PLAYERS TO WATCH
–RB Trayveon Williams is the SEC’s all-purpose yardage leader rushed for 138 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries while also hauling in six catches for 72 yards in Week 5. Williams even told local media that he believes himself to potentially be the best running back in the SEC after his dominant showing against Kentucky. “I proved that I’m a great back, one of the best backs — if not the best back — in the SEC,” Williams said.
–TE Jace Sternberger, a junior, leads the team in receiving yards with 22 catches for 351 yards and five touchdowns. Sternberger is coming off a five-catch, 95-yard receiving effort against Kentucky. Sternberger’s five touchdowns this season ties a school record for tight ends. But Sternberger was more focused on the gravity of Texas A&M’s win over a ranked SEC foe and the three-game road trip that stares the Aggies in the face.
“It’s going to be a great opportunity because now we have the chance to show the world that we don’t need a home-field advantage to get a big SEC win,” Sternberger said, per the Dallas Morning News.
–LB Tyrel Dodson has actually tapered off this season after crossing the triple-digit threshold in tackles a season ago. Through six games, Dodson had just 26 total tackles, including two for a loss. However, he did register a sack against Kentucky and still proves to be a viable force for the Aggies’ linebacking corps.
–QB Kellen Mond was 18-of-29 passing for 226 yards and two touchdowns to go along with an interception in the Aggies’ home upset of Kentucky. Mond, who racked up 98 yards rushing against Alabama, has since combined for 29 yards rushing over his last two outings. He preached about aiming for more consistency from the offense this week.
“Everybody kind of took their turn making a mistake on offense (against Kentucky). It kind of made us a little bit inconsistent,” Mond said. “It’s going to be something that we need to focus on going into this week.”
SERIES HISTORY: Texas A&M is 4-0 against South Carolina in a series that started in 2014, shortly after the Aggies joined the SEC. The winner of Saturday’s tilt stakes its claim to the Bonham Trophy.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “It’s a measuring stick to see where we have to go from here, and we’re headed in the right direction. We have to take the right path. And we’re starting to do that, but we have tons of things to clean up.” — Jimbo Fisher on the win over Kentucky
