Quest for a championship-caliber team begins with the Maroon Goons
The completion of Texas A&M's spring football leaves about four months until the 2025 season begins.
That’s 130 days of hopes and prayers for a championship-caliber team to surface at Kyle Field. These 2025 Aggies could indeed be that type of team.
Fortunately, they have more than hope and prayers on which to rely.
They can rely on what could be — perhaps should be — one of the best offensive lines in the Southeastern Conference.
“I feel like we’re six or seven deep (in the line),” guard Ar’maj Reed-Adams said recently. “We’re going to show our experience and how we grew together to make us the best offensive line in the country this year.”
Every starter returns from the 2024 offensive line that paved the way for A&M to rank second in the SEC in rushing offense and fourth in sacks allowed.
Of course, that includes Reed-Adams, All-SEC tackle Trey Zuhn III and guard Chase Bisontis.
According to NFLdraftbuzz.com, each of them rank among the top 21 offensive line prospects for the 2026 draft.
The only other team with three players ranked among the top 21 is Alabama.
Just how much that site can be trusted is up for debate, but at least it shows there are observers outside of College Station who think the A&M line could be excellent.
That’s vital because a championship team does not exist anywhere without excellent offensive line play.
Nowhere should that be understood more than Texas A&M. When A&M had championship contenders in 2012, 2013 and 2020, the Aggies also had stellar offensive lines.
Not only are all the starters back from A&M’s productive line last season, but they’re also in their second year under line coach Adam Cushing.
The 2020 line was in its second year under then-coach Josh Henson. That line was a finalist for the Joe Moore Award, which goes to the premier line in the nation.
Reed-Adams said that’s the target for this year’s Maroon Goons.
“Joe Moore,” he said when asked about his expectations for this season. “And leading this team to the national championship. We’ve got the pieces behind the line, and we’ve got the defense to do it.
“We’re growing every day. I think we’re poised — not just one person — me, Trey, anybody else you could say. … This is going to be a collective thing.”
...Screech...
That sound is from cynics — perhaps realists — who are hitting the brakes on the talk about a premier line.
After all, routinely failed to convert fourth-and-1 situations. How can a team that can’t pick up one yard when it's needed most be considered elite?
It’s a legitimate question. Reed-Adams has an answer.
“We’re very motivated because, as an offensive line, we felt we left a lot on the table,” he said. “We take a lot of pride in getting one yard, and I felt like we left one yard out there too many times.
“I definitely took it personal. I know the guys took it personal because every time we go back and review different plays and installing those plays come up. We talk about those instances and how we’re supposed to correct it.
“I could see the sour faces. People look angry watching those videos. We’re coming out for revenge, really.”
They don’t have to be vengeful. They just have to be better. The return of center Mark Nabou Jr., who missed most of last season to injury, should help pick up that yard.
The addition of tight end Nate Boerkircher probably will, too. Not all the fourth-down failures could be blamed on interior linemen.
A&M could possibly get a boost from the departures of opponents.
South Carolina, Notre Dame, Texas, Arkansas and LSU all have had significant defensive line losses.
Four months out, the Aggies at least appear to have an advantage at the line of scrimmage against those teams.
And the quest to field a championship-caliber team always starts up front.
