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Taking a position-by-position look at Texas A&M at Vanderbilt, here’s what to watch for in Saturday night’s showdown between the Aggies and the Commodores:
QUARTERBACK — Texas A&M: The Aggies’ Kyler Murray has already made an impact in just three career starts. The true freshman from Allen, Texas, is 5th in the SEC with an average of 6.3 yards per rushing attempt, but his passing needs work. He has completed 72 of his 121 attempts (59.5 percent) with 5 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. His counterpart, Kyle Shurmur, is another true freshman who is now 2-0 in conference games following Vanderbilt’s 21-17 victory over Kentucky last week. In his three career starts, Shurmur has completed just 26 of his 57 passes (45.6 percent) for 275 yards, 2 TDs and 1 INT. If both teams’ starters falter this week, A&M has a decided edge at the backup spot with sophomore Kyle Allen, who had a 15-6 touchdown-to-interception ratio before being benched in favor of Murray. Before being replaced by Shurmur, Johnny McCrary threw 12 picks, which is tied for 2nd-most in the conference.
RUNNING BACKS — Texas A&M: To call Ralph Webb Vanderbilt’s workhorse back would be an understatement. The sophomore from Gainesville, Fla., is 2nd in the SEC in carries (231) — behind only Alabama’s Derrick Henry, who has 240 — and is 4th in the league with a career-high 924 rushing yards. Meanwhile, Tra Carson has asserted himself in the Aggies’ backfield. The senior from Texarkana, Texas, has set career highs in attempts (181), rushing yards (864) and yards per carry (4.8). On top of that, Carson has five 100-yard rushing games this season, including three straight going into Saturday night’s game. Webb has cracked the 100-yard mark three times. That and his lower yards per rush average (4.0) give A&M the edge here.
WIDE RECEIVERS, TIGHT END — Texas A&M: The Commodores’ receiving corps is led by Trent Sherfield, who leads Vandy in catches (44), yards (569) and has 2 TD receptions to share the lead with fellow sophomore Caleb Scott, who has hauled in 22 passes for 278 yards. With all due respect to Sherfield, 16 of his catches and 240 of his receiving yards came in a 47-7 victory over Austin Peay on Sept. 19. Tight end Steven Scheu has added 22 grabs for 204 yards. Meanwhile, Christian Kirk’s tremendous freshman season continues for Texas A&M. In the SEC, he is 2nd only to Ole Miss’ Laquon Treadwell in catches (63) and yards (828). Josh Reynolds, who has 32 receptions, is 2nd on the Aggies in receiving yards (554) and TD catches (4); Kirk has 6. Ricky Seals-Jones has been a solid No. 3 receiver, with 37 receptions for 473 yards and 2 TDs. The Aggies’ advantage here is clear.
OFFENSIVE LINE — Even: Texas A&M’s blockers have helped their ball carriers average 4.6 yards an attempt, which is 6th in the SEC. The Aggies are only 11th in the conference with 12 rushing TDs, but Vanderbilt is even worse in both categories. The Commodores are next-to-last in the league in rushing TDs (8) and 12th in yards per carry (3.68). A&M is allowing 2.5 sacks per game — which is tied for 11th in the SEC. Meanwhile, Vandy is 7th in the conference, surrendering 2 sacks a game. The Aggies have better run blockers, but the Commodores have better pass blockers.
DEFENSIVE LINE — Texas A&M: The Aggies have the worst rushing defense in the league, allowing more than 210 yards per game. The Commodores are markedly better in that area, yielding 123.7 rushing yards per game to rank 5th in the SEC. Texas A&M is the better pass-rushing team, averaging 2.8 sacks per game, which is 3rd in the conference, while Vandy is 7th in the SEC with 2.3 sacks per game. The Aggies’ Myles Garrett (50 total tackles) leads the SEC and is tied for 4th in the nation with 10.5 sacks. He is also tied for the SEC lead and is tied for 4th nationally with 17 tackles for loss. Fellow defensive end Daeshon Hall (10.5 tackles for loss, 43 total tackles and 6 sacks) has been solid, and Daylon Mack has made 27 total tackles, including 8.5 for loss. The Vandy D-line is anchored by ends Caleb Azubike (23 tackles, 2 sacks) and Adam Butler (16 total tackles, 6 for loss) and nose tackle Jay Woods (20 total tackles, 2 for loss). The Aggies’ pass rush rushers and tacklers give them the advantage here.
LINEBACKERS — Even: Zach Cunningham leads Vandy in tackles (79), tackles for loss (13.5) and sacks (3.5), and he has been bolstered by fellow inside linebacker Darreon Herring (52 tackles, 3 pass breakups) and outside backers Stephen Weatherly (40 tackles, 9 QB hurries) and Nehemiah Mitchell (23 total tackles). Shaan Washington (3 pass breakups, 3 QB hurries) leads A&M’s linebackers with 59 tackles, A.J. Hilliard (2 QB hurries, 1 forced fumble) has made 50.
SECONDARY — Even: The Aggies are 3rd in the SEC in passing defense, allowing 182.9 yards per game. Vanderbilt (196.0) is 6th. The Commodores have yielded the 2nd-fewest passing TDs in the league (7), while A&M has surrendered 8 to rank tied for 3rd. The Aggies’ Donovan Wilson (53 tackles, 3 forced fumbles) is tied for 1st in the conference with 5 interceptions. No one on either team has more tackles than the 96 made by teammate and free safety Armani Watts (2 pass breakups, 1 INT), and strong safety Justin Evans (3 pass breakups) has added 59. Meanwhile, free safety Oren Burks (43 tackles, 6 pass breakups) leads Vanderbilt and is tied for 8th in the SEC with 3 INTs, including a pick-six. Teammate Torren McGaster (47 tackles) leads the conference with 11 pass breakups. Senior strong safety Andrew Williamson has chipped in with 35 tackles, while cornerback Tre Herndon has made 34.
Stan Chrapowicki is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers SEC football, Alabama and Auburn.
