HOOVER, Ala. — Kevin Sumlin didn’t hesitate to name Trevor Knight the starting quarterback for the Texas A&M football team coming out of spring practice.
Although Knight transferred in and hasn’t played a down, Sumlin said the decision was easy after seeing Knight’s performance and attitude in spring drills.
“He earned it,” Sumlin said Tuesday at Southeastern Conference Media Days. “By earning that, he’s continuing to earn the other part of it, which is the locker room and leadership part every day.”
Knight played at Oklahoma the last three seasons and is eligible to play at Texas A&M as a graduate transfer. Knight was able to step in because quarterbacks Kyle Allen and Kyler Murray, who were on Texas A&M’s roster last season, transferred in the offseason.
Knight, who lost his starting job to Baker Mayfield last season, said his decision to attend Texas A&M was a leap of faith. But it has worked out.
“The culture at A&M, specifically the team, wrapped their arms around me and let me know I was a part of the family,” Knight said. “I got to become a leader of the team pretty quickly, which was very unique. Going through 15 team practices, I feel we got better and better each day and we have solidified a few things.”
The San Antonio, Texas, native is 280 of 490 for 3,424 yards and 25 touchdowns in his career.
Rising junior defensive lineman Myles Garrett called Knight a “confident leader as a quarterback,” and said that is what the Aggies needed.
Rising junior wide receiver Ricky Seals-Jones, who had 45 catches for 560 yards and four touchdowns last season, said he saw that confidence from Knight early on.
“He really shows that strength, determination, and passion to go out,” Seals-Jones said. ” ‘I’m going to beat you until you beat me,’ that was his mind-set all spring, and he has continued it through the
summer.”
At Oklahoma, Knight experienced the highs of starting and the lows of losing his job, but Sumlin said that experience will help Knight at Texas A&M.
“The growth during your career can happen quicker if you understand where your shortcomings are, and there was no greater teacher than losing his opportunity at Oklahoma,” Sumlin said.
Tennessee handling expectations
Tennessee might be the pick to win the SEC’s Eastern Division when predictions are released later this week.
The Volunteers return quarterback Joshua Dobbs and have pieces on offense to help him.
But sometimes expectations can get the most of teams. Auburn is a perfect example. The Tigers had loads of hype surrounding them prior to the 2015 season, but they struggled and finished 7-6.
Dobbs believes the expectations won’t be a problem for Tennessee.
“We have the highest expectations for ourselves,” Dobbs said. “We hold ourselves to a high standard when we perform on the field, when we practice, and when we work out.”
In his third season, coach Butch Jones led Tennessee to a second-place finish behind Florida in the Eastern Division last season. Before that, the highest finish was a tie for fourth in 2014.
Jones doesn’t want his team to be overconfident and knows it can snap back into reality at any point, but he wants his program to face high expectations.
“I think it’s a compliment to everyone in our program of how far we’ve come,” Jones said. “It’s not where you start, it’s where you finish. But I think it is a compliment in how we’ve grown and developed this football program.”
Tennessee hasn’t won the Eastern Division since 2007 and haven’t won the conference since 1998, when it beat Mississippi State in the championship game. Dobbs could be Tennessee’s saving grace this season.
Dobbs, a rising senior, completed 59.6 percent (205 of 344) of his passes and threw for 2,291 yards (15 touchdowns, five interceptions) in 2015.
“The way he competed, it really showed his competitive character and his growth and his development over time,” Jones said. “You can’t put a price tag on experience. That’s invaluable.
“To have him leading our offense, being a captain and leading our football program is very comforting as a head coach.”
Dobbs already has been mentioned as a candidate for the Heisman Trophy. With all of the expectations, Dobbs is pushing his team.
“The awards and accolades will come if you go out, compete, and try to be the best quarterback you can be for Tennessee,” Dobbs said. “I hold myself to a high standard, and I hold my teammates to a high standard.”
Georgia’s Smart
It isn’t a competition for Kirby Smart.
Taking over for “good friend” Mark Richt at Georgia, Smart doesn’t feel like he is competing against a coach who is still loved by players and fans and has to win the team over.
“I think you earn that by the way you behave and the way you perform,” Smart said. “Every kid I’ve been around as a football player, they want their coaches to make them better as men and as players.”
Smart, the former Alabama defensive coordinator, took over at Georgia in December. Richt spent 15 seasons at Georgia and led the Bulldogs to SEC championships in 2002 and 2005. He was hired by Miami, which is his alma mater, after being fired by Georgia.
Although replacing a longtime coach can be difficult, that hasn’t been the case for Smart, who played defensive back at Georgia from 1995-98. Rising senior center Brandon Kublanow said Smart has done an “amazing job” during the transition and has made it easy for the team to get on board.
“I don’t know if coach Smart is really that different, but we’re having a great time,” Kublanow said. “He runs around all over the field. I think he’s an amazing coach, and he’s really doing well.”
For the last eight seasons, Smart served under coach Nick Saban. During that time, the Crimson Tide won national championships in 2009, 2011, 2012, and 2015. Smart said he learned how to handle certain situations, ways to handle players, and ways to improve your team from Saban. Those lessons are still with him.
“I think you never leave what you learn,” Smart said. “What you have success with, you feel comfortable with and you always rely on that a little bit.”
Smart said Richt has reached out to him and they’ve had some communication in the last six months, but he said it’s time for a new chapter.
“Our team has moved forward,” Smart said. “Our team is focused on this season and not looking in the rear-view mirror.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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