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Perhaps no team in the SEC will head into the offseason under more turmoil than Texas A&M.
Questions continue to mount, coaches begin to leave what is growing into a sinking ship, and on Tuesday the school’s athletic director, Eric Hyman, stepped down.
Who’s next?
According to NFL.com’s Michael Silver, Aggies head coach Kevin Sumlin is “trying hard” to leave College Station and go to the NFL.
Two college coaches who, sources say, are trying hard to get to the NFL: UCLA's Jim Mora and Texas A&M's Kevin Sumlin…
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) January 3, 2016
Of the many questions facing Texas A&M this offseason, here are but a few of the more pressing issues:
What’s in Kevin Sumlin’s future?
If he really is hell bent on going to the NFL, he probably should have gone with Johnny Manziel, because since his quarterback’s early departure, Sumlin’s stock has fallen. And it’s probably at its lowest point right now.
Should he return to College Station, Sumlin’s seat will be extremely hot heading into the 2016 season.
Who’s the offensive coordinator going to be?
Texas A&M and offensive coordinator Jake Spavital mutually parted ways this week after just two seasons. Also the quarterbacks coach, Spavital watched two highly-recruited quarterbacks walk out the door at the end of this season, transferring to different schools before the Aggies played in their bowl game.
The offense finished fifth in the SEC in both seasons under Spavital. The Aggies had the conference’s top offense the previous two seasons.
It’s a puzzling situation considering that Sumlin never had problems with offense. Even at Houston, he produced some of the top offenses in the country. But recent quarterback struggles and a below-par offensive line have contributed to an offense with no identity.
Who’s going to be the new athletic director?
Texas A&M athletic director Eric Hyman stepped down on Tuesday. Does that signal a whole new regime for the Aggies’ football program? Generally speaking, a new AD likes to put his own stamp on the program. With it trending downward, this would seem to be the opportune time to do just that.
What that means in personnel changes remains to be seen.
Is Trevor a Knight in shining armor?
As if riding in on his white horse, former Oklahoma QB Trevor Knight has transferred and will use his final year of eligibility at Texas A&M, having already graduated from OU.
“I appreciate the opportunity Coach Sumlin and his staff have afforded me and I look forward to making my last year of eligibility a memorable one,” Knight said. “I am thankful to Coach (Bob) Stoops and all of the people at OU for their help and support through the years.”
The 6-foot-1, 207-pounder was the MVP of the Sugar Bowl after throwing for 348 yards and four touchdowns in Oklahoma’s big victory over Alabama following the 2013 season.
“We are excited to welcome Trevor to the Aggie family,” Sumlin said. “We look forward to him joining our team in January and know he will be a great representative of Texas A&M.”
It’s the one positive in an otherwise avalanche of negatives that has struck the Aggies program since a 5-0 start to the 2015 season. But five losses in the final eight games have sent the program reeling.
Can it recover by the opening kickoff to the 2016 season?
Glenn Sattell is an award-winning freelance writer for Saturday Down South.
