Oklahoma Sooners: Texas A&M Aggies
Get ESPN 150 safety Jamal Adams (Lewisville, Texas/Hebron) in any competitive environment and you’ll begin to understand very quickly why he’s so coveted.
Take for example the Dallas Nike Football Training Camp in Allen, Texas, on April 7 when he set the tone in 1-on-1 drills by shoving a wide receiver three yards behind the line of scrimmage at the snap of the ball.
Adams, the No. 23 player overall and No. 3 safety, isn’t naming any favorites. But we caught up with him to get a sense for where he stands with a few of the programs generally thought to be in the mix.
Take for example the Dallas Nike Football Training Camp in Allen, Texas, on April 7 when he set the tone in 1-on-1 drills by shoving a wide receiver three yards behind the line of scrimmage at the snap of the ball.
Adams, the No. 23 player overall and No. 3 safety, isn’t naming any favorites. But we caught up with him to get a sense for where he stands with a few of the programs generally thought to be in the mix.
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2014 S Bonney talks offers, junior days 
January, 14, 2013
Jan 14
3:15
PM CT
By
Sam Khan Jr. | ESPN.com
The fall was quite busy for 2014 safety John Bonney (Houston/Lamar), who was part of a long, prosperous playoff run with his Redskins teammates all the way to the Texas Class 5A Division I state championship game.
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The wave of momentum Texas A&M has in recruiting right now has seemingly become a tsunami, especially considering the Aggies' latest pull.
ESPN 300 linebacker Jordan Mastrogiovanni, who has been committed to Oklahoma since June 14, has flipped his commitment to Texas A&M. The four-star inside linebacker confirmed the news to GigEmNation via text message on Sunday.
The 6-foot-2, 225-pound prospect from Dallas Jesuit is the No. 7 inside linebacker in the nation. He will join his high school teammate, J.J. Gustafson, a four-star offensive tackle at Dallas Jesuit who is also committed to Texas A&M.
ESPN 300 linebacker Jordan Mastrogiovanni, who has been committed to Oklahoma since June 14, has flipped his commitment to Texas A&M. The four-star inside linebacker confirmed the news to GigEmNation via text message on Sunday.
The 6-foot-2, 225-pound prospect from Dallas Jesuit is the No. 7 inside linebacker in the nation. He will join his high school teammate, J.J. Gustafson, a four-star offensive tackle at Dallas Jesuit who is also committed to Texas A&M.
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It's hard to imagine a more disappointing end to Oklahoma's season. The Sooners got hammered by Texas A&M, 41-13, in the Cotton Bowl on Friday as Aggie quarterback Johnny Manziel showed the world why he was the first freshman to win the Heisman, accounting for 516 yards and four touchdowns. Here's a look at some of the key moments that resulted in OU's third loss of the season.
Manziel’s first third-down conversion
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10 Cotton Bowl stats you need to know
January, 3, 2013
Jan 3
1:25
PM CT
By ESPN Stats & Information | ESPN.com
AP PhotoLandry Jones and Johnny Manziel have their teams poised for a Cotton Bowl win.
The Cotton Bowl kicks off at 8 ET on Friday night as the No. 9 Texas A&M Aggies face the No. 11 Oklahoma Sooners. These former Big 12 rivals are meeting for the 17th straight season. Oklahoma has owned the series of late, winning 11 of the last 13 matchups since 1999.
Here are nine more stats you need to know to get ready for this game:
Going Streaking
The Sooners are looking for their first four-game bowl win streak since 1978-81, which would tie the school record for consecutive bowl wins. The Aggies are looking to win consecutive bowl games for the first time since a three-game streak spanning 1978-85.
Been Here, Done That
Texas A&M is no stranger to the Cotton Bowl. The Aggies are making their 13th appearance in this bowl, posting a 4-8 record in the previous 12. A&M has lost its last six trips to the Cotton Bowl. Its last win came in the 1987 season over Notre Dame.
What Heisman Curse?
Johnny Manziel plays his first game since winning the Heisman Trophy. The last three Heisman winners to play in a bowl game each won the game (Mark Ingram in 2009, Cam Newton in 2010 and Robert Griffin III in 2011).
Scrambling Man
Manziel has gained 784 of his 1,181 rush yards on scrambles. That's 18 more yards scrambling than Braxton Miller, Marcus Mariota and Collin Klein have combined this season.
Big-Play Johnny Football
Manziel has 70 plays that gained at least 20 yards this season, 10 more than any other FBS player. He was tied for the eighth-most passes (52) and the third-most rushes (18) of 20-plus yards.
Manziel Record Watch
Manziel is one rushing touchdown away from becoming only the fourth player with 20 passing and 20 rushing touchdowns in a season in FBS history. Tim Tebow, Cam Newton, and Colin Kaepernick are the others.
Jones Record Watch
Landry Jones can become the second player in college football history to start and win four bowl games as a quarterback. He would join West Virginia’s Pat White, who accomplished the feat from 2005-08.
Jones Cool Under Pressure
Jones has excelled when facing the blitz this season, throwing eight touchdowns and only one interception when facing five or more pass rushers. Jones has been at his best in the last three games, completing 77.1 percent against the blitz with four touchdowns and no picks.
Sooner History
Oklahoma has 27 major bowl wins, tied with Georgia and Texas for the third-most all-time behind USC (31) and Alabama (33). However, just one of those wins has come in the Cotton Bowl – a 10-3 victory over Arkansas in the 2001 season.
Oklahoma will face one of its biggest tests of the season when the Sooners battle Texas A&M in the AT&T Cotton Bowl at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas on Friday night. The Aggies feature Johnny Manziel, the Heisman Trophy winner, along with Damontre Moore, one of the top prospects for the 2013 NFL draft, and one of the nation's top offensive lines. Beating the Aggies won't be easy but it's not impossible, particularly with Sooners quarterback Landry Jones and their explosive passing offense. SoonerNation reviewed Texas A&M's biggest win of the year, a 29-24 win over BCS title contender Alabama. Here are three things to keep an eye on during the Cotton Bowl.
Slowing down Johnny Football
Manziel presents all kinds of different problems for a defense. As a terrific runner and passer, he’s a “pick your poison”-type of threat. The Aggies don’t hesitate to spread the defense with four receivers then run the Heisman Trophy winner right up the middle. He’s a slashing, quick runner with good vision. It will be difficult to spy him and expect one defender to corral him every time.
Slowing down Johnny Football
Manziel presents all kinds of different problems for a defense. As a terrific runner and passer, he’s a “pick your poison”-type of threat. The Aggies don’t hesitate to spread the defense with four receivers then run the Heisman Trophy winner right up the middle. He’s a slashing, quick runner with good vision. It will be difficult to spy him and expect one defender to corral him every time.
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Five storylines: Texas A&M vs. Oklahoma
January, 2, 2013
Jan 2
1:30
PM CT
By
Brandon Chatmon | ESPN.com
Here are five storylines to keep an eye on when Oklahoma faces Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl at Cowboys Stadium on Friday.
1. Heisman jinx?
Will Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel suffer from any sort of Heisman jinx? While the redshirt freshman was on his cross country media tour after winning the award, the Sooners were preparing to stop him on Jan. 4. OU’s defense has a lot of pride and has taken a lot of heat in the home stretch of the season. They can quiet critics by shutting down Manziel.
1. Heisman jinx?
Will Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel suffer from any sort of Heisman jinx? While the redshirt freshman was on his cross country media tour after winning the award, the Sooners were preparing to stop him on Jan. 4. OU’s defense has a lot of pride and has taken a lot of heat in the home stretch of the season. They can quiet critics by shutting down Manziel.
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Watch List TE Koda Martin talks top two
December, 16, 2012
12/16/12
8:00
AM CT
By
Sam Khan Jr. | ESPN.com
HOUSTON -- ESPN Watch List tight end Koda Martin won't be attending the AT&T Cotton Bowl, but he'll be watching it closely. So closely that the Manvel (Texas) High School tight end joked with coaches from the Oklahoma and Texas A&M's staffs that the winner of the game would also be the winner of his services.
"It'll be a great game," Martin said. "I told both sets of recruiting coaches that whoever won, I'd commit to, just as a joke, kind of like flipping a coin. It'll be a good game and it'll be fun to watch."
While Martin meant the comment in jest, he is serious about those two schools. The Sooners and the Aggies are his top two at the moment and it appears he'll choose between the two when making the decision on his college destination.
"It'll be a great game," Martin said. "I told both sets of recruiting coaches that whoever won, I'd commit to, just as a joke, kind of like flipping a coin. It'll be a good game and it'll be fun to watch."
While Martin meant the comment in jest, he is serious about those two schools. The Sooners and the Aggies are his top two at the moment and it appears he'll choose between the two when making the decision on his college destination.
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Texas A&M Aggies (10-2) vs. Oklahoma Sooners (10-2)
Jan. 4, 8 p.m. ET, Arlington, Texas (Fox)
Texas A&M take by GigEmNation's Sam Khan Jr.: The Aggies are one of the surprise stories nationally in college football this season, exceeding preseason expectations by going 10-2 in their first Southeastern Conference campaign.
New coach Kevin Sumlin has injected energy into the program and helped reverse the narrative of 2011, when the preseason-top-10 Aggies couldn't hold on to a second-half lead. Now, Texas A&M closes games out as good as any team.
A lot of that credit can go to its Heisman Trophy candidate at quarterback, redshirt freshman Johnny Manziel. Nicknamed "Johnny Football," Manziel took the college football world by storm with his playmaking ability, producing an eye-popping statistical season by breaking Cam Newton's single-season SEC total yardage record. Manziel compiled 4,600 offensive yards this season, throwing for 3,419 and rushing for 1,181. He was responsible for 43 touchdowns.
But the Aggies have been far from a one-man show.
Questions about the defense -- and the defensive line in particular -- were answered emphatically. Junior Damontre Moore spent most of the season at or near the top spot in the country in tackles for loss (20) and sacks (12.5), where he's tied for fifth and third, respectively.
Perhaps the team's best unit has been its offensive line, which has two future NFL draft picks at the tackle spots (juniors Luke Joeckel and Jake Matthews), and a senior center (Patrick Lewis) who has been a catalyst to the team's success.
The Aggies have displayed a high-powered, quick-strike offense under Sumlin and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, and an aggressive defense under coordinator Mark Snyder.
Oklahoma take from SoonerNation's Jake Trotter: From Lee Roy Selmon to Brian Bosworth, Oklahoma has a long, strong defensive tradition. But like almost everyone else in the Big 12, these Sooners win with their high-flying pass offense. Senior quarterback Landry Jones finished off the regular season on fire, throwing for more than 500 yards twice in November while leading the Sooners to a pair of come-from-behind, fourth-quarter wins. Jones, who has a chance to go 4-0 as a bowl-game starter, benefits from one of the most explosive wide receiving corps in the country.
Four different receivers boast more than 500 yards receiving, including Kenny Stills, who leads the Sooners with 75 receptions and 11 touchdowns. All three of OU’s running backs are dangerous in the passing game, too, especially fullback Trey Millard, who had a 73-yard reception against Texas earlier this season.
Opposing offenses have gashed Bob Stoops’ defense on the ground, but the Sooners are not easy to thrown on. Free safety Tony Jefferson is a ferocious tackler, and cornerback Aaron Colvin is a ball hawk.
As co-Big 12 champs, the Sooners had a season worthy of a BCS bowl. But Northern Illinois' sudden ascendance knocked them out of the BCS and the Sugar Bowl. The Sooners did not have a win over a team currently ranked in the AP Top 25. But their two losses came at the hands of top-ranked Notre Dame and Kansas State, which was No. 1 before the Irish. OU was in both games until falling apart in the fourth quarter. The Sooners, however, have owned the fourth quarter down the stretch, coming back in the final seconds to knock off West Virginia and Oklahoma State, then holding off TCU in the last minute.
Jan. 4, 8 p.m. ET, Arlington, Texas (Fox)
Texas A&M take by GigEmNation's Sam Khan Jr.: The Aggies are one of the surprise stories nationally in college football this season, exceeding preseason expectations by going 10-2 in their first Southeastern Conference campaign.
New coach Kevin Sumlin has injected energy into the program and helped reverse the narrative of 2011, when the preseason-top-10 Aggies couldn't hold on to a second-half lead. Now, Texas A&M closes games out as good as any team.
A lot of that credit can go to its Heisman Trophy candidate at quarterback, redshirt freshman Johnny Manziel. Nicknamed "Johnny Football," Manziel took the college football world by storm with his playmaking ability, producing an eye-popping statistical season by breaking Cam Newton's single-season SEC total yardage record. Manziel compiled 4,600 offensive yards this season, throwing for 3,419 and rushing for 1,181. He was responsible for 43 touchdowns.
But the Aggies have been far from a one-man show.
Questions about the defense -- and the defensive line in particular -- were answered emphatically. Junior Damontre Moore spent most of the season at or near the top spot in the country in tackles for loss (20) and sacks (12.5), where he's tied for fifth and third, respectively.
Perhaps the team's best unit has been its offensive line, which has two future NFL draft picks at the tackle spots (juniors Luke Joeckel and Jake Matthews), and a senior center (Patrick Lewis) who has been a catalyst to the team's success.
The Aggies have displayed a high-powered, quick-strike offense under Sumlin and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, and an aggressive defense under coordinator Mark Snyder.
Oklahoma take from SoonerNation's Jake Trotter: From Lee Roy Selmon to Brian Bosworth, Oklahoma has a long, strong defensive tradition. But like almost everyone else in the Big 12, these Sooners win with their high-flying pass offense. Senior quarterback Landry Jones finished off the regular season on fire, throwing for more than 500 yards twice in November while leading the Sooners to a pair of come-from-behind, fourth-quarter wins. Jones, who has a chance to go 4-0 as a bowl-game starter, benefits from one of the most explosive wide receiving corps in the country.
Four different receivers boast more than 500 yards receiving, including Kenny Stills, who leads the Sooners with 75 receptions and 11 touchdowns. All three of OU’s running backs are dangerous in the passing game, too, especially fullback Trey Millard, who had a 73-yard reception against Texas earlier this season.
Opposing offenses have gashed Bob Stoops’ defense on the ground, but the Sooners are not easy to thrown on. Free safety Tony Jefferson is a ferocious tackler, and cornerback Aaron Colvin is a ball hawk.
As co-Big 12 champs, the Sooners had a season worthy of a BCS bowl. But Northern Illinois' sudden ascendance knocked them out of the BCS and the Sugar Bowl. The Sooners did not have a win over a team currently ranked in the AP Top 25. But their two losses came at the hands of top-ranked Notre Dame and Kansas State, which was No. 1 before the Irish. OU was in both games until falling apart in the fourth quarter. The Sooners, however, have owned the fourth quarter down the stretch, coming back in the final seconds to knock off West Virginia and Oklahoma State, then holding off TCU in the last minute.
OU commit Mastrogiovanni visits A&M
October, 21, 2012
10/21/12
2:06
PM CT
By
Sam Khan Jr. | ESPN.com
Dallas Jesuit inside linebacker Jordan Mastrogiovanni has heard plenty about the game-day experience at Texas A&M's Kyle Field. So along with a teammate, Dallas Jesuit offensive tackle and Texas A&M commitment J.J. Gustafson, Mastrogiovanni decided to experience it for himself to see if it lived up to the hype.
"I think it did," said Mastrogiovanni, an Oklahoma commitment. "I've heard so much about how loyal the fans are to their team and that proved to be true. When it became obvious that LSU was going to get the win there in the last couple of minutes, I didn't notice any of the fans leaving, which was pretty cool. They proved themselves to be really loyal team so I found that to be a pretty special quality, what the fans did to the players."
The ESPN 300 linebacker, who is ranked seventh at his position nationally, has been committed to Oklahoma since June. That hasn't kept the Aggies coaches from reaching out to him and inviting him to games. Texas A&M receivers coach David Beaty, linebackers coach Matt Wallerstedt and special teams coordinator Brian Polian have all been in contact with the four-star prospect, but he said he still has his heart set on Oklahoma right now.
"I think it did," said Mastrogiovanni, an Oklahoma commitment. "I've heard so much about how loyal the fans are to their team and that proved to be true. When it became obvious that LSU was going to get the win there in the last couple of minutes, I didn't notice any of the fans leaving, which was pretty cool. They proved themselves to be really loyal team so I found that to be a pretty special quality, what the fans did to the players."
The ESPN 300 linebacker, who is ranked seventh at his position nationally, has been committed to Oklahoma since June. That hasn't kept the Aggies coaches from reaching out to him and inviting him to games. Texas A&M receivers coach David Beaty, linebackers coach Matt Wallerstedt and special teams coordinator Brian Polian have all been in contact with the four-star prospect, but he said he still has his heart set on Oklahoma right now.
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ABOUT SOONER NATION
Jake Trotter
Jake Trotter joined ESPN.com in 2011 after four years with The (Oklahoma City) Oklahoman, covering OU and Big 12 football. He's a graduate of Washington and Lee (Va.) University and lives in Oklahoma City with his wife. Email him at trotterjake@gmail.com.
Brandon Chatmon
Brandon Chatmon joined ESPN.com in 2011 after spending eight years with The Oklahoman, covering Oklahoma State University, high schools and recruiting. Chatmon lives in Norman, Okla. Email him at bchatmonespn@gmail.com.
Bob Przybylo
Bob Przybylo joined ESPN.com in 2011 after spending four years with The Oklahoman, covering high schools and recruiting. Przybylo lives in Oklahoma City. Email him at bprzybyloespn@gmail.com.