Texas A&M continued to reload at quarterback Wednesday with a commitment from five-star dual-threat quarterback Kyler Murray, ranked No. 1 at his position and No. 14 overall in the 2015 ESPN 300. Here's a breakdown of the Under Armour All-American's game and what it means for the Aggies following Johnny Manziel's departure.
What he brings: Murray has a competitive temperament, a polished skill set and intangible qualities that can’t be coached. He’s not only a dynamic athlete with his legs, he’s also a dynamic passer with arm talent you do not often see from dual-threat quarterbacks. At 5-foot-11, he’s one of the few short quarterbacks we have seen who doesn’t necessarily have to be in the shotgun to succeed because he is so technically sound and he understands timing and anticipation. He’s been well-groomed, he’s won a whole lot of football games and he understands the expectation level. He brings a mental and physical skill set that should allow him to compete early at the college level.
How he fits: Given the youth at the position for the Aggies, this is the type of commitment that could lead to a transfer for somebody on that roster at some point in the future. Kenny Hill and true freshman Kyle Allen will be competing for the starting job in 2014. If one of those two cements himself as a starter this fall, could that affect Murray’s commitment? Time will tell. Offensively this is the perfect fit for Murray because the Aggies use a spread offense that does not require the quarterback to be a significant portion of the run game. Given Murray’s measurables, this is important to his long-term durability at the collegiate level.
Reminds us of: Russell Wilson as a passer and Manziel as a runner. If Murray met the measurable standard you’d like to have at the position, he’d be a unanimous No. 1-ranked overall player for us in the 2015 ESPN 300.
How class is shaping up: This makes 11 verbal commitments for the Aggies in the 2015 class, including eight in the ESPN 300. Once again the emphasis is on the trenches and defense, where it should be, just like the 2014 class. No. 3-ranked DT Daylon Mack headlines the class on defense. No. 12 overall Kendall Sheffield, No. 30 Jamal Peters, No. 38 Malik Jefferson and No. 63 DaMarkus Lodge are still prime targets.