quarterback Haynes King, who was lost in the second game last season.

He’s in a quarterback room that now includes transfer Max Johnson, a productive starter at LSU last season, and five-star prospect Conner Weigman.

“It’s fun having three really good players,” Fisher said. “That’s one of the harder positions to get depth. I think we have three highly, highly talented guys and capable guys. It’s going to be very exciting.”

The prospect of deep passes to five-star freshmen Evan Stewart and Chris Marshall and star senior Ainias Smith — who doesn’t figure to miss too much time due to a suspension — is also exciting.

So is the running of explosive Devon Achane behind an offensive line that should be considerably improved from a year ago.

A&M’s defense should again be strong.

Jamie Maury, TexAgs

Senior safety Demani Richardson was among the Texas A&M contingent in Atlanta on Thursday.

The secondary returns four of five starters, including All-American candidate Antonio Johnson and safety Demani Richardson, who will be a fourth-year starter. Sophomore Tyreek Chappell, who did a solid job when injuries forced him into the lineup at cornerback, projects to be improved.

Edgerrin Cooper looks like an emerging star at linebacker. The Aggies are deep in the interior defensive line with McKinnley Jackson, Isaiah Raikes, Shemar Turner and Albert Regis.

Though the pass rush must be rebuilt, Fisher said sophomore defensive end Fadil Diggs could be outstanding. Redshirt freshman Tunmise Adeleye is expected to make an impact. As are incoming five-star freshmen Walter Nolen, Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy and Anthony Lucas.

No doubt, there is sufficient size, speed and talent to increase the 2021 victory total to 10 wins. Maybe the Aggies could even beat Alabama again. Maybe they could possibly beat every other opponent, too.

Fisher thinks so.

“I feel like we’re going to win every game,” he said. “That’s our goal. That’s the way our players feel. That’s the way we feel.”

He said it really fast because … well, he’s really excited.