Texas A&M vs Prairie View Preview
Texas A&M is set to play Prairie View for senior day. Let’s send off these seniors on a high!By: The Hammer
Jayden Peevy will be playing his final game at Kyle Field. Photo via Saturday Blitz
I’m still a little down about that Ole Miss game, especially since we had it right there for the taking and came up short, so this game comes at a great time. What should amount to an easy win ahead of a very important showdown against LSU is just what the doctor ordered. And the halftime show will be incredible as Prairie View might have the second best band in the country, behind the Fightin’ Texas Aggies of course.
Prairie View has a good football team this year, but it is at the FCS level. The Panthers are currently leading the SWAC West and have a 7-2 record overall. But enough about Prairie View. This game is about the Aggies coming out strong, executing well, and winning this game with ease. It’s hard to take much away from matchups like this since the talent gap is so large, but execution and efficiency are two things I will be keeping a close eye on. No more drops, better completion percentage from Zach, better run blocking up front, etc. Do the fundamentals right.
There is plenty this Aggie team can work on in this one, and hopefully they do just that. Then we can get some more young guys involved with the action. I’m excited for our seniors to be honored as well. I have a ton of love and respect for this class because they were freshmen whe Jimbo arrived. Some players actually precede Jimbo like Jayden Peevy and Aaron Hansford, for instance. Guys that like who stuck around through a coaching change, or arrived right after have helped build this team and culture into what it is now.
If you have watched A&M football for a long time, you have noticed that culture shift. The mentality and toughness Jimbo’s teams play with is awesome, and these seniors are the ones who helped build that foundation. A few of them deserve special shout outs.
First: Aaron Hansfod. A former 4 star recruit at wide receiver, Hansford has battled injuries for years and developed himself into a starting linebacker in the SEC for two straight years. He missed all of 2018 with an injury and suffered another season ending injury his freshman year in 2016. After coming off his injury in 2018, Hansford made the change to linebacker in Jimbo’s first year and he hasn't looked back since, racking up 137 tackles and 17 starts in the last few seasons. Hansford will get a look in the NFL and his career at A&M is a testament to his hard work, effort, and willingness to stick it out through coaching and position changes, all while being a highly rated recruit. In modern college football with the transfer portal, that is extremely rare for a player of his caliber.
Second: Leon O’Neal. If you haven’t seen the latest episode of The Pulse go watch it now. Leon is such a positive young man who is an unquestioned leader on this team. He’s started the last three seasons for the Aggie defense, and improved a ton every single year. After briefly entering the transfer portal a few years ago, Leon decided to remain at A&M and his dedication to the school is admirable. He is A&M’s biggest fan and he plays with a passion that is hard to find. He has earned a look in the NFL as well, and this defense will miss him next year.
Third: Micheal Clemons. Another player who preceded Jimbo on campus. Clemons is old for a college player. He played JUCO ball at Cisco Junior College in 2016 and was listed a three star JUCO recruit in the class of 2017. He played sparingly in the fall of 2017 and then missed the entire 2018 season due to injury. Clemons has battled injuries his entire career here, including a season ending injury just 5 games into the year in 2020. But he kept coming back, kept battling and has become one of the better defensive ends in the SEC. He’s downright nasty and can get after the quarterback and stout against the run. Just like the others, Clemons will get a look in the NFL and he’s going to make whoever drafts him very happy.
Fourth: Jayden Peevy. The big fella preceded Jimbo as well stepping onto campus in the fall of 2017. Peevy is a former 4 star recruit out of Bellaire, TX and he’s been a constant on the interior defensive line for past three seasons. The improvements he has made in the last 2 years have been impressive. He has turned into a force in the middle for opposing offenses and been a key cog in some of the best defenses in the SEC for the last two years. Peevy will get a look from the NFL as well and has worked for everything he’s gotten.
Those are just a few of many who have really had an impact on this team and the overall football program. Guys like Keldrick Carper, Tyree Johnson (hope he comes back), Seth Small, Myles Jones (might come back) and more have been fantastic players in their time wearing Maroon and White. Let’s send them off with a good win and a ton of cheers!
Texas A&M 48
Prairie View 10
#BTHOPrairieView
