Texas A&M freshman QB Kyler Murray to start vs. South Carolina

Texas A&M will start true freshman quarterback Kyler Murray when the Aggies play South Carolina on Saturday, the school announced.

Texas A&M will start true freshman quarterback Kyler Murray when the Aggies play South Carolina on Saturday, the school announced.

The Aggies have lost their last two games, with the team scoring 26 total points with Kyle Allen under center. Allen started at quarterback the first seven games of the season, but has struggled the past two weeks.

On Tuesday, head coach Kevin Sumlin said he had reopened the competition at quarterback. 

In losses to Alabama and Ole Miss, Allen completed just a combined 32 passes in 74 attempts (43.2%) for 351 yards with a touchdown and four interceptions.

Murray has appeared in five games, completing 17 of 31 passes for 167 yards and a touchdown and two interceptions. He was a highly regarded recruit coming out of high school in Allen, Texas, ranked the fifth-best quarterback in the nation by Rivals.com. 

Coaches told Murray “he won’t have a short leash,” and transfer Jake Hubenak will back him up, reports Laura Rutledge of SEC Network.

Texas A&M (5–2) hosts South Carolina (3–4) at noon ET.

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- Beth Maiman