Texas A&M Aggies

COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- The mystery continues.

The way Kevin Sumlin tells it, Texas A&M receiver Mike Evans' jump shot is less than stellar. Last season, as Evans emerged as the Aggies' go-to receiver on offense, Sumlin commented on the former high school basketball star's skills and status as a "tweener."

The message? That, back in basketball-crazed Indiana, where Sumlin spent a large portion of his youth growing up, the words "6-5 tweener" meant you had no jump shot.

What does Evans say? Does he have a jump shot?

"Yes I do," he said.

Will he challenge Sumlin's accusation?

"Oh no, I don't challenge him, because he'll get me in practice," Evans said with a smile.

Regardless, all's well for the redshirt sophomore, whose breakout freshman season came as a surprise to many. The 6-foot-5, 225-pounder was best known as a basketball star during his days at Galveston (Texas) Ball High School, but during his senior season, he elected to play multiple sports, including football. It was his first varsity season of football.

As a junior, Evans -- who played in the post in high school -- was his district's most valuable player and the district defensive player of the year as a senior. But once he put on the football pads, he quickly realized that his future might lay on the gridiron.

"My senior year, I just wanted to have fun and play almost every sport," Evans said. "I ran track, I played basketball and football. I just wanted to have fun. When it came down to it, I started getting offers for football and I thought I had a better future in football."

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COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- It was a little more than four months ago that Malcome Kennedy caught a pass that would long be remembered by Texas A&M fans.

The then-sophomore made what was arguably the biggest reception of the season hauling in a 24-yard touchdown pass from Johnny Manziel on a corner route that gave Texas A&M a 29-17 lead over No. 1 Alabama, a lead the Aggies wouldn't relinquish, eventually upsetting the Crimson Tide 29-24.

It was a brief moment in the spotlight and one of two touchdowns on the season for Kennedy, a product of tiny Cayuga, Texas, home to a Class 1A football program in East Texas. With seniors in front of him at the inside receiver positions -- Ryan Swope and Kenric McNeal -- Kennedy didn't have to shoulder a load as a go-to offensive option for the 2012 Aggies.

This year, that changes -- for Kennedy and several others -- as the Aggies have waved goodbye to three senior starters and are working in a new crop of receivers this spring.

"Well, I've got a lot of new guys out there, obviously," Texas A&M receivers coach David Beaty said Tuesday. "Lost three starters from last year and some guys that played part time are back with us. A lot of youth in there getting a lot of reps. This is valuable, valuable time. This is exactly what spring ball is for. You get to evaluate new guys, guys that haven't played a lot, so it's a good opportunity for us to get to see those guys that didn't get to play a lot last year, how they've developed, and for guys that did get to play, them moving into new roles."

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GigEmNation writer Sam Khan Jr. chatted with readers on Friday about Texas A&M football and recruiting. Here's the full transcript of the chat. Topics covered included Jake Matthews' return, the promotion of Clarence McKinney to co-offensive coordinator and playcaller and of course, recruiting. Here's an excerpt from Friday's chat:

Drew (Colleyville, TX): So with Jake Matthews coming back does this mean he will be moved over to LT? And if so who do you think will be the RT next year? And who do we have on the C depth chart that can take over? Thanks for the chats!
Sam Khan Jr.: Drew, yes, Matthews will be moved to LT. That should be a good transition for him and I think he'll do well. As for right tackle, I think you're looking a few possibilities: redshirt freshman Joseph Cheek, who backed up Matthews and played in the "unbalanced line" power running formations could be an option. True freshman Germain Ifedi, who was on the two-deep, is an option. And I wouldn't rule out moving someone out to right tackle that's already in the lineup (maybe RG Cedric Ogbuehi?). As for center, Mike Matthews, the younger brother of Jake Matthews, will be the heir apparent to Patrick Lewis. Matthews is the favorite to start and was the backup this year. Look for him to be a possible three-year starter at C for the Aggies.

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