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Here, we'll take a look at a couple of key players going, staying and coming for each team in the Big 12.

Going:

Lee Grimes, Kevin Matthews and Michael Shumard, OL

Texas A&M isn't lacking for talent at the skill positions. They have the best combination of backs, receivers and quarterback in the conference. But if one thing derails the Aggies' offense, it will be the departure of Grimes, Matthews and Shumard, three linemen who helped Christine Michael, Cyrus Gray and Jerrod Johnson, among a few others, rush for 2,394 yards in 2009, second-most in the conference, behind Oklahoma State. If Johnson doesn't have consistent time against in the pocket to throw -- or gets hurt -- against the conference's best teams late in the season, the Aggies can forget any dreams they have of stealing the South for the first time since 1998.

Jordan Pugh, S

Pugh was Texas A&M's second-leading tackler last season, with 84 tackles. Though Texas A&M's defense brings back nine starters, Pugh isn't among them. A three-year starter in the secondary (both corner and safety), he earned All-Big 12 honors for his senior performance. He picked off a team-high three passes and made 2.5 tackles for loss.

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Staying:

Jerrod Johnson, QB

Johnson is no stranger to the Big 12 Blog, but the conference's best quarterback has his eyes set on a South title -- and more -- after a 6-7 season in 2009. Johnson has plenty of receivers to help him improve on his Big 12-best 30 touchdown passes. His impressive speed helped him rush for 506 yards and eight touchdowns, too, but his arm and size (6-foot-5, 243 pounds) are what's attracted the attention of NFL scouts.

Trent Hunter, S

It's hard to talk about the Aggie defense without mentioning Von Miller, but Hunter could blossom into a household name alongside Miller in 2010 after leading the team in tackles as a sophomore last season. He was named to The Sporting News' Freshman All-America team, and earned a second-team All-Big 12 nod last season, setting the stage for a big 2010 season for an Aggie defense hoping to improve under new coordinator Tim DeRuyter.

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Coming:

Luke Joeckel, OT

Mike Sherman's highest-rated recruit from 2010 couldn't have been much more impressive. Joeckel enrolled early at Texas A&M and by the end of spring, had earned the status of starting left tackle heading into fall camp. The 6-foot-6, 280-pound Arlington native looks ready to kick off a possibly special career in College Station this fall, helping plug the holes left behind by the guys listed in the "Going" section.

Toney Hurd Jr., CB

One of three Aggie recruits who earned a spot on the ESPNU 150, Hurd could help improve a pass defense that ranked last in the Big 12 and 105th nationally last season. Hurd hails from Missouri City, Texas, stands 5-foot-9 and weighs 179 pounds. He ranked as the No. 11 cornerback in the nation and the No. 125 overall prospect.


More Revolving Door:

• Baylor
• Colorado
• Iowa State
• Kansas
• Kansas State
• Missouri
• Nebraska
• Oklahoma
• Oklahoma State
• Texas
  

2009 overall record: 6-7

2009 conference record: 3-5

Returning starters: Offense (8), Defense (9), P/K (2)

Top returners: QB Jerrod Johnson, LB Von Miller, WR Jeff Fuller, RB Christine Michael, RB Cyrus Gray, DT Lucas Patterson, DB Trent Hunter, WR Uzoma Nwachukwu

Key losses: S Jordan Pugh, OL Michael Shumard, OL Kevin Matthews, OL Lee Grimes

2009 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Christine Michael* (844 yards)

Passing: Jerrod Johnson* (3,579 yards)

Receiving: Uzoma Nwachukwu* (708 yards)

Tackles: Trent Hunter* (95)

Sacks: Von Miller* (16.5)

Interceptions: Jordan Pugh (3)

Three spring answers

1. Found a place for Von Miller. Von Miller will play the “Joker” position, a hybrid defensive end/linebacker spot in new defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter’s 3-4 alignment. It seems like a natural fit for the 6-foot-3, 240-pounder who led the nation in sacks last season.

2. Embracing DeRuyter’s schemes. After fielding the worst defense in the Big 12 last season and ranking 104^th nationally in scoring defense, the Aggie D was ready for a change. It cam in the form of DeRuyter, who coached Air Force’s defense last season into the national top 10. Texas A&M’s defenders were clearly receptive to DeRuyter’s new approach and are ready to erase a forgettable year.

3. Joeckel can’t hide. Texas A&M is replacing three offensive linemen from last year’s team, but its new left tackle might be true freshman Luke Joeckel. The Arlington, Texas product and No. 83 on the ESPNU 150 enrolled early as the nation’s No. 6 offensive tackle prospect. He drew rave reviews from coach Mike Sherman—reluctantly, Sherman admitted—and left the spring as the starter. If the Aggies make it back to Joeckel’s hometown for the Big 12 title game, he’ll be a reason why.

Three fall questions

1. Will the defense be good enough? The offense scored the third-most points in the Big 12 last season, but still won just six games. The easy culprit is the defense, which gave up over 40 points on five occasions in 2009, and 60-plus in a pair of other losses. The offense still returns eight starters, so they won’t need to be dominant, just better. We won’t know how much better until the fall.

2. Will the offense repeat its performance behind a new line? Oklahoma experienced it last season, and Texas A&M could be a candidate in 2010. The best way to derail a dominant offense is replacing starters on the offensive line. Oklahoma went from the best offense in the history of college football to fourth in the Big 12. If the turnover process doesn’t go better for the Aggies, they could see a similar drop.

3. Is this “The Year?” Texas A&M is the only team other than Texas or Oklahoma to represent the South in the Big 12 title game, but they haven’t done it since winning the Big 12 title in 1998. Is this the year the Aggies make it back? They’ll have their best team under Sherman, and unlike Oklahoma State a year ago, they won’t begin their campaign with Oklahoma and Texas entering the season as frontrunners for the national title. If they’re going to sneak up and snatch the South, this will be their best chance in awhile.

As we all pore over the recruiting ratings of each school for the next few days, it's wise to take all of these rankings and ratings with a healthy grain of salt.

Recruiting is, always has been and always will be an inexact science. For every can't miss product, there are others who emerge out of nowhere to become standout players.

This trend was shown after I analyzed the first- and second-team All-Big 12 teams from the 2009 season and went back to check their original ESPNU grades. On some, the service hit. But on many others, it missed like Sean Weatherspoon and Danario Alexander.

Both had scores of 40 when they came out in their recruiting class. Weatherspoon weighed 195 pounds. Alexander was projected as a safety. And both put aside their dubious recruiting marks to develop into two of the best players in the country at their position over the course of their college career. I thought it was interesting to go back and look at the best players in the conference and see where they were ranked coming into college.

The ESPNU ratings database goes back only to 2006. That does not allow us to get ratings for players who took a redshirt year during their college careers. But it gives a pretty accurate picture about the crap shoot that college recruiting really is.

Here's a look at the Big 12's coaches' first and second teams for 2009. The positional rankings, typically listed second for most players, are national rankings.

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE

QB: Colt McCoy, Texas: Class of 2005, no information available.

RB: Daniel Thomas, Kansas State: Junior college class of 2009.

RB: Keith Toston, Oklahoma State: 77 rating; ranked 44th among all safeties; ranked 73rd in state.

FB: Bryant Ward, Oklahoma State: Walk-on.

WR: Jordan Shipley, Texas: Class of 2004, no information available.

WR: Danario Alexander, Missouri: 40 rating (as safety), ranked 229th in state.

WR: Dezmon Briscoe, Kansas: 40 rating, ranked 363rd in state.

TE: Jeron Mastrud, Kansas State: 40 rating, ranked 13th in state.

OL: Russell Okung, Oklahoma State: 73 rating, ranked 61st among all tackles, 138th in state.

OL: Trent Williams, Oklahoma: 76 rating, ranked 22nd among all guards, 78th in state.

OL: Nick Stringer, Kansas State: Class of 2005, no information available.

OL: Brandon Carter, Texas Tech: Class of 2005, no information available.

OL: Nate Solder, Colorado: 40 rating (as tight end), ranked 48th in state.

PK: Grant Ressel, Missouri: Walk-on.

KR/PR: Brandon Banks, Kansas State: Junior college class of 2008.

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FIRST TEAM DEFENSE

DL: Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska: Class of 2005, no information available.

DL: Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma: 89 rating, ranked 2nd among all defensive tackle, ranked first in state, ranked 21st in nation.

DL:Von Miller, Texas A&M: 77 rating, ranked 37th among all defensive ends, ranked 52nd in state.

DL: Brandon Sharpe, Texas Tech: Junior-college class of 2007.

DL: Jared Crick, Nebraska: 73 rating, ranked 86th among all defensive ends, ranked seventh in state.

LB: Jesse Smith, Iowa State: Class of 2005, no information available.

LB: Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri: 40 rating, ranked 294th in state.

LB: Travis Lewis, Oklahoma: 75 rating, ranked 86th among all running backs, ranked 96th in state.

DB: Earl Thomas, Texas: 71 rating, ranked 75th among all cornerbacks, ranked 170th in state.

DB: Perrish Cox, Oklahoma State: 77 rating, ranked 25th among all cornerbacks, ranked 57th in state.

DB: Dominique Franks, Oklahoma: 74 rating, ranked 53rd among all cornerbacks, ranked 15th in state.

DB: Prince Amukamara, Nebraska: 78 rating, ranked 31st among all running backs, ranked fifth in state.

DB: Larry Asante, Nebraska: Junior college class of 2007.

P: Derek Epperson, Baylor: 76 rating, ranked 15th among all kickers, ranked 87th in state.

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SECOND TEAM OFFENSE

QB: Jerrod Johnson, Texas A&M: 79 rating, ranked first among all athletes, ranked 29th in state.

RB Roy Helu Jr., Nebraska: 73 rating, ranked 113th among all running backs, ranked 97th in state.

RB: DeMarco Murray, Oklahoma: 92 rating, ranked first among all running backs, ranked first in state, ranked sixth in nation.

FB: Jamie McCoy, Texas A&M: Class of 2005, no information available.

WR: Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma: 77 rating, ranked 58th among all wide receivers, ranked fourth in state.

WR: Kerry Meier, Kansas: Class of 2005 , no information available.

WR: Brandon Banks, Kansas State: Junior college class of 2008.

TE: Riar Geer, Colorado: Class of 2005, no information available.

OL: J.D. Walton, Baylor: Class of 2005, no information available (transfer from Arizona State).

OL: Chris Hall, Texas: Class of 2005, no information available.

OL: Kurtis Gregory, Missouri: Class of 2005, no information available.

OL: Adam Ulatoski, Texas: Class of 2005, no information available.

OL: Brody Eldridge, Oklahoma: Class of 2005, no information available.

OL: Lee Grimes, Texas A&M: Class of 2005, no information available.

PK: Alex Henery, Nebraska: Walk-on.

KR/PR: Perrish Cox, Oklahoma State: 77 rating, ranked 25th among all cornerbacks, ranked 57th in state.

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SECOND TEAM DEFENSE

DL: Sergio Kindle, Texas: 92 rating, ranked first among all outside linebackers, ranked second in state, ranked seventh in nation.

DL: Lamarr Houston, Texas: 78 rating, ranked seventh among all fullbacks, ranked fourth in state.

DL: Jeremy Beal, Oklahoma: 80 rating, ranked 11th among all defensive ends, ranked 17th in state, ranked 137th nationally.

DL: Jaron Baston, Missouri: Class of 2005, no information available.

DL: Daniel Howard, Texas Tech: Junior college class of 2007

LB: Joe Pawelek, Baylor: Class of 2005, no information available.

LB: Roddrick Muckelroy, Texas: Class of 2005, no information available.

LB: Phillip Dillard, Nebraska: Class of 2005, no information available.

DB: Jamar Wall, Texas Tech: 72 rating, ranked 79th among all safeties, ranked 142nd in state.

DB: Quinton Carter, Oklahoma: 77 rating, ranked 39th among all safeties, ranked third in state.

DB: Brian Jackson, Oklahoma: Class of 2005, no information available.

DB: Jordan Lake, Baylor: Class of 2005, no information available.

DB: Cha’pelle Brown, Colorado: 40 rating, ranked 287th in state.

DB: Trent Hunter, Texas A&M: 68 rating, ranked 90th among all cornerbacks, ranked 250th in state.

P: Tress Way, Oklahoma: 78 rating, ranked sixth among all kickers, ranked sixth in state.

It's interesting to note that only four members of the two teams were ESPNU top 150 selections: Oklahoma's Gerald McCoy, DeMarco Murray and Jeremy Beal and Texas' Sergio Kindle.

Dave Campbell Texas Football's winter edition will hit the newsstands in the next several days.

One of the interesting things about the magazine's winter edition is their annual All-Texas team for players from colleges across the Lone Star State.

Texas quarterback Colt McCoy and TCU defensive end Jerry Hughes were named as the offensive and defensive players of the year.

Here's a look at the other selections for the magazine.

All-Texas first-team offense

QB: Colt McCoy, Texas

RB: Donald Buckram, UTEP

RB: Charles Sims, Houston

WR: Jordan Shipley, Texas

WR: Emmanuel Sanders, SMU

WR: James Cleveland, Houston

TE: Dan Buckner, Texas

OL: Brandon Carter, Texas Tech

OL: J.D. Walton, Baylor

OL: Chris Hall, Texas

OL: Marshall Newhouse, TCU

OL: Marcus Cannon, TCU

K: Hunter Lawrence, Texas

All-Texas first-team defense

DL: Von Miller, Texas A&M

DL: Brandon Sharpe, Texas Tech

DL: Lamarr Houston, Texas

DL: Jerry Hughes, TCU

LB: Daryl Washington, TCU

LB: Sergio Kindle, Texas

LB: Joe Pawelek, Baylor

DB: Earl Thomas, Texas

DB: Rafael Priest, TCU

DB: Jordan Lake, Baylor

DB: Jamar Wall, Texas Tech

P: Chase Turner, Houston

Ret: Jeremy Kerley, TCU

The magazine all selected other awards for specific positional groups.

Best passer: Case Keenum, Houston

Best runner: Donald Buckram, UTEP

Best offensive lineman: Marshall Newhouse, TCU

Best receiver: Jordan Shipley, Texas

Best defensive lineman: Jerry Hughes, TCU

Best linebacker, Daryl Washington, TCU

Best defensive back: Earl Thomas, Texas

Most versatile: Von Miller, Texas A&M

DCTF also picked an all-Texas second team as well

All-Texas second-team offense

QB: Andy Dalton, TCU

RB: Lance Dunbar, North Texas

RB: Shawnbrey McNeal, SMU

WR: Jeff Moturi, SMU

WR: Tyron Carrier, Houston

WR: Kendall Wright, Baylor

TE: Justin Akers, Baylor

OL: Adam Ulatoski, Texas

OL: Jarve Dean, Houston

OL: Mike Aguayo, UTEP

OL: Lee Grimes, Texas A&M

OL: Charlie Tanner, Texas

K: Ross Evans, TCU

All-Texas second-team defense

DL: Scott Solomon, Rice

DL: Tyrell Graham, Houston

DL: Daniel Howard, Texas Tech

DL: Sam Acho, Texas

LB: Tank Carder, TCU

LB: Marcus McGraw, Houston

LB: Craig Robertson, North Texas

DB: Nick Sanders, TCU

DB: Da'Mon Cromartie-Smith, UTEP

DB: Blake Gideon, Texas

DB: Brandon Brinkley, Houston

Ret: Tyron Carrier, Houston

P: Derek Epperson, Baylor

Note: All Big 12 players are listed in bold facing.

At the start of the decade, Texas A&M was at the top of the Big 12 South Division.

The Aggies claimed the Big 12 championship in 1998 after qualifying for the title game in 1997. A&M capped off an emotion-packed 1999 season by beating eventual Big 12 South champion Texas in the "Bonfire Game" to end the regular season.

But the program regressed as Oklahoma's Bob Stoops and Texas' Mack Brown built their programs throughout the aughts. R.C. Slocum was let go after the 2002 season and Dennis Franchione was similarly jettisoned after the 2007 season.

Mike Sherman is in place now. The program faces a huge battle to get itself back to the level where the Aggies were at only 10 seasons ago.

Here's a look at some of the top players and moments of the Aggies' last decade.

OFFENSE

QB: Jerrod Johnson

RB: Courtney Lewis

RB: Jorvorskie Lane

WR: Robert Ferguson

WR: Terrence Murphy

TE: Martellus Bennett

OL: Cody Wallace

OL: Taylor Whitley

OL: Lee Grimes

OL: Kirk Elder

C: Seth McKinney

DEFENSE

DL: Mike Montgomery

DL: Rocky Bernard

DL: Ty Warren

DL: Von Miller

LB: Jason Glenn

LB: Justin Warren

LB: Mark Dodge

DB: Sammy Davis

DB: Melvin Bullitt

DB: Terrence Kiel

DB: Jaxson Appel

P: Justin Brantly

K: Todd Pegram

Ret: Cyrus Gray

Offensive player of the decade: QB Jerrod Johnson. It was a tough choice over quarterbacks like Stephen McGee and Reggie McNeal who played for the Aggies earlier in their careers. But Johnson's abilities to develop the most potent passing offense in A&M history -- setting school records for touchdown passes, total offense and passing yards in 2009 -- make him the choice. And he could be poised for even more in his senior season.

Defensive player of the decade: DE/LB Von Miller. The Aggies' proud reputation for tough defenses became forgotten over the decade as spread passing offenses proliferated across the conference. But Miller was decidedly a throwback in a 2009 season where he led the nation with 17 sacks and became the most dominant A&M defensive player since Dat Nguyen. Miller thrived in the hybrid "Jack" position created by former defensive coordinator Joe Kines. He wisely chose to return to college for his senior season next year where he can continue with a new coordinator in place.

Coach of the decade: R.C. Slocum. It was difficult for A&M fans to see the demise of Slocum, perhaps the most popular coach in school history. The Aggies never had a losing record under Slocum and made bowl trips in two of the three seasons he coached them this decade, including the 2001 Galleryfurniture.com Bowl that remains their most recent bowl victory.

Moment of the decade: Stephen McGee's dramatic game-winning drive in a 2006 victory at Texas. Despite vomiting in the huddle throughout the game-winning drive, McGee directed the Aggies on a 16-play, 88-yard drive capped by his own 8-yard touchdown run en route to a 12-7 victory over the Longhorns in Austin. McGee converted five third-down plays on the drive as A&M snapped a six-game losing streak to their most bitter rivals.

Here's a look at what each of the South Division teams need to address in terms of recruiting with signing day fast approaching.

Baylor

Defensive line: After losing starters Jason Lamb and Trey Bryant and having Phil Taylor and Earl Patin entering their senior seasons, the Bears need to add immediate depth. Xavier Ruben and Anthony Gonzales will help shore up the deficiencies and the Bears still are in the hunt for top prospects like Carlos Thompson and Byran Jones.

Secondary: Starters Jordan Lake and Jeremy Williams have graduated and four juniors in the two-deep roster will start their senior seasons. Coach Art Briles has already lured surprising strength in the defensive backfield with Ahmad Dixon, Tyler Stephenson and Prince Kent. That trio makes it one of the finest positional groupings for Baylor in recent history.

Robert Griffin’s redshirt season has lessened the immediate need at quarterback: With Griffin now having three years of eligibility remaining, recruits now see only a two-season window to play. But another Robert Griffin should help the Bears as well. Baylor coaches see the other Griffin, a junior college transfer from Coriscana Junior College, being able to contend for the starting position at right tackle from his first day in the program.

Oklahoma

Running back: With Chris Brown graduating and DeMarco Murray entering his senior season, the Sooners need some producers at the position. Bob Stoops has never hesitated to playing top freshman players in the past if they can help. Don’t be surprised if top recruits like Brennan Clay and Roy Finch get an early chance in 2010 with the Sooners.

Receiver: Ryan Broyles is entrenched in the slot, but the Sooners are looking all over for pass catchers who can challenge existing players. Recruits Kenny Stills, Joe Powell, Julian Wilson and Sheldon McClain all should challenge this summer to battle their way into the rotation.

Defensive tackle: Injuries and NFL declarations have riddled the Sooners’ depth at the postion. Gerald McCoy will leave early for the NFL draft with JaMarkus McFarland ready to take over. Adrian Taylor was set at the other position, but his nasty ankle injury sustained in the Sun Bowl has depleted the Sooners’ depth. Redshirt sophomore Casey Walker and four incoming freshmen are all that is in place as far as depth at the critical position.

Oklahoma State

Offensive line: The Cowboys lose four senior starting offensive linemen from the Cotton Bowl team, including the left side of their offensive line in tackle Russell Okung, guard Noah Franklin and center Andrew Lewis, as well as right tackle Brady Bond. Mike Gundy needs some immediate help at the position, both from existing players and incoming ones.

Defensive tackle: Starters Swanson Miller and Derek Burton both will graduate and top backups Shane Jarka and Chris Donaldson both will be senior this season. Defensive coordinator Bill Young needs to find some defensive linemen who can challenge for playing next season.

Linebackers: Young also will have to rebuild this group after the underrated group of Andre Sexton, Donald Booker and Patrick Lavine helped sparked the Cowboys’ surprising defensive growth last season. All will be gone this season, putting pressure to add some more contributors to add to the returning mix of players including James Thomas, Tolu Moala and Justin Gent.

Texas

Defensive end: With Sergio Kindle graduating and Sam Acho and Eddie Jones both entering their senior season, the Longhorns need a talent boost here. It also just happens to be the position where top target Jackson Jeffcoat would immediately fill the rather sizable hole.

The left side of the offensive line: Tackle Adam Ulatoski, guard Charlie Tanner and center Chris Hall combined for 114 starts during their careers.The Longhorns has some strong arriving talent, but they’ll still miss the leadership and savvy that this trio provided over the years.

Quarterback: Even with Garrett Gilbert seemingly entrenched as the Longhorns’ quarterback of the future, the Longhorns added depth with the commitments of Connor Wood and Colt’s little brother Case McCoy. It will make for some interesting competition this spring and fall as the rotation sorts itself out.

Texas A&M

Defensive end: The Aggies received a huge boost when Von Miller announced he would return for his senior season, but A&M needs to prepare for his departure -- particularly after losing starting defensive end Matt Moss and Miller’s backup Matt Featherston as departing seniors from 2009.

Tight end: Starter Jamie McCoy graduated and top replacements Kenny Brown and Craig Raschke both will be seniors next season. Adding at least one player would be beneficial as the Aggie coaches hope they can find a combination blocker/receiving threat at the position like McCoy was.

Offensive tackle: The Aggies lose bookend senior starters Michael Shumard and Lee Grimes. They do have Stephen Barrera and Danny Baker in the depth chart but would like more depth to help the line develop.

Texas Tech

Defensive line: The Red Raiders’ biggest need is at defensive end where all three players in the two-deep roster -- Brandon Sharpe, Ra’Jon Henley and Daniel Howard were seniors. At defensive tackle, Richard Jones departs as a senior and Colby Whitlock will be a senior next season. New coordinator James Willis needs to find some productive players in the trenches quickly.

Linebackers: Starters Bront Bird and Brian Duncan will be back as seniors next season, but Tech loses departing starter Marlon Williams on the other side. They need some depth to help build for the future at the position.

Quarterback: Taylor Potts and Steven Sheffield will wage one of the closest-watched battles for playing time in the nation during the spring and summer. But both will be seniors, meaning the Red Raiders need to prepare for their departure by grooming some young talent like Scotty Young, a recent commitment at the position.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

Old boxing films must appeal to the toughness of football players and particularly offensive linemen everywhere.

Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman realized his team was a huge underdog heading into its game against Texas Tech. In order to provide a teaching point, Sherman had his team watch Muhammad Ali’s stunning upset knockout over George Foreman in the 1974 “Rumble in the Jungle” fight.

	Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images
	The inspired play of Texas A&M’s offensive line boosted quarterback Jerrod Johnson in a win over Texas Tech.

"I really challenged those linemen," said Sherman, whose career started as an offensive line coach. "I was on them during practice and really backed them into a corner and they came out swinging."

Suitably inspired, the Aggies’ offensive line played the game of the season by shredding Texas Tech’s No. 24 ranked run defense for 321 rushing yards and six touchdowns to help power an impressive 52-30 victory over the Red Raiders.

It was only a week removed from an atrocious performance at Kansas State, where the Aggies produced minus-13 yards rushing and allowed six sacks in a 62-14 thumping to the Wildcats.

"I told the guys during the week that this game was more about them as a man, than as a football player,” Sherman said after the game. “I'm proud of them, both as men and football players."

The performance was noteworthy to quarterback Jerrod Johnson, who appealed to the line’s sense of honor before the game by saying he had unflagging confidence in them despite their earlier struggles.

“My hat is off to them,” Johnson told the San Antonio Express-News. “I’m more happy for those guys, especially the seniors. They’ve taken a lot of flack every week. Their parents been calling them, media’s been pretty tough on them. I’ve been telling them ‘Look, I got a lot of faith in you guys. We’re all we got. Just go out there and keep fighting, keep battling.’”

Johnson was sacked only once by the Red Raiders, who came into the game ranked eighth nationally with 23 sacks.

The stunning turnaround in the offensive line’s performance was the major reason the Aggies were able to win in Lubbock for the first time since 1993, scoring the most points in the 68-game history of the series with the Red Raiders. .

Sherman made a tactical move in terms of personnel before the game, inserting redshirt sophomore Evan Eike and freshman Patrick Lewis into the starting lineup at guard to go along with senior starters Lee Grimes and Michael Shumard at tackle and Kevin Matthews at center. And they didn’t get away from the run, repeatedly mashing the Red Raiders at the point of attack.

"I'm not a big guy on moving offensive linemen around. I hate it," Sherman said. "It's been out of necessity because we've had to find the right combination."

The moves worked as the Aggies caught fire from the beginning of the game. A&M produced 15 plays of 10 or more yards in the first half to spark the surge. The Aggies had 334 yards in the first half after produced just 301 the previous week against KSU. That sparked a run of 24 straight A&M points that blew the game open.

The line’s confidence was bolstered by Sherman electing to run the ball more.

A&M’s play-calling ideas built on the line's strong work as Cyrus Gray ran for 131 yards and Christine Michael chipped in with 121 yards – both career bests. They became the first pair A&M running backs to both rush for more than 100 yards since Derek Farmer and Courtney Lewis did it in 2003 against Baylor.

“A lot of us were recruited primarily for a running offense,” Shumard said. “I love running the ball. There’s nothing better, or demoralizing than when the running game is working”

And that big effort proved something to doubters everywhere.

“We were just trying to right the ship. We knew we would get things going in the right direction eventually,” Shumard said. “I heard a lot of talk about how we needed a miracle. That they were going to put 100 points on (us). But that's why the game is played.”

What a difference a week makes. The Aggies came into the game after losing their last three games by an average of 27 points per game. But after beating Tech, the 4-3 Aggies now have solid bowl hopes if they can muster two more victories this season starting with Saturday’s game against Iowa State at Kyle Field.

And even with the strong performance at Tech, Sherman expects more improvement in the offensive line as the season continues.

“It wasn’t a perfect performance by any stretch of the imagination, but we protected our quarterback and we were able to mix it up with the run and pass, which makes it a heck of a lot easier to call the game,” Sherman said. “They did a nice job. They’ll continue to get better. They are a work in progress but there are a lot of things we need to fix.”

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

ARLINGTON, Texas -- It looks like Texas A&M has stepped in the way back machine, showing the struggles that repeatedly bedeviled them last season.

Arkansas has raced to a 37-13 lead. Ryan Mallett has done a masterful job in isolating his running backs against the slower Texas A&M linebackers. The result has been four Mallett touchdown passes as the Aggies have struggled defensively for the first time this season.

After national sack leader Von Miller was a force on the first two possessions, Arkansas has done a great job of neutralizing him. I've barely seen him involved in a play since early in the game.

And Jerrod Johnson is having the same problems as last season. Arkansas defensive ends Adrian Davis and Jake Bequette have repeatedly whipped Texas A&M freshman tackle Stephen Barrera and Lee Grimes to keep heavy pressure on Johnson.

If the Aggies play like they have tonight, they will have difficulty escaping the Big 12 South cellar. The secret has been to rush Johnson, which I'm sure Big 12 coordinators will quickly pick up on.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

IRVING, Texas -- There's something about playing football that brings out a different side in Texas A&M junior Lucas Patterson.

And that might be an understatement. Once the 6-foot-4, 308-pounder puts on the pads, he has a different attitude.

"I'm a laid-back, quiet kind of guy except when I get on the field," Patterson said. "But coach said I have a mean streak and I kind of want to rip the head off the guy in front of me."

That disposition helped convince Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman to move Patterson from defensive tackle to offensive tackle, where he's penciled in as the Aggies' starting left tackle.

That position speaks to the athleticism that Sherman believes Patterson will bring to the position, where his major job will be protecting quarterback Jerrod Johnson's blind side.

"When I look at a football team, I look at a pass-blocker as pretty important," Sherman said. "If he was a dominant pass-rusher, unblockable and can change context of the game, I would probably keep him on defense. But if he's not playing left tackle, the other guy could probably change the context of the game against us.

"I think that Lucas is a guy, athletically, if he would probably be more ready to play than defense. He has the confidence and a 'Cool Luke' attitude. He doesn't get flustered and is very smart and tough and gives us a certain amount of credibility to that group by joining them."

Johnson said he has no hesitation about Patterson, despite his recent lack of experience on offense. The A&M quarterback remembers his contributions as an offensive lineman when both were freshmen players.

"I have the ultimate confidence in Lucas," Johnson said. "He played offensive line then and held his own every day."

Patterson produced 34 tackles in 11 starts at defensive tackle last season.

That move will enable A&M to move Michael Shumard to left guard. Lee Grimes will move to right tackle and several players are competing for the right guard position with Kevin Matthews at center.

"I think it makes us stronger," Sherman said. "On offense, if we can keep the ball longer on offense we can help our defense. I thought long and hard about that. It does weaken us a little in the defensive line. But I feel like Lucas can be a good offensive lineman and really help us."

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

All questions aren't settled during the course of spring practice as teams still have much work to upgrade their weaknesses heading into the season.

Obviously, some will receive a boost from incoming freshmen who will arrive later. But here's how each team's biggest liability shakes out heading into the summer.

Baylor: The Bears are desperately looking for help at offensive tackle after losing No. 2 overall draft pick Jason Smith and Dan Gay as their starters. Former Canadian firefighter Danny Watkins has established himself at Smith's old position protecting Robert Griffin's blind side. And on the right side, junior Chris Griesenbeck and redshirt freshmen Cameron Kaufhold are competing for the starting job with Tyler Junior College's Phillip Blake and Blinn College's Marquis Franklin set the arrive later this summer.

Colorado: Wide receiver has been a question mark for the Buffaloes throughout Dan Hawkins' coaching tenure. The Buffaloes return four scholarship wide receivers and had a chance to work out several new players with Scotty McKnight injured during the spring. Josh Smith and Markques Simas are the top playmakers coming out of the spring. Non-scholarship players like Jason Espinoza and Ryan Maxwell emerged, but the Buffaloes definitely need a big upgrade at the position from their arriving freshman class.

Iowa State: The Cyclones will be facing a big hole at left tackle, where two-year starter Doug Dedrick departs. It could be filled by Matt Hulbert, who started two games last season when Dedrick was hurt. Or it could be massive 354-pound junior Hayworth Hicks or freshman Brayden Burris at the position. Whoever emerges will face a huge challenge in filling Dedrick's experience as he protects the blind side of the Iowa State quarterbacks.

Kansas: Coach Mark Mangino will be facing a few huge rebuilding job at linebacker, where the Jayhawks lose key contributors Joe Mortensen, Mike Rivera and James Holt from last season. Mangino is talking about using a two-linebacker set as his base defense with fifth-year senior Jake Schermer and senior Arist Wright getting the starting jobs leaving spring practice. Sophomore Steven Johnson and converted running back Angus Quigley were competing for playing time during the spring and another boost is expected when junior linebacker Justin Springer, who is recovering from a torn ACL last season, returns in the fall.

Kansas State: Carson Coffman appeared to have claimed the starting job at quarterback -- at least for a few weeks -- after a strong effort during the latter stages of spring practice. But Coffman's late binge has to be tempered considering he is playing against the weak Kansas State secondary. So it's fair to say there are some lingering questions at the position. Coffman apparently has beaten back the challenge of challengers Collin Klein, Joseph Kassanavoid, Trey Scott and Milton McPeek. But the arrival of South Florida transfer Grant Gregory and heralded junior-college transfer Daniel Thomas will mean more competition in the summer.

Missouri: The Tigers will be facing a challenge of replacing NFL first-round draft pick Evander "Ziggy" Hood at defensive tackle to play opposite nose tackle Jaron Baston. Redshirt sophomore Terrell Resonno appeared to have claimed the job out of the spring, with Dominique Hamilton, Chris Earnhardt and converted linebacker George White perhaps earning their way into the rotation.

Nebraska: After the graduation of top receivers Todd Peterson and Nate Swift from last season, the Cornhuskers need to fill both positions. Leading returning receiver Menelik Holt appears to have a hammerlock on one position, but Niles Paul lost a chance to take a big step forward after missing the spring after he was suspended for driving under the influence. Antonio Bell was the biggest surprise, but converted I-back Marcus Mendoza, Chris Brooks, Wes Cammack and Curenski Gilleylen all showed flashes during the spring.

Oklahoma: There was concern before spring practice, considering the Sooners were replacing four-fifths of their starting offensive line with only Trent Williams back from last season's starters. And it got worse when Bob Stoops called out the young replacements because of their lack of diligence in their preseason conditioning. Williams emerged at left tackle with Brian Simmons and Stephen Good at guards, redshirt freshman Ben Habern at center and either LSU transfer Jarvis Jones or Cory Brandon at right tackle. The depth took a hit when center Jason Hannan left early in training camp and sophomore guard Alex Williams chose to leave after spring practice. The group struggled against the Sooners' talented defensive line, allowing Sam Bradford to be touch-sacked twice in three possessions in the spring game and produced only 27 rushing yards in 52 carries.

Oklahoma State: The loss of veteran center David Washington produced a huge hole in the center of the Cowboys' interior line. Andrew Lewis returns to his natural position, leaving Oklahoma State needing two new starters at guard. Noah Franklin and Jonathan Rush have staked claims to the starting positions with Anthony Morgan and Nick Martinez getting repetitions inside. This group needs to improve if it hopes to equal the standards of previous seasons, when the Cowboys led the Big 12 in rushing each of the last three seasons.

Texas: The tight end was rarely used for the Longhorns after Blaine Irby dislocated his kneecap last season against Rice. He still wasn't ready to go during the spring as Greg Smith, Ahmard Howard, Ian Harris and D.J. Grant all got work. None of them emerged. And with Irby's return remaining iffy, it means the Longhorns again could reduce the use of the tight end and utilize four-receiver sets when they want to move the ball. Don't look for the Longhorns to use the tight end much unless this production improves.

Texas A&M: T
he Aggies were wracked with injuries during the spring as projected starters Lee Grimes, Kevin Matthews and Lucas Patterson were sidelined all spring as A&M was down to only nine healthy offensive linemen for some practices. It still doesn't excuse the lack of offensive production for A&M's starting unit, which produced only 9 yards rushing on 24 carries against Texas A&M's first-string defense. Coach Mike Sherman will be counting on immediate production from an impressive group of incoming freshman at fall practice, but it's fair to characterize the Aggies' offensive line as the team's biggest spring concern -- especially after allowing 39 sacks last season and ranking last in the conference in rushing yards per game.

Texas Tech: The loss of productive starters Daniel Charbonnet and Darcel McBath left a gaping hole at safety for the Red Raiders. Junior Franklin Mitchem earned the free safety position leaving spring practice and redshirt freshman Cody Davis emerged at strong safety. Jared Flannel, Brett Dewhurst and converted linebacker Julius Howard also got some snaps at safety. It will still be a challenge to combat the explosive Big 12 defenses with such an inexperienced group at the position.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

Texas A&M Aggies 2008 overall record: 4-8 2008 conference record: 2-6 Returning starters Offense: 8, defense: 7, kicker/punter: 0 Top returners QB Jerrod Johnson, RB Cyrus Gray, WR Jeff Fuller, WR-QB Ryan Tannehill, DE-LB Von Miller, S Jordan Pugh Key losses QB Stephen McGee, RB Cyrus Gray, WR Jeff Fuller, WR-QB Ryan Tannehill, DE-LB Von Miller, S Jordan Pugh 2008 statistical leaders (* returners) Rushing: Mike Goodson (406 yards) Passing: Jerrod Johnson* (2,435 yards) Receiving: Ryan Tannehill* (844 yards) Tackles: Alton Dixon, Matt Featherston* (94) Sacks: Von Miller* (3.5) Interceptions: Trent Hunter* (3) Spring answers 2009 Schedule Sept. 5 New Mexico Sept. 19 Utah State Sept. 26 UAB Oct. 3 Arkansas (at Arlington, Texas) Oct. 10 Oklahoma State Oct. 17 at Kansas State Oct. 24 at Texas Tech Oct. 31 Iowa State Nov. 7 at Colorado Nov. 14 at Oklahoma Nov. 21 Baylor Nov. 26 Texas 1. Jeff Fuller emerges: With Ryan Tannehill sitting out most practice drills this spring recovering from shoulder surgery, Fuller stepped up as the Aggies' top receiver and most productive offensive weapon. He toyed with A&M's injury-depleted secondary in the spring game, producing nine catches for 147 yards. It was a continuation of a big spring where he simply dominated practices. Now, will he be able to do that against other defenses? 2. "The Matrix" sticks out: DE-LB Von Miller picked up a nickname from A&M coaches because of his freakish speed and productivity as an undersized pass rusher. A&M defensive coordinator Joe Kines placed the 6-foot-3, 214-pound Miller in his new "jack" position, a hybrid linebacker/defensive end position where they believe his speed and athleticism will enable him to thrive. He picked up two sacks and numerous quarterback pressures in the spring game. But it remains to be seen if he can consistently produce during the season against bigger opponents on a regular basis. 3. Productive safeties: The Aggies desperately need strong play in the secondary after struggles last season. They got it during the spring from senior Jordan Pugh and sophomore Trent Hunter. Pugh, a converted cornerback, served as the secondary's spiritual leader throughout spring play. And Hunter has built on a strong freshman season to nail down the other starting job as the secondary's most consistent playmaker. Fall questions 1. Offensive line: The Aggies needed a lot of work this spring after allowing 39 sacks last season. But the offensive line was riddled with absences as projected starters Lee Grimes, Lucas Patterson and Kevin Matthews all missed spring practice recovering from injuries. A&M needs help in the trenches after producing a Big 12-low 88.5 rushing yards per game, culminated by an embarrassing minus-24 yards rushing against Texas. And depth could be a question with only nine scholarship players returning. 2. Backup quarterback: Coach Mike Sherman seems intent on giving starting WR Tannehill a shot at quarterback, although Tannehill's work at the position was limited as he recovered from a torn labrum. Tommy Dorman struggled behind starting QB Jerrod Johnson, making the position open heading into the fall. Dorman's development would enable Sherman to move Tannehill back to wide receiver and provide another receiving threat to go with Fuller. But look for Tannehill to start camp in August at quarterback. 3. Running back: The Aggies spent the spring trying to groom a replacement for Michael Goodson, who skipped his senior season to declare early for the NFL draft. Cyrus Gray and Jay Tolliver got most of the work during the spring. Tolliver had a team-high 67 yards in the spring game and Gray produced a touchdown. But don't be surprised if heralded incoming freshman Christine Michael gets immediate work at the position from his first day in summer camp as Sherman looks for an immediate upgrade in talent and athleticism.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Sorry about the delay in getting my practice report up after this afternoon's work. My wireless stick didn't work so I hurried back home as soon as I could to file this missive.

During my time at Texas A&M, I was impressed with the enthusiasm the Aggies brought to their workouts. The practices were open to current A&M students and faculty members, invited guests and former A&M students with an Aggie ring. It resulted in a crowd of about a hundred people on a sun-splashed afternoon with ideal conditions for the practice.

Here are some of my observations after watching A&M work:

• The Aggies' offense likely has had better days of work than its outing Tuesday afternoon.

Quarterback Jerrod Johnson had what would have been sacks on three straight plays, followed later in the practice by an interception and a fumble. The offense never maintained any sense of real continuity throughout the two-hour workout.

"We did a good job, but once we got going, we gave up a sack or a pressure and started falling apart a little bit," A&M coach Mike Sherman said.

Despite the struggles, Sherman said the Aggies are making good progress with two weeks left in practice before their April 18 spring game at Kyle Field.

"We're working hard and we're making progress," Sherman said. "It's never as much as I would like and probably anyone would like at this point. But as long as they work hard, we'll get better and make the progress we need to make. I'd like to be further ahead, but we're not very far from where I'd like us to be."

(Read full post)

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

After struggling through a disappointing 4-8 season that was Texas A&M's worst since 2003, coach Mike Sherman has redoubled efforts in his first full recruiting season with the Aggies.

Sherman has seen some strong results with increased athleticism from several top early commitments, most notably breakaway running back Christine Michael from Beaumont, Texas -- the program's first five-star recruit at the position in the past decade.

Michael's arrival is important as the Aggies lose Jorvorskie Lane and Mike Goodson opted to declare for the NFL draft as a junior. The Aggies have little experience at the position as sophomores-to-be Cyrus Gray and Bradley Stephens and Keondra Smith will likely be battling Michael for immediate playing time. Any improvement would be noticeable after the Aggies ranked 114th nationally in rushing last season.

The Aggies' passing game looks in good shape with the return of quarterback Jerrod Johnson, freshman receiver Jeff Fuller and redshirt freshman receiver Ryan Tannehill. There's a need for an upgrade in the offensive line considering last season's struggles and the fact that starting tackle Michael Shumard, starting guard Lee Grimes and starting center Kevin Matthews all will be seniors in 2009.

The defensive line will take a hit as starting defensive ends Michael Bennett and Cyril Obizor and top substitute Amos Gbunblee all were seniors last season. But the development of freshman tackles Eddie Brown and Tony Jerod-Eddie will make the need less immediate inside.

An upgrade is also needed in the secondary after the Aggies lost starting cornerback Arkeith Brown and rover Devin Gregg and the top two substitutes at the position as seniors. And it behooves the Aggies to develop some young players quickly with starting cornerback Jordan Pugh and starting free safety Jordan Peterson both entering their senior seasons in 2009.

The Aggies ranked no better than 108th in any of the four major defensive statistical categories as they finished with losses to all of their South Division rivals for the first time in school history. So an immediate upgrade of defensive talent is mandatory after those struggles.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

AUSTIN -- Here are some late updates about 10 minutes before kickoff.

WHAT'S AT STAKE: The Longhorns are ranked No. 2 in the BCS standings and desperately need a convincing victory -- with some style points added -- to convince pollsters of their worthiness for the Big 12 title game and a potential BCS title shot. They are also determined after two straight embarrassing losses to the Aggies. The way the Aggies dominated the Longhorns after the game last season was a turning point. Coach Mack Brown threw open several positions and demanded more physical practices from his team. Texas is 11-1 since then.

Texas A&M isn't bowl eligible, but a victory would be a positive ending for what has been a season of disappointments in Coach Mike Sherman's first season.

WEATHER: It's been an unseasonably warm, sticky day throughout Central Texas today. The pre-game temperature will be in the low 70s with humidity hovering around 70 percent. There is a 40 percent chance of rain during the game and the temperatures are expecting to drop into the mid-60s by the end of the game. Wind shouldn't be a factor with breezes of 5-10 mph from the south.

INJURIES: Texas appears to be in its best shape since early in the season. Defensive end Brian Orakpo says he is close to 100 percent in his recovery from a sprained knee. His return will help juice the Longhorns' pass rush. Defensive back Aaron Williams (flu) should be back as well. Safety Blake Gideon (head) and tight end Ian Harris (neck) are both questionable as is safety Ben Wells (back).

The most notable loss for Texas A&M is starting tackle Travis Schneider who will miss the game with a concussion. Backup Robbie Frost is also out with a concussion, meaning that starting guard Lee Grimes will slide into the starting tackle position. Danny Baker will move into Grimes' spot. Defensive tackle Lucas Patterson also is out after fracturing a leg against Baylor and is out for the season. Safety Trent Hunter has been hobbled with an ankle injury since the Oklahoma game but should be ready.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

AUSTIN, Texas -- Mack Brown remembers sitting in an oversized couch at his parents' home in Cookeville, Tenn., watching the Texas-Texas A&M game as he grew up.

"I always thought it was neat that the way that the football attention of the country was focused on one state," Brown said.

For the first time since 1993, Texas-Texas A&M has returned to its traditional Thanksgiving night kickoff time.

Tonight's game has large BCS ramifications for the Longhorns. Texas needs an impressive win in order to resonate with the nation's pollsters.

Brown has tried to minimize the meaning of the BCS standings after briefly discussing them with the team when they were released earlier this week.

"I read them to the team, answered any questions and after that decided that we wouldn't discuss it any more because we have a live audience of all the voters Thursday night to see," Brown said. "Everybody that votes in college football will be watching Thursday, period. So why discuss it, why talk about it?

"What we can do about it is play well and win the game. If we don't, then it's not a discussion. So we're not discussing it anymore for the rest of the week."

Here are few items that will be important to watch tonight.

• A&M's pass protection. The Aggies have struggled all season long and will face a huge challenge tonight. The Longhorns lead the nation in sacks and have Brian Orakpo back at what he calls "100 percent health." Not a good combination for a young offensive line that is struggling with injuries. tsarting offensive tackle Travis Schneider is out with a concussion and his backup Robbie Frost is also out with a concussion and won't play. Guard Lee Grimes moves to the starting position at right tackle and backup center Danny Baker moves into Grimes' starting slot.

• Will Texas dominate in the trenches? The Longhorns were consistently muscled off the point of attack in upset losses to the Aggies in each of the last two seasons. It's led to a change of attitude for the Longhorns. They have talked about sending a statement to the Aggies, who aren't much like those previous teams with much youth in their offensive and defensive lines.

• Stephen McGee's final game. The Aggies' senior backup quarterback will remain one of the heroes in the annals of his school for directing those upset victories, especially a gutsy 16-play game-winning drive in Austin two seasons ago while he was vomiting from illness and fatigue. McGee isn't playing much after a shoulder injury and the emergence of sophomore quarterback Jerrod Johnson. But it will be interesting to see if Coach Mike Sherman inserts him in the lineup to give his team a lift.

• Colt McCoy on the big stage. The Texas quarterback has a chance to sway a lot of Heisman voters with a big performance against an Aggie defense that ranks 100th or worse in every major team defensive statistical category.

• Can the Aggies pressure McCoy? If we are to believe former A&M tight end Martellus Bennett, who called out "Cart McCoy" from the safety of the Dallas Cowboys' locker room earlier this week, it should be a snap. Maybe he's just trying to light a fire under an underachieving group that is tied for last in sacks with only 13 this season. Whatever, if the Aggies don't pressure McCoy, their secondary could be exposed. Often.

• Will Muschamp's first game as coach-in-waiting. Muschamp was hired as the Longhorns' designated successor to Mack Brown nine days ago. It will be interesting to see if he's concocted any different schemes with his defense or reacts any differently than when he was just a defensive coordiantor. I'm guessing he'll be just as animated and bombastic along the sidelines with his new job in hand as he ever was before.