Offensive Starters Returning: QB Stephen McGee, RB Jorvorskie Lane, FB Chris Alexander, WR Earvin Taylor, TE Martellus Bennett, OL Corey Clark, OL Kirk Elder, OL Travis Schneider, OL Cody Wallace

Defensive Starters Lost: DT Bryce Reed, DE Jason Jack, LB Justin Warren, S Melvin Bullitt, S Brock Newton

Defensive Starters Returning: DT Red Bryant, DE Chris Harrington, LB Misi Tupe, CB Danny Gorrer, CB Jordan Peterson, S Devin Gregg

Starting Specialists Lost: K Layne Neumann

Starting Specialists Returning: P Justin Brantly

The Texas A&M defense drastically improved between 2005 and 2006. In the second year under coordinator Gary Darnell, the Aggies hope the defense will continue to be better. If the unit can continue to improve with a year of experience in the 4-2-5 scheme, the defense will turn from a question mark into the strong point of the A&M team.

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2007 Texas A&M Offense:

Quarterback Stephen McGee developed into a great team leader and it is not just his heart and hustle that inspire his teammates. McGee completed 62 percent of his passes and threw 12 touchdowns and just two interceptions. The junior is also a solid runner and will take off if his receiving targets are not open. Yet, due to a quality group of receivers and a stellar offensive line, McGee will not be forced to scramble often. Senior receiver Chad Schroeder returns after leading the squad with 612 receiving yards and tight ends Martellus Bennett and Joey Thomas are one of the best tandems in the conference.

The line returns four starters, including first-team All-Big 12 selections Cody Wallace and Kirk Elder. While that experience will make McGee more comfortable in the pocket, A&M is still all about the running game. Mike Goodson and Jorvorskie Lane are a dynamic duo that will lead the offense in productivity. Goodson, who earned Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors in 2006, rushed for 847 yards and four touchdowns. Lane is a big, bruising back and found the end zone 19 times.

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2007 Texas A&M Defense:

The front four has a bevy of talent and depth. End Chris Harrington is the defensive leader and will once again wreak havoc on the opposing backfield. Tackles Red Bryant and Kellen Heard combine to weigh 654 pounds and should improve on the Aggies 55 th nationally ranked rushing defense of a year ago. Linebackers Misi Tupe and Mark Dodge will help keep the opposing running even more worried. Tupe, a junior college transfer, earned Defensive Newcomer of the Year accolades in the conference and is suddenly an experienced leader. Dodge recorded 51 tackles as a junior and is ready to step into a full-time starting position. Sophomore’s Matt Featherston and Anthony Lewis have plenty of potential and, at the least, will add some quality depth to the linebacker corps.

The secondary showed the most improvement with the addition of Darnell’s defensive scheme and with some talent returning, Aggie fans hope it will be even better this year. The five man unit is young, but Danny Gorrer and Devin Gregg are proven performers. Jordan Pugh, who had a solid spring, Jordan Peterson and Alton Dixon will have to play up to their potential if the unit wants to take another big step.

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The Bottom Line for the 2007 Aggies:

Texas A&M lost three games at home, by a combined total of six points last year. They were amazingly close to playing for a lot more than the Holiday Bowl. And with 17 starters returning, the ball might bounce the right way this year. Winning at Texas was huge, but much of that momentum was lost with a slaughtering at the hands of California in the bowl game.

by Joel Welser