Bowl Championship Series - Players to Watch - No. 1 Oklahoma at No. 24 Texas A&M

Friday, December 13, 2002
Players to Watch - No. 1 Oklahoma at No. 24 Texas A&M
By Mike Diegnan
BCSfootball.com

QUENTIN GRIFFIN

School: Oklahoma
Year:Sophomore
Position: Running back
Ht/Wt: 5-6, 190
Hometown:Houston, Texas

Year	Games	Rush	Yards	TD	Rec.	Yards	TD
2000	8	124	460	13	24	235	0
1999	5	44	285	4	11	107	1
Career	13	168	745	17	35	342	1

Kansas State and Nebraska chose to blitz Josh Heupel with everything they could. It led to disastrous results. K-State let up 41 points, while Nebraska blew a 14-0 lead in a 31-14 loss. The Wildcats pounded Heupel. It led to nothing but accurate throws. Despite five sacks and numerous hits, the senior southpaw completed 29-of-37 for 374 yards in Manhattan. He posted similar numbers against Nebraska.

Texas A&M hopes it has learned a lesson as College Station is the next stop for the Heupel Express this Saturday (ABC, 1 p.m. ET). Defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz was humbled last year by Heupel, who threw for 372 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another three scores in the Sooners' 51-6 rout in Norman.

Hankwitz hasn't revealed his game plan for defending Heupel, but expect more of a passive approach. The Aggies start a young secondary with two sophomores (CB Sammy Davis and SS Terrence Kiel) and a redshirt freshman (CB Sean Weston), but Texas A&M again boasts a talented linebacking corps.

The linebackers will likely defend the pass more than rush Heupel. That will put more of an emphasis on Oklahoma running back Quentin Griffin. If Heupel's receivers are covered well by A&M's secondary and linebackers, Oklahoma will have to find new ways to move the ball. Griffin will be the key, running the ball as well as underneath.

Griffin, who grew up just hours away from A&M in Houston, has a nose for the end zone -- scoring 13 times in the past six games. But this weekend, if the Aggies are willing to give up the short play in return for defending one of Heupel's big-play receivers, Griffin will have to be one of Heupel's main options.

At Kansas State, Griffin caught the ball six times for 46 yards. He will likely need to post similar numbers against Texas A&M for the Sooners to continue on their way to Kansas City for the Big XII Championship Game.

JA'MAR TOOMBS

School: Texas A&M
Year: Junior
Position: Fullback
Ht/Wt: 6-0, 275
Hometown: Kilgore, Texas

Year	Games	Rush	Yards	TD	Rec.	Yards	TD
2000	9	86	230	12	9	81	0
1999	11	147	583	9	9	128	1
1998	13	86	422	3	6	54	0
Career	33	319	1235	24	24	263	1

As good as Oklahoma's offense has been this fall, the Sooners defense has been just as impressive. Against Nebraska, the Sooners held the Huskers to just 173 yards and 0 points after the first two possessions.

Texas A&M's offense faces two challenges Saturday with OU. First, the Aggies must match the Sooners in points, which could mean as many as 30-35, which the Aggies have done only once in their past five games. Secondly, the Aggies must control the clock. While Oklahoma scores quickly when it has the ball, Texas A&M must slow down the game and limit the number of opportunities for Heupel.


	Rich Whitaker is averaging 5.7 yards per carry for the Aggies.

"Our offense will have a burden in this game to score points, make first downs and stay on the field," said A&M coach R.C. Slocum. "I don't think we want to get in a pass-for-pass contest. The object is for our offense to maintain some balance, make some first downs, keep the ball and score some points."

It's easier said than done, but the Aggies will hand over the offense to two anomalies in today's college football game -- 25-year-old quarterback Mark Farris and 275-pound running back Ja'Mar Toombs. Farris' leadership is important to the team, but it will be Toombs who will set the tone.

Toombs, who has not fumbled in 95 touches this season, became the offense's focal point against Kansas State two weeks ago. He responded with 24 carries for 89 yards and three scores in the Aggies' upset of the Wildcats. He will be counted on to do similar damage against a defensive line that is smaller than him.

His play has opened up the attack for Rich Whitaker, a 5-10, 192-pound tailback, who rushed for 71 yards last week against Oklahoma State, and 6-2, 222-pound Joe Weber. They combine to form a trio of varying size and power that could tire the Sooners' front seven. That would be the best scenario for A&M.

Mike Diegnan is the editor of BCSfootball.com.

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