The transfer of Zach Calzada to Auburn means that the Texas A&M Aggies will have a new starting quarterback in 2022. The three players who will battle for the spot are Max Johnson, Haynes King, and Connor Weigman. While there is no clear separation in the quarterback race yet, the starter could be decided as early as August. Here’s what stands out about each of these quarterbacks for Texas A&M.
Looking at Each Texas A&M Quarterback
The Transfer
Johnson is a transfer from LSU, and his primary strength is experience. The return of Myles Brennan and growth of Garrett Nussmeier likely prompted Johnson to leave the Tigers. However, there’s no doubt about his potential as a college quarterback. He already has victories over Florida, Texas A&M, Mississippi State, etc.
Johnson tended to favor targeting Kayshon Boutte while at LSU. Unfortunately, it is unlikely that Johnson will have a receiver with that type of talent at Texas A&M. As part of Darrell Dickey’s offense, Johnson will need to become accustomed to a more balanced scheme. Success in that system will likely significantly improve his draft stock. Nonetheless, Johnson still has a long way to go before earning his spot as a starter but he should be the favorite to start in Fall.
The Returner
Aggies’ fans should know the story about King by now. Although he’s not the best quarterback, he’s certainly a step up from Calzada. In fact, Jimbo Fisher had him as the starting quarterback in the Fall of 2021. King is probably the one with the most potential in 2022 on the quarterback depth chart. He is effective at scrambling, which means defenses will have to keep an eye on him at all times. The obvious downside with King is that he might not be a dependable option for the Aggies as the season progresses. His two games against Kent State and Colorado were not impressive, to say the least, and Texas A&M does not have the offensive weapons that it did last year. King is bound to make a strong push for the starting job, and Fisher is clearly aware of his capabilities.
The Newbie
Weigman is a top quarterback recruit from the Aggies’ recent 2022 recruiting class. He’s arguably the best true freshman quarterback, but it will be tough for him to become the starter at the beginning of Fall. Still, Weigman could start later in the season if he shows quick signs of improvement, which is the case for most freshmen. Texas A&M is in need of a prolific passer like Weigman to take the Aggies’ offense to the next level.
Now, it’s still important to not get the fans’ hopes up on Weigman just yet. Although he is a five-star recruit, it’s very tough to succeed at the Division I level. Weigman will undoubtedly be a starting quarterback sometime during his college tenure, but he needs time to learn. Expect Fisher to keep an eye on him, and Weigman should get playing time in some games throughout the season.
Concluding Thoughts
The competition for the starting quarterback position will be something to watch at Texas A&M as the season-opener approaches. The talent and potential are apparent in all three of these quarterbacks, but who will separate themselves from the group? We will know the answer to that question soon.
