Looking at Georgia’s 2019 opponents: Texas A&M

5 things to know about Georgia-Texas A&M

TEXAS A&M AT GEORGIA
Where: Sanford Stadium, Athens
When: TBD, Nov. 23
TV; radio: TBD; News 95.5 and AM-750 WSB
Previous game: AuburnNext game: Georgia Tech

The Aggies enter Year 2 of Jimbo Fisher’s tenure in College Station ranked No. 12 in the preseason AP poll of media voters, and with high expectations that A&M could challenge LSU for the second spot in the SEC West, or even go higher.

An early test comes Sept. 7, when Texas A&M travels to Clemson to face the top-ranked Tigers in Week 2.

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The Aggies finished 9-4 in Fisher’s first season in College Station, the most wins in a season for the program since 2013. The Aggies’ win total has reached double-digits once since 1998, but A&M isn’t paying Fisher $75 million for nine-win seasons. The question is how long before Aggies fans start to demand a better dividend for that investment.

Players to watch

» Kellen Mond. A 6-foot-3, 217-pound junior, Mond became the Aggies' starting quarterback as a freshman (starting eight games) and held the job for all last season. Mond passed for 3,107 yards last season and had a passer efficiency rating of 134.99, but his completion percentage (57.3%) could stand some improvement. Mond threw for 24 touchdown passes and only nine interceptions.

Mond is a dual-threat QB, finishing 24th in the nation (fourth in the SEC) in total offense last season. He rushed for 474 net yards last season. That was after 258 yards in losses (many from sacks) were subtracted. His longest run was a 62-yard gain, and he scored seven touchdowns rushing.

His ranking nationally and in the SEC in total offense.

» Aggies receivers. Quartney Davis is the leader among returning Aggies in passes caught last season (45), and while Jace Sternberger (last year's leader and a third-round pick in the NFL draft) exhausted his eligibility, Nos. 2-4 return. The other players to watch in this unit are Camron Buckley, Jhamon Austin and Kendrick Rogers. Freshman tight end Baylor Cupp appeared on track to start the season opener, but a recent leg injury may have put him out for the season.

» Justin Madubuike. The Aggies don't have many returning starters on defense, but Madubuike is a good one. A 6-3, 304-pound junior, he recorded 10.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, and five QB hurries last season. He also forced three fumbles. Madubuike was awarded the Defensive MVP award at the team banquet after last season.

Before the Aggies face the Bulldogs

Texas A&M goes to Clemson for a Week 2 matchup against the defending national champions. They also face Auburn, Alabama and South Carolina at home. They only part of their grueling schedule that the Aggies will not have faced by the time they see Georgia is their game at LSU. That comes the following week to conclude the regular season.

The last time against Georgia

This is the first time that the Bulldogs and Aggies have met since A&M began SEC play in 2012. Their most-recent matchup came in the Independence Bowl in 2009, a 44-20 victory for the Bulldogs. The Aggies won games against Georgia in 1950 and 1953-54, and Georgia defeated A&M in the Bulldogs’ 1980 national championship. That game was the great Herschel Walker’s first at Sanford Stadium.

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