Texas A&M was simply beaten down during Saturday’s SEC opener. The No. 9 Aggies entered the game as 16.5-point favorites but left Kyle Field with a 31-21 loss to Kentucky and plenty of questions about where the program goes from here.
Outside of Mario Craver and the limited opportunities given to KJ Edwards, few players on either side looked ready to compete for an SEC championship. Head coach Mike Elko said before the season that this was one of the best secondaries he had coached in years, but that group did not look the part Saturday.
Kentucky quarterback Kenny Minchey completed 14-of-18 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns. The Wildcats averaged 18 yards per completion and repeatedly found receivers running open for chunk plays. A&M’s run defense
was not much better, allowing Kentucky to rush for 159 yards as the defensive line was pushed off the ball and the linebackers struggled to get free from blocks.
The Aggies moved the ball better than they didagainst Arizona State, finishing with 423 total yards and averaging almost 5.0 yards per carry. However, a failed fourth down and an interception in Kentucky territory ended two promising drives without points. The Wildcats then took control by scoring touchdowns on all three of their third-quarter possessions.
Offensive coordinator Holmon Wiggins did not call a bad game. Texas A&M simply failed to execute when it mattered most, while Kentucky capitalized on nearly every opportunity.
Saturday represented a major step backward for the Aggies as a whole. Below are the Texas A&M players and units whose stock rose or fell during the loss.
Stock up: KJ Edwards
Edwards got just five carries, but the freshman once again showed why his role should keep growing. He rushed for 28 yards, averaging 5.6 yards per attempt, and added one reception.
The freshman ran with patience and decisiveness while providing some of the explosiveness the backfield has lacked. Rueben Owens II carried the ball 18 times for 74 yards, but Edwards made a strong case for more touches as Texas A&M searches for the right rotation.
Stats: 5 carries, 28 rushing yards, 5.6 yards per carry / 1 reception, 2 receiving yards
Stock up: Mario Craver
Craver was easily Texas A&M’s most reliable offensive player. He caught 11 passes for 119 yards, accounting for more than half of Marcel Reed’s 236 passing yards.
Kentucky prevented Craver from producing the explosive plays he is known for, but he kept getting open and gave Reed a dependable target throughout the game. Even when the rest of the offense struggled, Craver consistently moved the chains and kept drives alive.
Stats: 11 receptions, 119 receiving yards, 10.8 yards per reception
Stock down: Marcel Reed
Reed made several good throws and used his legs effectively at times, but his two interceptions overshadowed the positive moments. The first ended a promising drive in Kentucky territory, while the second eliminated any remaining chance of a late comeback.
Texas A&M needed its veteran quarterback to protect the football and finish drives, especially with the defense struggling to get stops. Reed couldn't do either consistently enough, making this a clear step-backward start to the season. He has to be better if the Aggies plan on rebounding against a tough opponent next week.
Stats: 26-of-44 passing, 236 yards, 1 touchdown, 2 interceptions / 8 carries, 53 yards, 1 touchdown
Stock down: Defense
There is no way to single out only one defender after that performance. Kentucky entered the game after producing only 209 yards against Alabama but finished with 411 at Kyle Field. The Wildcats scored 21 unanswered points during the third quarter on drives of 75, 83 and 33 yards as A&M struggled to cover receivers, set the edge or win at the line of scrimmage.
Minchey averaged 14 yards per pass attempt without throwing an interception, while CJ Baxter rushed for 86 yards and two touchdowns. Kentucky controlled the second half, and the Aggies never found an answer. For a defense expected to carry the team while the offense developed, Saturday was its most concerning performance of the young season.
Stat line: 411 total yards allowed / 252 passing yards, 159 rushing yards / 31 points / zero takeaways.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M stock report, from Saturday’s game against Kentucky
