Things went from bad to worse for Texas A&M fans on Monday. Just 24 hours after the team blew a 44-10 lead in an eventual 45-44 loss to UCLA, word also came down that starting quarterback Nick Starkel would be out for an extended period of time. Aggies head coach Kevin Sumlin said Starkel, who was injured early in the second half of the loss to the Bruins, underwent surgery for a fractured ankle and will be out for a “long time.” Five-star freshman Kellen Mond relieved Starkel on Sunday and completed just 3 of 17 passes as the lead slipped away. Mond will likely be the starter going forward, but it’s possible the Aggies will have to use multiple quarterbacks to fill Starkel's shoes. So who are the candidates to do that and how were they ranked as recruits? We take a look back.
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Mond started his high school career in Texas and initially committed to Baylor, prior to the sexual assault allegations surrounding many former members of the football program. Once head coach Art Briles was fired, Mond quickly re-opened his recruitment and initially looked bound for Auburn. But Texas A&M did a nice job of making up ground and within a month of backing off his Baylor pledge, Mond was committed to the Aggies.
Mond finished his high school career at IMG Academy before enrolling at Texas A&M. His stellar senior season and play during the Under Armour All-America Game helped him earn five-star status. After coming on in relief of Starkel on Sunday night Mond struggled, completing 3-of-17 passes for 27 yards and rushing 15 times for 54 yards. He is likely to start for the Aggies this weekend against Nicholls, but will have to play better to keep the job.
Lightly recruited out of high school in the Class of 2013, Hubenak elected to walk on at Oklahoma State. After a redshirt year in 2013 he elected to transfer to Blinn Community College for the 2014 season, where he played well but he didn’t earn a scholarship from the Aggies until four months after National Signing Day.
He signed with Texas A&M in June and saw playing time in his first year on campus, appearing in six games including a start in the Music City Bowl to camp the season. In 2016 Hubenak also saw sporadic playing time, appearing in seven games and starting two in place of injured starter Trevor Knight. Despite his experience, it was Mond who got the call to replace Stakel on Saturday, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see him on the field if Mond struggles again going forward.
Another true freshman, Blumrick committed to the Aggies two weeks prior Mond re-opening his recruitment. Despite the addition of Mond to the class and overtures from several other programs, Blumrick stuck by his commitment to the Aggies. He missed most of his senior high school season due to an injury and enrolled early at Texas A&M in January. All indications were that Blumrick was set to redshirt this season and that will likely still be the case. However, if Mond and Hubenak struggle, he might see his name called by the end of the year.
Bruggman has been well traveled since committing to Washington State over hometown school Arizona State in 2013. The former four-star spent one year with the Cougars before transferring to Louisville, where he sat out the 2014 season before transferring to Scottsdale College. After a year in JUCO he signed with Montana State, where he played in 11 games in 2016, throwing for 88 yards and six touchdowns. After losing his job in the spring, he transferred to Texas A&M, where he is eligible to play this season as a graduate transfer. Bruggman was once a highly regarded prospect but it’s unlikely he sees the field.
A three-star in the Class of 2015, Schneider signed with UCF and was part of the Knights team that went 0-12 in 2015. Despite playing in several games, including three starts during his freshman year, Schneider elected to transfer to Pittsburgh, where he sat out the 2016 season. After not moving up the depth chart with the Panthers, Schneider transferred again to Texas A&M, where he walked on this year. After transferring from another FBS school, Schneider is sitting out the season due to transfer rules.
A two-star in the Class of 2016, Hughes elected to walk on with the Aggies instead of accept a scholarship offer from one of several FCS programs, including Eastern Washington and North Dakota State. If Hughes sees the field, the Aggies will likely have far more to worry about than just the quarterback position.
WHAT IF
Murray was one of the most successful quarterbacks in Texas high school history and after a dramatic recruitment that saw several twists and turns, he committed to Texas A&M and stuck with the Aggies despite a late push from Texas. But the drama surrounding Murray didn’t stop when he got to college and despite seeing playing time as a true freshman in 2015, he elected to transfer following that season. Murray landed at Oklahoma, where he sat out 2016 and began 2017 as the primary back-up to Baker Mayfield. He completed 10-of-11 passes for 149 yards and a touchdown in his Sooner debut over the weekend.
A five-star in the class of 2014, Allen was the No. 1 pro-style quarterback in the Class of 2014. Early on in his career at Texas A&M, it appeared as if he would have a chance to be the heir apparent to Johnny Manziel, but after throwing for more than 2,000 yards and 17 touchdowns as a sophomore in 2015, Allen elected to transfer to Houston. He sat out the 2016 season due to transfer rules and is likely to start for the Cougars this weekend.
Hill committed to Texas A&M in the spring of his junior year and stuck with the Aggies despite a late push from Kansas State. After appearing in four games as a freshman in 2013, Hill burst onto the scene in 2014 and quickly earned the nickname “Kenny Trill” for his on-field swagger and eye-popping stats. But by the end of that year, he gave way to Allen and following that season he transferred to TCU, where he sat out 2015. In 2016 he started 13 games for the Horned Frogs, throwing for more than 3,000 yards and running for 600 more. Hill remains TCU’s starter and he threw for 206 yards in the school’s season-opening win over the weekend.
A four-star in the Class of 2013, Stewart was a highly sought after recruit, committing to the Aggies nearly two years before Signing Day over Ole Miss and Notre Dame. Stewart signed with Aggies in February but never made it to campus after being selected fourth overall by the Minnesota Twins in June. Stewart is considered one of the Twins better pitching prospects and is currently in Double-A playing for the Twins Minor League team in Chattanooga.