Stephen McGee picked to lead the Aggies' 2008 campaign

No one was surprised. Head football coach Mike Sherman Thursday named senior and third year starter Stephen McGee starting quarterback for the season opener.

McGee showed the most consistency during the first 10 days of summer drills. His closest competitor Jerrod Johnson will have to be satisfied with the backup role. This is very disappointing to some Aggie fans who felt that Johnson who showed flashes of brilliance in 2007 would get the nod.

For Sherman this gives him the freedom to concentrate most of the practice repititions on McGee. For McGee it is an opportunity to show he can lead the Aggie offense into this century. Most of McGee's career was running failed coach Dennis Franchione's 1960's retro-option offense.

He ran for 899 yards in 2007 and passed for 2,311. He led all Big 12 quarterbacks in rushing. It was an “honor” no one gave a glance. The passing yards were very deceptive. Most of the yards came when the Aggies were behind and in the desperation mode. He threw for 244 yards in a losing cause against Kansas. He racked up 247, 155, and 109 in three losing games. His two biggest passing games came against Texas and Baylor, both with very weak secondaries. He managed only 109 yards against a weak Miami team.

Perhaps Sherman thinks he can put McGee's square peg into his West Coast offense's round hole. The Aggie coach really had little choice.

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The heir apparent to the Aggie's football future is Sophomore Jarrod Johnson, a 6-6 junior. In the first 10 days of workouts Jarrod showed flashes of brilliance. He made critical errors. One error was an interception on the goal line during a scrimmage.

It is doubtful that one transgression lost the starting role for Johnson. Sherman knows he has Johnson for 2009, and he needs McGee to step up this year.

Aggies will have to wait until October to find out if McGee can move the ball against quality Big 12 defenses.

This may end up being Johnson's year after all.

By Jay Goode
Big 12 Fans Texas A&M Correspondent

More Texas A&M articles from Goode:

• Surprising newcomers may add depth to Aggie backfield
• 2008 Season Projection for Texas A&M
• R-E-S-P-E-C-T! How do the Aggies get it?
• Will Sherman be different?
• Can Jorvorskie change lanes?
• Again the Texas A&M Aggies find themselves searching for success

Find more Big 12 football articles online through Big12-fans.com!