Miami football faces challenge from elite Texas AM wide receivers
The Miami football team will face its biggest challenge on their 2023 non-conference schedule when the Hurricanes host Texas A&M on Saturday. Texas A&M has the fourth most talented roster nationally per the 247 Sports Composite rankings. The Aggies wide receivers will particularly challenge the Miami secondary.
Texas A&M has six blue-chip WRs on its roster. Five Texas A&M WRs are 6’2 or taller. The Miami football team will need its taller cornerbacks to a productive game against the length of the Texas A&M WRs. True freshman Damari Brown and his brother Davonte are the only Miami CBs who are at least 6’2.
Evan Stewart led Texas A&M with eight receptions and 115 yards with two touchdowns in the 52-10 Texas A&M win over New Mexico in the season-opening win last week. Sophomore Noah Thomas who is 6’6 and 200 pounds had six receptions for 74 yards and three touchdowns versus New Mexico.
Texas A&M quarterback Conner Weigman spread the ball around well versus New Mexico. Ainias Smith had three receptions for 40 yards, Jahdae Walker three for 31 and Moose Muhammad III who is the son of former NFL WR Mushin Muhammad had three for 12. Walker is another big WR at 6’4 and 210 pounds.
Earlier this summer Pro Football Focus named Texas A&M with the ninth-best receiving corps nationally. Per PFF “Muhammad III was…for seventh among SEC receivers last year with 20 catches of 15-plus yards.” Smith led Texas A&M in receiving in 2020 and 2021 before a broken fibula ended his season early in 2022.
Miami will face a very different Texas A&M passing offense on Saturday than they did in 2022. Texas A&M backup QB Max Johnson was 10-20 for 140 yards, one TD and one interception versus Miami last season. Smith led the Texas A&M with four receptions for 74 yards versus Miami in 2022.
None of the other top 2023 Texas A&M WRs recorded receptions versus Miami in 2022. Te’Cory Couch and Darryl Porter Jr. are the only CBs returning for Miami who were on the roster in 2022 when they played Texas A&M last season. Weigman at QB will be throwing to mostly new WRs versus mostly CBs for Miami on Saturday.
Next. Miami football 4 WRs separating themselves. dark
How well Miami contains the Texas A&M passing game could determine the outcome on Saturday. Stewart had six receptions of 10 or more yards, three of 20 or more and one of 30 plus versus New Mexico, Thomas had three of 10 or more yards, one of 20 plus and one of 30 plus. Miami needs to limit big plays for Texas A&M.