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Taking a position-by-position look at Texas A&M vs. Louisville, here’s what to watch for in the Dec. 30 Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl between the Aggies and the Cardinals:
QUARTERBACK – Louisville: The Cardinals win by default here. Ironically, the quarterback position was very similar throughout the season with two young talents vying for playing time with each squad. The difference is that Louisville’s youngsters are still on the team. Freshman Lamar Jackson had the better of it as the Cardinals’ signal-caller, throwing for 1,613 yards (123-for-221) and 10 touchdowns with eight interceptions. But redshirt sophomore Kyle Bolin has displayed an ability to get the job done as well, tossing seven touchdown passes while throwing for 1,154 yards (78-for-137) with six interceptions.
Sophomore Jake Hubenak takes the reins of the Aggies’ offense. The backup to both Kyle Allen and Kyler Murray all season, Hubenak has thrown just 27 passes, completing 12 of them for 92 yards and a touchdown. But with Allen and Murray both deciding to transfer, Hubenak steps up into a starting role for the first time.
RUNNING BACKS – Texas A&M: Aggies RB Tra Carson gets the nod here and it isn’t even close. Texas A&M’s 1,000-yard rusher (1,059) is among the best at Texas A&M in recent years. The senior will finish his career in the bowl game. He needs 31 yards to reach 2,000 over three years at Texas A&M. The Oregon transfer has rushed for 2,223 yards and 19 touchdowns in his college career.
Louisville has nothing to compare. Jackson is the Cardinals top rusher with 734 yards and nine touchdowns. Cardinals RB Brandon Radcliff has piled up 587 yards and seven rushing touchdowns on 128 carries. But Radcliff is dealing with an ankle injury. Still, the junior is expected to play in the bowl game.
WIDE RECEIVERS, TIGHT END – Texas A&M: The Aggies trio of Christian Kirk, Ricky Seals-Jones and Josh Reynolds is as good as any. Kirk has turned in a monster year. The freshman was fourth in the SEC with 925 yards on 70 pass receptions (6 TDs). He also led the nation in punt returns with a 24.4-yard average. Seals-Jones and Reynolds combined for another 1,272 yards and eight touchdowns on 82 catches.
Aggies WR Speedy Noil has been suspended and will not play in the bowl game.
The Cardinals’ top two WRs, Jamari Staples and James Quick, have combined for 1,161 yards and eight touchdowns on 71 pass receptions. However, Staples is nursing a shoulder injury and is questionable for the bowl game.
OFFENSIVE LINE – Texas A&M: The Aggies’ offensive line has done a good job of run blocking this season, perhaps more so than in recent past. Pass blocking has been somewhat inconsistent, although not bad for most of the season.
The Louisville line hasn’t produced for the run game. The Cardinals average less than 160 rushing yards per game. Like the Aggies, Louisville’s pass blocking has been inconsistent, but not bad overall. The Cardinals average 406.3 yards per game this season.
DEFENSIVE LINE – Louisville: Defense is definitely the strength of the Cardinals team this season. Ranked among the nation’s top 15 teams in rush defense, the Cards are yielding just 118.8 yards per game. As a unit, it’s a solid group when stacked up against a few superior individuals along the Aggies’ front.
Texas A&M has had its troubles stopping the run this season. On average, Texas A&M is giving up 205.9 yards per game. However, bookend DEs Myles Garrett and Daeshon Hall compare with any in the country at disrupting opposing teams’ passing games.
LINEBACKERS – Louisville: Louisville has a solid group of linebackers, but injuries put their ability to compete in question. Cardinals LB Keith Kelsey leads the team in tackles with 99, including three sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss. But Kelsey has a knee injury that could hamper his play. He is, however, expected to see action in the bowl game.
James Burgess is another solid performer at linebacker for Louisville. Second on the team in tackles, Burgess has compiled 90 for the season, including 51 solos and nine tackles for loss. He has also intercepted a pass and recovered two fumbles.
Aggies LB Shaan Washington leads a good group. Second on the team in tackles with 78, Washington has recorded 7.5 tackles for loss, including one sack. In addition, Washington has recovered a fumble.
SECONDARY – Texas A&M: On average the Aggies allowed just 161.3 yards passing per game. Armani Watts leads a hard-hitting group. The team leader in tackles with 111, Watts piled up an astounding 71 solo tackles, including five for loss. He intercepted one pass this season and recovered a fumble.
Louisville gave up an average of 204.7 passing yards per game. Josh Harvey-Clemons led the Cards’ secondary with 80 tackles, including 43 solo. He came up with two interceptions as well.
Glenn Sattell is an award-winning freelance writer for Saturday Down South.
