The 2012 Texas A&M Aggies football team represented Texas A&M University in the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Aggies were led by first-year head coach Kevin Sumlin in their first year as a member of the Southeastern Conference, playing in the SEC's Western Division. They played their home games at Kyle Field. Because the Aggies scheduled two FCS opponents, they needed seven wins in the regular season to become eligible for postseason competition (if they beat both FCS teams); Texas A&M won 10 games in the regular season (including both games against FCS opponents) and thus was bowl-eligible.
During the offseason, in anticipation of the demand for tickets from students and to comply with SEC rules, Texas A&M reallocated some student seating sections, a net gain of 128 seats bringing the student section to 30,284 seats, the largest in the nation.
On March 27, 2012, Texas A&M announced that season tickets were sold out, making it the earliest sellout in school history.
The 2012 football season was highly successful for the Aggies. The team went 11–2, with victories over then-#1 Alabama and later Oklahoma in the 2013 Cotton Bowl Classic. Quarterback Johnny Manziel became the first freshman to be awarded the Heisman Trophy, and only the second Aggie player ever to win the Heisman. Texas A&M's 5th-place finish in the AP Poll was the highest for the program since 1956.
Before the season
Previous season In 2011, Texas A&M began the season ranked 8th in the AP Poll and 9th in the Coaches Poll. They won their first two games, but fell to ranked opponents Oklahoma State and Arkansas. The Aggies won the next three, including a 55–28 victory over rival and #20 ranked Baylor. However, A&M could not sustain success and fell in its next three, with losses to #7 Oklahoma and #17 Kansas State in 4 overtimes. After beating Kansas, Texas A&M lost its final regular season rivalry game with Texas 25–27. Following this defeat, 4-year head coach Mike Sherman was fired, and replaced by Kevin Sumlin. The Aggies defeated Northwestern in the Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas with Tim DeRuyter as interim head coach. Texas A&M finished 7–6, unranked, and tied for 6th in the Big XII.
2012 NFL draft Four Texas A&M players were drafted in the 2012 NFL draft. + 2012 NFL Draft selectionsRoundPick #TeamPlayerPosition 1 8 Miami Dolphins Ryan Tannehill Quarterback 5 161 Houston Texans Randy Bullock Kicker 6 182 Kansas City Chiefs Cyrus Gray Running back 7 246 Pittsburgh Steelers Terrence Frederick Corner
After the draft, five Aggies were signed as undrafted free agents. + Signed as Undrafted Free AgentPlayerTeamPosition Jeff Fuller Miami Dolphins Wide Receiver Coryell Judie Denver Broncos Corner Tony Jerod-Eddie San Francisco 49ers Defensive End Eddie Brown San Diego Chargers Defensive tackle Lionel Smith Dallas Cowboys Corner
Spring practice Spring practice began on March 31 and concluded with the annual Maroon & White Game on April 28. The schedule also included an open scrimmage on April 14 and the Friday Night Lights event on April 20. Senior running back Christine Michael was limited throughout spring practice while recovering from a torn ACL.
In the Maroon & White Game, the White (offense) defeated the Maroon (defense) 48–44. The offense ran 105 plays in the first half and generated nearly 600 yards of total offense. Wide receiver Ryan Swope recorded eight receptions for 156 yards and two touchdowns. The game featured a quarterback battle between Jameill Showers and Johnny Manziel; Showers threw touchdown passes to Malcome Kennedy and Swope, while Manziel added a touchdown pass to Swope. Showers finished 20-of-31 for 203 yards and two touchdowns, while Manziel went 13-of-27 for 154 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Running back Christine Michael did not participate, but Ben Malena led the rushing attack with 117 yards on 11 carries and a touchdown, while Will Randolph added 86 yards on 13 carries and two touchdowns behind an offensive line anchored by tackle Luke Joeckel. On defense, Steven Jenkins led the team with nine tackles, while Donnie Baggs recorded eight. Domonique Patterson, Johntel Franklin, and Jonathan Stewart each added six tackles, and Sean Porter contributed two sacks.
Fall practice Fall training camp began on August 3 and ended on August 18. By August, Texas A&M had 8 different players on preseason award watch lists: Sean Porter for the Chuck Bednarik Award; Uzoma Nwachukwu and Ryan Swope for the Biletnikoff Award; Damontre Moore and Sean Porter for the Butkus Award; Luke Joeckel, Jake Matthews, and Sean Porter for the Lombardi Award; Christine Michael for the Maxwell Award; Sean Porter for the Bronco Nagurski Award; Luke Joeckel and Jake Matthews for the Outland Trophy; Patrick Lewis for the Rimington Trophy; and Christine Michael for the Doak Walker Award.
Personnel
Roster
Recruiting class In the 2012 recruiting class, Texas A&M recruited 19 players, 5 of which were included in the ESPN 150. The class was ranked 15th in the nation by ESPN and Rivals, and 21st nationally by Scout.
Returning starters
+ OffensePlayerClassPosition Christine Michael Senior Running Back Ryan Swope Senior Wide Receiver Uzoma Nwachukwu Senior Wide Receiver Michael Lamothe Senior Tight End Luke Joeckel Junior Left Tackle Patrick Lewis Senior Center Cedric Ogbuehi Sophomore Right Guard Jake Matthews Junior Right Tackle
+ DefensePlayerClassPosition Spencer Nealy Senior Defensive tackle Damontre Moore Junior Defensive End/Jack Linebacker Jonathan Stewart Senior Linebacker Steven Jenkins Junior Linebacker Sean Porter Senior Linebacker
+ Special TeamsPlayerClassPosition Ryan Epperson Senior Punter Dustin Harris Junior Punt Returner
Depth chart Source:
Schedule
Coaching staff Kevin SumlinHead coach 1stMark SnyderDefensive coordinator and linebackers coach 1stMarcel YatesCo-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach 1stTerry PriceDefensive line coach 1stMatt WallerstedtLinebackers coach 1stKliff KingsburyOffensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach 1st Clarence McKinney Running backs coach 1stDavid BeatyWide receivers coach 1stB.J. AndersonOffensive line coach 1stBrian PolianSpecial teams coordinator and tight ends coach 1stLarry Jackson Director of football sports performance 1stReference:2016 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Media Guide, p. 2
Rankings
Game summaries
No. 24 Florida
Sources: Official Texas A&M Game Notes (PDF)
Statistics FLATAMU First downs 21 21 Total yards 307 334 Rushing yards 142 134 Passing yards 165 200 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 35:07 24:53 Team Category Player Statistics Florida Passing Jeff Driskel 13/16, 162 yards Rushing Mike Gillislee 14 rushes, 83 yards, 2 TD Receiving Jordan Reed 5 receptions, 59 yards Texas A&M Passing Johnny Manziel 23/30, 173 yards Rushing Johnny Manziel 17 rushes, 60 yards, TD Receiving Mike Evans 7 receptions, 60 yards
After Texas A&M's season opener against Louisiana Tech was postponed due to Hurricane Isaac, the Aggies began the season against SEC opponent #24 Florida. This was a historic start for redshirt freshman quarterback Johnny Manziel, who won the job in Fall practice. Manziel was the first freshman QB to start a season-opener for the Aggies since 1944. Texas A&M played well in the first half and saw promising performances from both the offense and defense, but they could not sustain the success and were held scoreless in the second half, ultimately falling 20–17 to lose their first ever SEC conference game.
Texas A&M received the ball on the opening kickoff. Their first play from scrimmage in the SEC was a false start on center Patrick Lewis; however, the offense was not slowed by this misstep and had a 14-play, 66-yard opening drive, highlighted by a 16-yard run from Johnny Manziel. On 3rd and goal from the 7, Manziel completed a pass into the endzone to an open Mike Evans, but Manziel was past the line of scrimmage, causing an Illegal Forward Pass penalty and a 4th down. Fellow redshirt freshman Taylor Bertolet made the 27-yard field goal to put the Aggies on the board first. Texas A&M's defense struggled early, though, and with the help of a few long passes from Florida QB Jeff Driskel, the Gators had a 13-play, 75-yard drive capped of by a Mike Gillislee 4-yard TD run to take the lead 7–3. But the Aggies' offense showed no signs of slowing, as they drove all the way to the Florida 14 before the 1st Quarter ended.
Three plays into the 2nd Quarter and the Aggies had scored their first SEC touchdown—an 11-yard scramble by Johnny Manziel. Texas A&M took the lead back 10–7. Florida's next series began with Jeff Driskel being sacked by DE Damontre Moore. The Gators didn't move far before Driskel was sacked twice more, first by Steven Jenkens and then a second time by Moore, forcing a punt. On A&M's next drive, Manziel connected with freshman RB Trey Williams for 28 yards and then on a trick play, WR Kenric McNeal completed a pass to Mike Evans for 27. Near the goal line, the Aggies pounded the ball in with senior RB Christine Michael to extend the lead, 17–7. On the next possession, Driskel was again sacked by Moore, but made up the yardage with a long 30-yard pass to Jordan Reed. At the A&M 28, Driskel was sacked for the fifth time of the game by senior DT Spencer Nealy. On 4th and 12 at A&M's 33, the Gators' Caleb Sturgis attempted a long 51-yard field goal and missed; however, Texas A&M took a timeout prior to the snap, and on his second try Sturgis knocked it home to reduce the Aggies' lead to 17–-10. Back on offense, the Aggies could not get down the field before the half ended; the score still 17–10 Texas A&M.
Florida received the ball coming back from the half, and wasted no time moving the ball downfield on the ground, highlighted by Mike Gillislee rushing for 24 and Driskel scrambling for 12. Ultimately the drive stalled inside the 10 and Florida had to settle for another Sturgis field goal, chipping the lead down to 17–13. Texas A&M's offense never got going in the second half however, and their first possession gained only 8 yards, forcing the first put of the game for Ryan Epperson. The teams traded defensive blows for the next few possessions: Florida's 2nd of the half gained only 11 after Driskel was sacked 2 more times by Nealy and Porter. A&M totaled −1 on their ensuing drive, and after the Gators received the punt, they could not sustain the ground attack and gave the ball back to the Aggies for a possession stifled by a personal foul penalty to end the 3rd Quarter. The Aggies were clinging to a 4-point lead, 17–13.