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At 8-0 and ranked No. 1 in the strength of record category, the Texas A&M Aggies are right in the mix for an SEC title and a national championship run. Naturally, confidence in the locker room is sky high, and there’s no harm in that. A little belief never hurt anyone. But if history is anything to go by, overconfidence has often been the root cause of many downfalls in college football. And recently, Texas A&M freshman Marco Jones might have tiptoed across that line. In his first press briefing as a college athlete, freshman Marco Jones, a dual-sport player, offered a glimpse of his plans for next spring. The only catch? Those plans begin after Texas A&M wins the national championship.“After the football season ends. Hopefully, after the national championship,” he said to the press. “I’ll go play baseball (listed on Aggies baseball roster).” In his first season, Jones has yet to experience a loss, with the Aggies sitting at 8-0. Confidence is understandable, but assuming the ending before it’s written can be a risky business in college football. Nick Saban termed it ‘rat poison’. He used the term to describe the media attention and fan praise that can distract players from the work still ahead. “That’s what takes your focus away from who are we playing this week,” he said on the Pat McAfee show. Saban was all about ‘The Process,’ focusing on continuous improvement rather than on fixating on the outcomes. So, did Marco Jones make the classic mistake of looking too far ahead? ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad As an early enrollee, Jones has been focusing on his development, gaining weight from 245 to 260 pounds and adding significant strength since arriving in College Station. Across five games, he has recorded 12 tackles and is improving every week. “I feel good, definitely, really just taking in all the older guys that are in the group,” Jones said. “The whole d-line just helping me out. I’m just trying to get better and better every day.” He is focusing on his development, learning from veteran players on the roster. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad During spring drills, he earned the approval of Mike Elko. “Marco Jones has a really bright future here,” Elko had said, calling him extremely athletic with a tremendous ability to rush the passer. “He’s going to be a really, really good football player for us.” In his high school junior year, he recorded 149 tackles and two receptions. Continuing his impressive performance, the true freshman recorded five sacks and six tackles, including one for loss and a pass breakup, during the Maroon and White spring game. Seeing his potential, TexAgs’ Billy Liucci said, “If I have a true freshman that I would pick to have the biggest impact this season, it’s Marco Jones.” Over the course of the season, he has recorded 2.5 sacks. Presently, Aggies boast an elite defense that has recorded 32 sacks over the season and are eying the natty dream. Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad Can Aggies win the national championship? The Aggies have won eight games this season. For the broader context, it is the first time they have been undefeated so far in a season. But can they win the SEC title and run for the national championship? One of the arguments regarding the subject is fixated on their schedule. “(Texas A&M is) undefeated, but they’ve only played one true road game this year against a legit contender, and that was against Notre Dame,” analyst Greg McElroy said on the ‘Always College Football’ podcast. Wins against Auburn, Florida, and LSU gave them the spotlight. However, these programs had struggled throughout the season, and their head coaches were eventually fired. Presently, they have challenging opponents down the schedule, facing off against Missouri and Texas. However, CBS Sports’ David Cobb believes that the Aggies are a national championship contender. “[The] No. 3 Aggies are the SEC title frontrunner and a top-tier national championship contender,” he wrote.
