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Where have you gone, Speedy Noil?
That’s the question Aggies fans have been asking since the five-star recruit did his disappearing act following a highly successful freshman season. The phenom burst onto the scene with and speed, agility, and a vertical that far belied his 5-foot-11, 187-pound frame. The sky, it seemed, would be the limit for this talent with explosive play ability written all over him.
But a funny thing happened on the way to his sophomore season. An undisclosed suspension in April and a mysterious nagging “soft tissue” injury have kept the No. 1 wide receiver in the class of 2014 sidelined for much of the 2015 season.
And the Aggies offense has felt the void.
An integral part of the Aggies success last season, Noil led the team in all-purpose yards as a freshman wide receiver and top return man, displaying breakaway ability in equal roles, whether it be catching a pass or fielding kickoffs and punts.
Ironically, it’s been another freshman who has come to the aid of the Aggies. Christian Kirk has emerged in his place this season. Without Noil in the lineup as a viable target, Kirk has become the go-to receiver. In seven games so far, Kirk leads the team with 41 catches for 625 yards and four touchdowns. No other receiver has more than 25 receptions.
It’s not only on offense that the freshman is contributing. Kirk has picked up the slack in the return game as well, averaging 21 yards on 12 kick returns as well as 22.7 yards and two touchdowns on 12 punt returns.
In the same role last season, Noil averaged 24 yards on 27 kick returns and 12 yards on 15 punt returns.
It certainly appeared as though Noil would blossom into a big-play receiver in 2015 after hauling in 46 balls for 583 yards and five TDs in his ‘audition’ season of 2014. But the more explosive plays this year have been made by veteran receiver Josh Reynolds, who averages 19 yards a reception (24-458), and whose three touchdown receptions are topped only by Kirk’s four.
But, like last season when A&M boasted of four receivers with more than 45 catches, the Aggies passing game could surely use another helping hand. None of the current receivers on the A&M roster are on course for that many this season.
A healthy Noil would be a welcomed addition in that regard. So get yourself healthy and climb aboard, Speedy, there’s plenty of room on the Aggies receiving corps.
In limited action this year, Noil has caught just nine passes for 89 yards (9.9 average) and one touchdown. That reduction in production matches up with the deficiency in the Aggies’ passing game.
Last year, Kenny Hill and Kyle Allen combined for a passing average of 305.5 yards per game. It’s a different story this season.
Allen, and to a much lesser extent, Kyler Murray, are producing just 268.6 yards through the air. And while Allen is struggling to complete just 57 percent of his passes, as opposed to 61.5 percent last year, an additional receiver the talent of Noil could only help with that.
Glenn Sattell is an award-winning freelance writer for Saturday Down South.
