CanesInSight sat down with David Nuño, Director of Content for TexAgs.com, to break down Texas A&M’s playoff run, NFL talent, late-season form, and what to expect when the Aggies face Miami. A transcript of that interview is below:
CanesInSight: The TexAgs message boards feel mixed—A&M is in the playoff, yet coming off the loss to Texas, there’s some cynicism. What’s the overall feeling around the program?
David Nuño: It’s divided, and that’s college football. Any fan base reacts strongly after a loss. For A&M, November hasn’t historically been kind, dating back to the Sumlin and Jimbo Fisher eras.
But this year is different. They won three games in November, came back from a 30-point deficit earlier in the season, and this is Year Two under Mike Elko. People forget Texas was 12–12 combined in Steve Sarkisian’s first two years. A&M went 11–1 this season.
You can poke holes in anyone’s schedule, but A&M won games they usually lose—Auburn, LSU in Baton Rouge, and Notre Dame in South Bend. Regardless of what happens this weekend, this program is on a different trajectory.
CanesInSight: From an NFL perspective, this A&M roster seems loaded. How many draft-caliber players are on this team?
David Nuño: Coming into the season, we heard anywhere from eight to twelve. Realistically, eight to ten. Guys like CB Will Lee, WR KC Concepcion, DE Cashius Howell, OG Ar'Maj Reed-Adams, OT Trey Zuhn, and LB Taurean York.
It’s not Ohio State-level, but A&M needs to get back to consistently producing early-round NFL guys. Scouts have been everywhere this year, and with Miami’s talent coming in, this may be the most NFL-loaded matchup A&M has had all season.
CanesInSight: There was a stretch where A&M looked like a top-three team in the country. What changed late in the season?
David Nuño: Outside of the Texas game, they played really good football. LSU was their best performance, even though they were down at halftime. Missouri was a dominant road win. Notre Dame and Arkansas were shootouts they controlled.
They’ve never been a perfect four-quarter team, though. The Texas loss stands out because it’s the most recent. If A&M plays like they did against LSU or Auburn, they can beat Miami—and even Ohio State. The question is sustaining that level through the playoff grind.
CanesInSight: When Miami struggles, it’s turnovers, penalties, and lack of explosiveness. What are the swing factors for A&M?
David Nuño: Very similar. Turnovers have been big, especially late in the season. Defensively, A&M has struggled with explosive plays and mobile quarterbacks.
Another huge factor is Le’Veon Moss. He might be their most important offensive player. With him, the offense looks different, especially in short-yardage situations.
CanesInSight: What’s the latest on Le’Veon Moss?
David Nuño: Coach Elko says, “We’ll see,” but Moss has been practicing and running. I could see him getting eight to twelve carries.
A&M has struggled on fourth-and-short without him. He changes how defenses line up and opens up the zone read and quick passing game. When A&M wears defenses down in the fourth quarter, Moss is a big reason why.
CanesInSight: The TexAgs message boards feel mixed—A&M is in the playoff, yet coming off the loss to Texas, there’s some cynicism. What’s the overall feeling around the program?
David Nuño: It’s divided, and that’s college football. Any fan base reacts strongly after a loss. For A&M, November hasn’t historically been kind, dating back to the Sumlin and Jimbo Fisher eras.
But this year is different. They won three games in November, came back from a 30-point deficit earlier in the season, and this is Year Two under Mike Elko. People forget Texas was 12–12 combined in Steve Sarkisian’s first two years. A&M went 11–1 this season.
You can poke holes in anyone’s schedule, but A&M won games they usually lose—Auburn, LSU in Baton Rouge, and Notre Dame in South Bend. Regardless of what happens this weekend, this program is on a different trajectory.
CanesInSight: From an NFL perspective, this A&M roster seems loaded. How many draft-caliber players are on this team?
David Nuño: Coming into the season, we heard anywhere from eight to twelve. Realistically, eight to ten. Guys like CB Will Lee, WR KC Concepcion, DE Cashius Howell, OG Ar'Maj Reed-Adams, OT Trey Zuhn, and LB Taurean York.
It’s not Ohio State-level, but A&M needs to get back to consistently producing early-round NFL guys. Scouts have been everywhere this year, and with Miami’s talent coming in, this may be the most NFL-loaded matchup A&M has had all season.
CanesInSight: There was a stretch where A&M looked like a top-three team in the country. What changed late in the season?
David Nuño: Outside of the Texas game, they played really good football. LSU was their best performance, even though they were down at halftime. Missouri was a dominant road win. Notre Dame and Arkansas were shootouts they controlled.
They’ve never been a perfect four-quarter team, though. The Texas loss stands out because it’s the most recent. If A&M plays like they did against LSU or Auburn, they can beat Miami—and even Ohio State. The question is sustaining that level through the playoff grind.
CanesInSight: When Miami struggles, it’s turnovers, penalties, and lack of explosiveness. What are the swing factors for A&M?
David Nuño: Very similar. Turnovers have been big, especially late in the season. Defensively, A&M has struggled with explosive plays and mobile quarterbacks.
Another huge factor is Le’Veon Moss. He might be their most important offensive player. With him, the offense looks different, especially in short-yardage situations.
CanesInSight: What’s the latest on Le’Veon Moss?
David Nuño: Coach Elko says, “We’ll see,” but Moss has been practicing and running. I could see him getting eight to twelve carries.
A&M has struggled on fourth-and-short without him. He changes how defenses line up and opens up the zone read and quick passing game. When A&M wears defenses down in the fourth quarter, Moss is a big reason why.
