Pass-catcher Will Hargett to continue family legacy at Texas A&M

Following in footsteps doesn’t necessarily require the same steps.

Even if a path has been established, an alternate route can lead to a desired destination.

That’s the case for young Will Hargett‍, who is following in the family's footsteps to play football at Texas A&M. He’ll just metaphorically walk on his hands.

“Ever since I was a kid, it was my dream to play football or baseball at A&M,” said Will, who has starred in both sports at A&M Consolidated High School. “In high school, I fell more in love with football.”

The surname “Hargett” is legendary in Texas A&M football lore. It’s spoken in similar reverence with names like Kimbrough, Crow, Manziel, Nguyen, Miller and Garrett.

Will’s grandfather, Edd Hargett, was a two-time All-Southwest Conference quarterback. He scored the decisive touchdown on the final play of a 28-24 victory over Texas Tech in 1967. That win ignited a seven-game winning streak, which resulted in A&M’s first Southwest Conference championship in a decade. He also led the Aggies to a 20-16 Cotton Bowl victory over Alabama.

Edd’s son, Thadd, was also an A&M quarterback from 1995-97.

Texas A&M Media Relations

Former A&M QB Edd Hargett ‘74 is the grandfather of preferred walk-on WR Will Hargett.

The family legacy continues with Will. He has accepted an offer as a preferred walk-on at A&M.

But Will catches passes instead of throwing them.

Will played four seasons at quarterback for Consolidated. He passed for 6,231 yards and 63 touchdowns in his high school career.

However, eight games into last season, he tore the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right (throwing) elbow.

“[My elbow] was bugging me in my junior year baseball season,” Will recalled. “I didn’t think too much about it. I played baseball in the summer and pitched. 

“I thought, ‘OK, I’ve got a month break between baseball and football,’ and maybe it would get better. It kept getting worse and worse.”

The ligament finally snapped during a Monday practice late in the season. The torn UCL ended Will’s time at quarterback. It did not, however, end his football career.

Always a competitor, he switched to receiver for the playoffs. He wore a brace, which helped keep his arm bent and ease the pain. He caught 16 passes for 260 yards and three touchdowns.

He had surgery last month. His rehabilitation is going faster than expected.

“It’s getting better every day,” Will said. “I’m ahead of the physical therapy process. I’m almost able to get [my] arm straight. It’s supposed to be six to eight weeks. I’m in week four, and I’m just 10 degrees away from getting [the arm] straight.”

Perhaps it’s not surprising that Will is healing so fast. It seems he does a lot of things fast, especially running.

“He can really run,” Thadd said. “He’s been down in the 4.3s the 40, and he has good lateral movement. He’s probably quicker than fast.”

His speed and surprisingly good hands led to A&M offering the preferred walk-on opportunity.

In a perfect world, Will would’ve been recruited to A&M to play quarterback. He would then embark on a career that would mirror his grandfather’s.

However, Will saw the injury as a perfect opportunity to change the trajectory of his playing career.

“I think it’s just kind of a new chapter in my life,” he said.

Indeed, if not for the switch, Will may not have gotten a chance to play at A&M.

At 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds, he doesn’t fit the mode of a typical big-time collegiate quarterback. Sure, some smaller guys make it big in college football, but those stories are somewhat rare.

Thadd even acknowledged his son likely wouldn’t have gotten the opportunity at A&M as a quarterback.

“I never thought [playing quarterback at A&M] would actually happen,” Thadd said. “I thought he’d actually go play quarterback at a smaller school.

“I still think he had some opportunities. Maybe a JUCO (junior college). Even then, they have moved him to receiver.”

Thadd said that made sense. He’d made impressive catches when occasionally lining up at receiver during 7-on-7 competition.

His showing in the state playoffs confirmed to Thadd that Will could successfully switch positions.

“He has good ball skills,” Thadd said. “He can go get it.”

That’s the advice and encouragement Edd gave Will — go get it.

“I told him that A&M offered me. He was really excited,” Will said. “He said he was proud of me, to keep my head down and go to work once I get there.”

Thadd had a similar message.

“Go out, bust your tail, get after it, ball out, get bigger and stronger and maybe a scholarship will come,” Thadd told his son. “Keep working and work your way into the depth chart.”