Texas A&M's
offensive line has likely found its permanent starting rotation, featuring left tackle Tyree Adams, left guard Trovon Baugh, center Mark Nabou, right guard Wilkin Formby, and right tackle Lamont Rogers. While starting quarterback Marcel Reed has struggled in the pocket, the Aggies' rushing attack has slowly but surely improved, running for 231 yards and four touchdowns in last Saturday's 34-7 win over Arkansas.Lamont Rogers, a former five-star prospect who seldom played last season, looks the part at right tackle, playing 58 snaps against LSU and 51 against Arkansas, while allowing just one pressure to the Razorbacks and helping open holes in the running game.
Since the Aggies' struggles running the ball against Arizona State and
Kentucky, averaging 3.6 yards per carry, the new O-line rotation has, as I stated above, opened up plenty of holes, especially on the right side, going on to average 4.2 yards per carry against LSU and 4.7 against Arkansas, led by freshman running back KJ Edwards' 66 yards and two touchdowns.
During Tuesday's press conference, Lamont Rogers spoke to the media for the first time, discussing his transition to a starter and emphasizing the increased physicality that is crucial as a run blocker.
"I've just been playing physical. Really, just having a different mindset in practice wanting to really dominate everybody and they saw it in me that I'm the guy for the job," Rogers said.
Per KBTX writer Travis Brown and SEC Stat Cat, Texas A&M's rushing attack outside the right tackle gaps has posted a 67% success rate, averaging nearly six yards per carry, providing OC Holmon Wiggins a reliable game plan when the Aggies face No. 14 Missouri in Columbia on Saturday.
"In the last two games, every gap to the right of center has a run success rate of 50% or better. Both gaps outside the right tackle and between the center and right guard are averaging 5.8 yards per carry, with the outside gap carrying a 67% success rate. A combined five explosive runs went to the right side of the field in those two games."
The emergence of KJ Edwards, combined with steady senior Rueben Owens and sophomore Jamarion Morrow, gives the Aggies a legitimate shot at an upset, barring any injury-related setback, if the run game can keep finding success.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: OT Lamont Rogers' emergence has led to Texas A&M's rushing success
