MAN ON THE SPOT
By Lawrence Smelser
JAKE HUBENAK
NICK STARKEL
KELLEN MOND
Senior (6-3, 225)
Redshirt Freshman (6-3, 210)
Freshman (6-2, 210)
CONNOR BLUMRICK
Freshman (6-5, 210)
The 22-year-old signal caller is entering his third season with the Aggies. Hubenak saw significant action during the final stretch last season after Knight suffered an injury against Mississippi State. The pro-style quarterback finished the season with 884 passing yards and threw six touchdowns to two interceptions. As the temporary starter, Hubenak held a 1-1 record that consisted of a 29-28 loss to Ole Miss and a 23-10 win over UTSA. Hubenak’s advantage is he is the only quarterback on roster with collegiate playing experience.
During the 2017 A&M spring game, Starkel played the most snaps of the quarterbacks and went 10-of-27 for 184 yards and a touchdown. The former three-star recruit was impressive during his senior year at Argyle Liberty Christian High School throwing for 3,091 yards and 29 scores. Starkel almost had his redshirt burned last year after Knight went down with injury, but Sumlin decided to preserve it after discussing the opportunity with Starkel and his family. The situation, however, does show the confidence Sumlin has in his second-year quarterback.
After enrolling early, the former No. 1 dual-threat quarterback in the nation by Rivals enters his first season with the Aggies. The 18-year-old will attempt to win the job over two more experienced quarterbacks. The San Antonio-native was a household name during his time at Reagan High School and IMG Academy. Mond set records for passing and rushing touchdowns during his senior season at IMG. During Texas A&M’s spring game though, Mond struggled, going 4-of-12 for 114 yards passing with one touchdown and two interceptions.
Blumrick is the quarterback with the most outside chance of winning the job. The 6-foot-5 gunslinger missed most of his senior season with an injury, but early enrolled and was out on the practice field during spring football. During his junior year at Pearland High School, Blumrick threw for 1,343 yards with 12 touchdowns, three interceptions and held a 63.4 percent completion rate. Blumrick’s time may come later in his college career and it’s hard to imagine him unseeding two more experienced college quarterbacks during his first season with the Aggies.
Entering his sixth year, A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin will yet again have to choose a new starting quarterback to lead the Aggies and potentially save his job. Sumlin won’t have the luxury of having a proven veteran such as Johnny Manziel or Trevor Knight on the depth chart; instead, he’ll have to pick from one quarterback who has appeared primarily as a back-up and three who haven’t played a down of college football. Here’s a side-by-side analysis of the four players vying for A&M’s starting spot. Starkel sat a year and was able to learn from Knight and Hubenak and has shown exceptional arm strength. If the amount of reps taken in the spring game is any indication on who Sumlin will select, it favors Starkel. Starkel is still only a redshirt freshman and can lead A&M for the next four years if everything works out. He’ll have to limit the mistakes though with Mond and Hubenak right behind him ready to pounce.
Predicted Starter: Nick Starkel
This year is boom or bust for Sumlin. If he goes with the safe pick, Hubenak, the Aggies are likely to repeat at 8-5. Hubenak’s stats speak for themselves, but don’t pop out. Against Mississippi State, Ole Miss and UTSA, the offense had trouble moving the chains. If Sumlin goes with Hubenak, the offense will also have to implement another new starter in 2018 and practically begin the process all over again instead of having an experienced second-year starter.
Starkel sat a year and was able to learn from Knight and Hubenak and has shown exceptional arm strength. If the amount of reps taken in the spring game is any indication on who Sumlin will select, it favors Starkel. Starkel is still only a redshirt freshman and can lead A&M for the next four years if everything works out. He’ll have to limit the mistakes though with Mond and Hubenak right behind him ready to pounce.