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8/30/06 Super Newcomers No doubt about it - Chad Schroeder, L'Tydrick Riley, Brandon Leone, Courtney Lewis, Melvin Bullitt, Bryce Reed, Justin Warren and the rest of the seniors on the Texas A&M roster are valuable players. Every good team must possess quality leadership at the top, and there's simply no substitute for extended time on the job. In addition to the 15 seniors listed on the latest depth chart (8/23), there are also 19 juniors - 8 of which make up the bulk of the offensive and defensive lines - thus a solid, upper-class foundation to build around. However, while those battle-tested upper classmen may pave the way, it won't be surprising when a majority of the headlines are stolen by the newcomers. Young stars abound: ** Soph QB Stephen McGee - The Bucky Richardson clone from Burnet is unquestionably the leader of the team in his first full year as the starter. ** Soph RB Jorvorskie Lane - This bulldozer of a running back is sure to enjoy the benefit of running behind a talented, experienced and deep offensive line. ** Soph TE Martellus Bennett - The ever popular, always quotable and budding second-year star is primed for a huge breakout season when teams shift to stop the powerful Aggie running game. ** Frosh RB Michael Goodson - This explosive and electric newcomer from Klein Collins is sure to be a star very early in his A&M career. Aggie fans haven't seen one like this in more than a decade. ** Soph WR Pierre Brown - A player frequently mentioned as one to watch in 2006. ** Frosh WR EJ Shankle - At first glance you might think that too much depth exists at the WR position for a young player to get much time, but EJ's ability to stretch a defense could change that opinion in a hurry. ** Jr-Tr LB Misi Tupe - A player who has literally blasted his way onto the scene and likely grabbed a starters' role in less than three weeks on the job. Players and coaches alike simply light up when trying to describe this 5'10" transfer from Dixie College in Utah. Though OL Kirk Elder denies ever being on the receiving end, rumors persist that Tupe has knocked 3-4 Aggie players out cold with his vicious hits. ** Jr-Tr LB Mark Dodge - If Tupe isn't the story then Dodge surely will be. An extensive military background and a fiery personality make this newcomer a perfect fit for Aggieland. ** Frosh LB Anthony Lewis - Injury and youth usually mean a red shirt season, but Lewis may be too talented to sit. ** RS-FR DT Kellen Heard - Watch out for this young player to make his presence felt in 2006. Running teams won't stand much of a chance against the Aggies this year and big Kellen is one of the reasons why. ** Soph CB Danny Gorrer - This extremely talented and much talked about CB from Port Arthur should be viewed in an entirely different light this season. ** RS-Fr CB Jordan Peterson - A very athletic and talented defensive back who has shoved his way into the starting lineup through consistent performance. ** Frosh CB Jordan Pugh - Another young newcomer to the secondary who may be counted on to make a significant contribution very early in his A&M career. ** RS-FR S Chevar Bryson - Yet another talented player who has proven that recruiting lists aren't always accurate. ** Soph S/CB Arkeith Brown - Speed! ** Jr-Tr S Johnathan Batson - Once the learning curve reaches the skill set - watch out! ** Soph S Devin Gregg - This Spring Westfield, second-year player will get to show off his athletic skills very early in his A&M career. ** Frosh K Matt Szymanski - P-o-w-e-r-f-u-l! 2006 Texas A&M Football Depth Chart OFFENSE WR "Z" 14 CHAD SCHROEDER 6-1 186 Sr-3L Austin, Texas (Westlake) 5 Howard Morrow 6-0 219 So-1L Keller, Texas (Fossil Ridge) QT 71 YEMI BABALOLA 6-4 298 So-1L Bryan, Texas (Bryan) 72 Alex Kotzur 6-5 285 Sr-2L Houston, Texas (St. Thomas) QG 64 KIRK ELDER 6-5 298 Jr-2L Klein, Texas (Klein Oak) 76 Michael Shumard 6-5 305 Fr-RS Fort Hood, Texas (Harker Heights) C 70 CODY WALLACE 6-4 294 Jr-1L Cuero, Texas (Cuero) 63 Kevin Matthews 6-4 300 Fr-RS Sugar Land, Texas (Elkins) SG 77 Grant Dickey 6-5 315 Sr-2L Tyler, Texas (Lee/Tyler JC) OR 51 Chris Yoder 6-3 299 Jr-2L Houston, Texas (Kingwood) 53 J Pond 6-5 317 Sr-SQ Abilene, Texas (Cooper) ST 54 COREY CLARK 6-6 317 Jr-2L Spring Branch, Texas (Smithson Valley) 75 Travis Schneider 6-8 295 So-1L Bellville, Texas (Bellville) TE 13 MARTELLUS BENNETT 6-7 248 So-1L Alief, Texas (Taylor) 81 Joey Thomas 6-5 250 Jr-2L Austin, Texas (Westlake) WR "X" 2 Earvin Taylor 6-3 228 Jr-2L Mission, Texas (Mission) 8 Kerry Franks 5-11 196 Jr-2L Orange, Texas (West Orange-Stark) WR "H" 17 L'Tydrick Riley 6-3 234 Sr-3L Crockett, Texas (Crockett) 6 Pierre Brown 6-2 200 So-1L Duncanville, Texas (Duncanville) QB 7 Stephen McGee 6-3 208 So-1L Burnet, Texas (Burnet) 19 Ty Branyon 6-3 213 Sr-2L Austin, Texas (Bowie) OR 4 Jamie McCoy 6-3 224 Fr-RS Midland, Texas (Lee) FB 24 Chris Alexander 5-11 242 Jr-2L Humble, Texas (Humble) 39 Greg Boothe 6-2 225 Sr-SQ LaGrange, Texas (LaGrange) TB 11 Jorvorskie Lane 6-0 274 So-1L Lufkin, Texas (Lufkin) OR 25 COURTNEY LEWIS 6-0 204 Sr-3L Houston, Texas (Madison) 3 Mike Goodson 6-0 192 Fr-HS Klein, Texas (Collins) OR 21 Brandon Leone 6-1 218 Sr-3L Spring, Texas (Oak Ridge) DEFENSE DE 92 CHRIS HARRINGTON 6-5 267 Jr-2L Houston, Texas (St. Pius) 86 Amos Gbunblee 6-5 250 So-1L Cypress, Texas (Cy-Springs) OR 84 Chris Smith 6-4 260 So-SQ Allen, Texas (Allen) DT 85 RED BRYANT 6-5 324 Jr-2L Jasper, Texas (Jasper) 91 Kellen Heard 6-6 330 Fr-RS Wharton, Texas (Wharton) NT 35 Bryce Reed 6-0 295 Sr-3L Dallas, Texas (Samuell) 95 Henry Smith 6-3 307 Jr-RS Aliceville, Ala. (Aliceville/East Central [MS] CC) OR 94 Marques Thornton 6-1 285 Sr-3L Houston, Texas (Madison) DE 89 JASON JACK 6-4 271 Jr-2L Humble, Texas (Humble) OR 49 Cyril Obiozor 6-5 257 So-1L Pearland, Texas (Pearland) 11 Michael Bennett 6-4 263 So-1L Alief, Texas (Taylor) LB 50 Mark Dodge 6-2 222 Jr-TR Yerington, Nev. (Yerington/Feather River [CA] CC) 37 Misi Tupe 5-10 250 Jr-TR St. George, Utah (Bonneville/Dixie State [Utah] College) LB 10 JUSTIN WARREN 6-3 242 Sr-3L Tyler, Texas (Lee) 46 Matt Featherston 6-3 240 Fr-RS Poughkeepsie, N.Y. (Poughkeepsie) OR 42 Nurahda Manning 6-3 250 Sr-3L Bay City, Texas (Bay City) WHIP 28 Japhus Brown 5-11 199 Jr-2L Edna, Texas (Edna) 30 Chevar Bryson 6-0 185 Fr-RS Midland, Texas (Lee) OR 20 Brock Newton 5-11 183 Jr-2L Fort Worth, Texas (Aledo) CB 4 Danny Gorrer 6-0 178 So-1L Port Arthur, Texas (Memorial) 13 Marquis Carpenter 6-0 179 Jr-1L Melbourne, Fla. (Palm City/Coffeyville [KS] JC) OR 25 Jordan Pugh 5-11 190 Fr-HS Plano, Texas (West) CB 27 Jordan Peterson 5-10 186 Fr-RS Lexington, Texas (Lexington) 18 Arkeith Brown 5-11 170 So-1L El Campo, Texas (El Campo) FS 26 Devin Gregg 6-0 195 So-1L Spring, Texas (Westfield) 1 Johnathan Batson 6-1 190 Jr-TR San Antonio, Texas (Converse Judson/Cisco JC) SS 33 MELVIN BULLITT 6-1 201 Sr-3L Garland, Texas (Naaman Forest) 16 Alton Dixon 5-11 207 So-1L Lufkin, Texas (Lufkin) OR 29 Stephen Hodge 6-1 225 Jr-2L Richardson, Texas (Lake Highlands) SPECIALISTS PLK 32 Layne Neumann 6-0 174 Sr-2L Hondo, Texas (Hondo) 27 Richie Bean 6-0 180 So-1L Marrero, La. (John Ehret) OR 6 Matt Szymanski 6-1 188 Fr-HS College Station, Texas (A&M Consolidated) P 16 JUSTIN BRANTLY 6-4 228 So-1L Sealy, Texas (Sealy) 27 Richie Bean 6-0 180 So-1L Marrero, La. (John Ehret) OR 6 Matt Szymanski 6-1 188 Fr-HS College Station, Texas (A&M Consolidated) SNP 84 Chris Smith 6-5 260 So-SQ Allen, Texas (Allen) 52 Corey Gibas 5-11 215 Fr-HS Covina, Calif. (Charter Oaks) HOLD 14 Chad Schroeder 6-1 181 Sr-3L Austin, TX (Westlake) PR 14 Chad Schroeder 6-1 186 Sr-3L Austin, Texas (Westlake) 27 Jordan Peterson 5-10 186 Fr-RS Lexington, Texas (Lexington) KR 8 Kerry Franks 5-11 196 Jr-2L Orange, Texas (West Orange-Stark) 6 Pierre Brown 6-2 200 So-1L Duncanville, Texas (Duncanville) 18 Arkeith Brown 5-11 170 So-1L El Campo, Texas (El Campo) 5 Howard Morrow 6-0 219 So-1L Keller, Texas (Fossil Ridge) ** Caps (maroon) indicates returning starter |