Conner Weigman is ready to regain the reins as the Texas A&M Aggies' starting quarterback. At least mentality he's prepared.
Physically, the redshirt sophomore is still working back to full strength.
First-year coach Mike Elko confirmed that Weigman would be a participant in spring drills, but he'd be limited in certain areas. Weigman, who won the starting job last season, still is recovering from a foot injury suffered in Week 4's win over Auburn.
"He’s still battling,” Elko said of Weigman's status during the team's first spring press conference. "He'll be out there practicing. I don't think he's exactly where he'd like to be long term, not that he's behind or anything or hasn't done what he's supposed to do, or there's concerns. I think, obviously, he would like to be a little bit healthier."
Weigman battled Max Johnson for first-team reps after starting the final four games of the 2022 season. He was on pace for a record year following starts against New Mexico, Miami, and Louisiana-Monroe, but a late hit during the final drive of the second quarter sidelined him for the second half.
Initially, then-coach Jimbo Fisher thought it was a sprain, but a CT scan revealed Weigman needed surgery. He'd missed the remainder of the year as A&M trudged its way to a 7-6 finish behind three different quarterbacks.
Weigman threw for 979 yards with eight touchdowns and two interceptions in four starts.
" He'll be able to work efficiently as a pocket passer. I don't know how well he'll be able to truly run around yet," Elko said. "He still hasn't quite been fully out there doing agility work and those types of things. It's important for us to get him out there and get him integrated in the system.”
This is Elko's squad now. His word is the law and players must adjust to his preachings if they hope to carve out playing time in 2024.
But Weigman, a member of the historic No. 1 recruiting class of 2022, has proven his worth as a starter in eight games. Elko confirmed entering Friday's first practice, he will take first-team reps.
“Connor's going to go into the spring as the number one guy," said Elko.
Elko also praised both Jaylen Henderson and Marcel Reed for their efforts down the stretch after Johnson suffered a season-ending rib injury against Ole Miss. The former Blue Devils coach is planning to let the competition determine who starts Week 1 against Notre Dame.
"Like every position across the board, there's competition this spring and Connor certainly needs to be out there,"
While Weigman will be commanding the huddle, his starting center will miss spring practice for a third consecutive time. Junior Bryce Foster will participate in track and field over football, given his success as a shot put thrower.
Elko also confirmed several other players will miss most — if not all of — spring practice due to injury, including tight end Donovan Green., offensive linemen Kam Dewberry and Aki Ogunbiyi and defensive ends Shemar Turner and Enai White. Green is still recovering from his torn ACL suffered last August in fall camp.
The other injuries, however, are new.
"They just all recovering from offseason stuff that happened during the season, nothing that we anticipate going into the summer," said Elko.
The annual Maroon and White Game will take place at Kyle Field on April 20.
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