Texas A&M Aggies

COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Going into the 2012 season, Texas A&M defensive coordinator Mark Snyder could take some comfort in the fact that the Aggies' defense had experienced upperclassmen in key spots.

Two starting linebackers, both of whom emerged as leaders for the 11-2 Aggies, were seniors (Sean Porter and Jonathan Stewart). So was the starting free safety (Steven Terrell) and one defensive tackle (Spencer Nealy). The player who emerged as the team's leader in several statistical categories was a junior and third-year letterman, Damontre Moore.

With all of those players gone, the Aggies are hunting for new leaders on their defense. Interestingly, it may come from the part of the defense that was the youngest last season: the secondary.

"Coming into the spring, we basically have been trying to find our new leaders," senior defensive back Toney Hurd Jr. said. "Vocal leaders, people that lead by example. We have a couple of people that are falling into that role. Donnie Baggs, Howard Matthews, Deshazor Everett and I've also been one of the people that are trying to step into this new role. We're trying to find new leaders for the defense and for the team next year."

Baggs is the first team middle linebacker -- the same position Stewart was in last year -- so his emergence is key. The new blood replacing the other departed seniors, and Moore, are all young or inexperienced or both.

Matthews, who started the Aggies' last four games at strong safety and played in 12, has probably made the biggest transformation. At the start of last season, he wasn't even on the two-deep. By season's end, he became a key player and this spring, Snyder and defensive backs coach Marcel Yates are looking to him to help others, like junior Floyd Raven, who has moved to free safety from cornerback.

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COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- It would be easy to look at the box score from Texas A&M's win over Arkansas on Saturday and surmise that the Aggies struggled on defense.

After all, they allowed 515 yards.

But the yardage doesn't tell the entire story. The numbers coach Kevin Sumlin was most concerned -- and happy -- with were 10 (the number of points Arkansas scored) and three (the number of turnovers the Aggies' defense collected).

Both helped the Aggies roll to their 58-10 win over the Razorbacks.

The turnovers were of particular significance because of the way they changed Saturday's game. The three Razorback turnovers resulted in 17 Aggies points. The first, an interception by Steven Terrell, was returned 30 yards to the 50 and set up what eventually became an 11-yard Ben Malena touchdown reception from Johnny Manziel for a 20-10 second-quarter lead.

The second, another Terrell interception, came on Arkansas' second-half opening drive. Instead of the Razorbacks chipping into a 27-10 Aggies lead, the Aggies extended it after a Taylor Bertolet field goal following the interception.

The third seemed to seal the Razorbacks' fate, as Texas A&M defensive end Damontre Moore poked the ball out of running back Knile Davis' arm, and Tramain Jacobs picked up and returned it 28 yards for a touchdown and a 44-10 Texas A&M lead.

"We've been talking ever since we've been here about critical plays and game-changing plays," Sumlin said. "Those kind of things aren't just turnovers, but they're game changers. That's what we're looking for and we had a number of those today."

Moore's wasn't just about being at the right place at the right time, but also because of effort. Moore initially had a chance to tackle Davis and blew by him but turned on the jets, chased him down from behind and poked the ball out.

"I was so determined since I missed that tackle that I need to go out and make something happen and be a difference maker," Moore said. "Our coaches, [defensive coordinator Mark] Snyder and [defensive line coach Terry] Price preach about how we need to be difference makers, [force] turnovers and get our turnover margin up. I took the perfect opportunity, because they already had some fumble issues early in the game, and he wasn't paying attention and didn't see me, so I just came behind him and punched the ball out."

COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Texas A&M put the pedal to the metal and didn't ease up, rolling to a dominating 58-10 win over Arkansas on Saturday at Kyle Field. Here's how it played out:

It was over when: Texas A&M defensive end Damontre Moore forced a Knile Davis fumble that was picked up and returned 28 yards for a touchdown by cornerback Tramain Jacobs to give the Aggies a 44-10 lead over the Razorbacks with 7:06 remaining in the third quarter. Arkansas never truly threatened in the second half, but after that scoop and score by Jacobs, it seemed that any hope Arkansas had of getting back into the game washed away.

Game ball goes to: Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel. He has been impressive in his first three starts for the Aggies, and his fourth was even more so. The redshirt freshman set school records for passing yards (453) and total offense (557). He was 29-of-38 passing, threw for three touchdowns and ran for 104 more yards and another TD. He broke Ryan Tannehill's school passing record of 449 yards and Jerrod Johnson's total offense record of 487. Most importantly, Manziel had no turnovers and hasn't committed one yet this season.

Game ball, Part 2: The Texas A&M defense. The Aggies trailed 10-7 after a quarter, but the Razorbacks didn't score again. Arkansas moved the ball plenty, finishing with 515 total yards, but it didn't equate to points. The Aggies' red zone defense was outstanding, as Arkansas finished 1-of-5 in that department. Steven Terrell had two key interceptions to help lead the D.

Rising star: Texas A&M running back Ben Malena. The junior got his third straight start and was effective in his limited touches, gaining 59 rushing yards on eight carries and catching an 11-yard touchdown pass from Manziel. He's a good contrast to Christine Michael, who is effective between the tackles and more of a north-south runner. Malena is good in the passing game and the running game and has the speed to make big plays. Honorable mention to true freshman receiver Thomas Johnson, who caught five passes for 108 yards, although 88 of them came on two plays in the fourth quarter.

What it means: The Aggies are a different ballclub from a year ago, clearly. They led Arkansas last season by 18 points at the half, and on Saturday they led by 17. Last year, they fell 42-38. This year, they continued to score and blew out the Razorbacks. This is an explosive offense with an aggressive mentality and a ton of playmakers, coupled with a defense that appears to be much better than it was expected to be in the preseason.

For the Razorbacks, this season is slipping away quickly. Now, one must wonder whether Arkansas will even make it to a bowl game. The Razorbacks looked wholly defeated in the second half, and though they kept fighting, their efforts were futile. It already has been a long season in Fayetteville, Ark., and it looks as if it will continue to be.