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Early opponent analysis: Let last week be a lesson to you, Aggies
By Steve Barnes
Published:
When looking at the Texas A&M schedule in the preseason, seeing Nevada visiting College Station on Sept. 19 probably did not strike fear in most Aggies hearts. But this time last week, Toledo and Jacksonville State were supposed to be glorified scrimmages.
Although this is not the Colin Kaepernick-led Nevada team of the past, remember, the Wolfpack has a roster of players who are on scholarship for a reason.
Coach Brian Polian’s team is 1-1 on the season with a loss to No. 20 Arizona and a season-opening victory against UC-Davis. With no other marquee games on its schedule (Nevada plays such teams as San Diego State and Buffalo the rest of the way), this bunch knows this is their last chance to make a splash in the 2015 season.
Polian is no stranger to College Station. He served as the special teams coordinator and tight ends coach on Kevin Sumlin’s inaugural staff at Texas A&M.
The Wolfpack have talent that should get the attention of the No. 17 Aggies.
On offense, Nevada features Hasaan Henderson, a rangy 6-foot-5 wide receiver. The junior topped the 1,000-yard receiving mark last week against Arizona. He has 85 catches and six touchdowns in 24 career games in Reno. This season he is averaging 10.7 yards per reception. The Wolfpack can run the ball as well. Don Jackson averages 5.8 yards per carry with backfield mate James Butler gaining 4.3 yards per attempt.
Nevada has an efficient offense with talent, but the player the Aggies need to keep in check is on the other side of the ball.
Defensive back Asauni Rufus already has 22 tackles this year, 12 of them solo. He has reached double digits in stops in each of the first two games of the season. Add to him defensive lineman Salesa Faraimo’s three tackles for loss and it could compute to a clogged line of scrimmage for Tra Carson and Kwami Etwi out of the Aggies backfield. Also, the Wolfpack has a nice bloodline on the defensive line. Ian Seau, nephew of the former San Diego Chargers’ hall of famer, Junior Seau, is a senior defensive end. In all, Nevada has given up an average of 195 yards on the ground this season.
All that potential run support could lead to Texas A&M quarterback Kyle Allen having a landmark day. Nevada is surrendering 253.5 yards a game through the air and more importantly, it has not recorded an interception yet this season.
But again, as this season has illustrated, the Davids have not been afraid to give the Goliaths a good shot.
Nevada has a puncher’s chance to make this a ballgame. But if the Aggies can throw a few haymakers early, this could be a TKO by halftime.
NEVADA WOLFPACK CLOSER LOOK
Top returning player, offense: Don Jackson, Sr., RB — Named to the watch list for both the Doak Walker Award and Wuerffel Trophy, Jackson also was named preseason third-team Mountain West Conference. He started every game a season ago and was second on the team in rushing as well as 10th in the conference. He is averaging 107.5 yards on the ground so far this season with a long run of 30 yards.
Top returning player, defense: Ian Seau, Sr., DE — A member of the Lombardi and Bronko Nagurski watch lists and preseason all-MWC by several publications, Seau was a second-team all-conference selection last season after posting 8.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception. He already has two tackles for loss and a sack through two games this year.
Top returning player, special teams: Brent Zuzo, Jr., K — A preseason second-team all-conference pick, he led the Wolfpack in scoring last year and made a career long 45-yard field goal against Boise State. This season he is a perfect 3-of-3 field goals and 6-of-6 extra points.
Steve Barnes is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers SEC football.
