The skinny: Practice 4 -- A&M worked out for 65 minutes in helmets and shorts in the morning inside, then 90 minutes in full pads in the afternoon outside.
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Mixed day: Head coach Mike Sherman was pleased with the morning, but the afternoon was at times sloppy. Several players had to leave early in the afternoon for a study group, including sophomore running back Cyrus Gray, which didn't help the flow. "It was a little raggedy here in the afternoon," Sherman said. "I had to bite my lip a few times."
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Tough catch: Junior wide receiver Kenny Brown had one of the day's best catches, making a diving grab on about a 45-yard pass in the morning during 7-on-7 action. He slightly separated his left shoulder on the play, but he won't need surgery, just rest and ice. Sherman is hopeful Brown will return before the end of drills on April 24. "You don't want to tell him he's not supposed to dive for balls without pads on," Sherman said. "It's hard to do, because it's just an instinctive thing."
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Next up: A&M will work out at 6 a.m. and 4 p.m. Thursday. Practice is open to current A&M students, former students (wearing an Aggie ring) and A&M faculty or staff with a current ID.
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The other "jack": Junior Von Miller has made several plays in A&M's new hybrid "jack" position that combines linebacker and defensive end. The other player at that spot is senior Matt Featherston. "It seems like he has the talent to play that position," Sherman said. "I'm anxious to see him more in scrimmage situations to see what he can do." Featherston deflected a pass during the afternoon scrimmage. Junior linebacker Michael Hodges stripped the ball from senior running back Ryan O'Bryant and Miller scooped up the football and scored. ... Sherman reiterated that A&M will run some 3-4 defensive formations, but will also keep the 4-3 package.
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Lewis vs. Mangan: Senior Anthony Lewis and redshirt freshman Kyle Mangan have traded time at linebacker with the first team, which likely will continue unless one of them takes control, Sherman said. Mangan caused and recovered a fumble on the same play during the afternoon scrimmage.
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Offense breaks through: The offense won the daily competition for the first time, forcing the defense to run sprints afterward. The offense grabbed a spirited 87-86 victory. The offense had an 87-84 victory before the last play, which was called offensive pass interference by one of two local officials getting in some work. The defense argued that a penalty was worth three points, which would have resulted in a tie. Sherman deferred to his director of football operations, Gary Reynolds, who penalized the offense only two points.
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Interceptions: Senior safety Jordan Pugh made a dandy interception during the morning 7-on-7 drills. Junior quarterback Jerrod Johnson slightly overthrew senior tight end Jamie McCoy deep down the middle. Pugh, coming at an angle, made the interception on the run with his arms fully extended, not breaking stride. ... Mangan and sophomore linebacker Garrick Williams worked the tip drill during 7-on-7 for an interception with Mangan tipping and Williams catching.
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Offensive plays: Sophomore wide receiver Taylor Randle made a diving catch while closely defended by two players. Randle's offensive teammates let him hear it as he stood up. ... Sophomore running back Bradley Stephens had an 45-yard touchdown run and a couple other solid efforts. ... Sophomore wide receiver Jeff Fuller continues to make plenty of catches. He caught a long pass from Johnson in the afternoon scrimmage after Johnson got the defense to jump offside. The offense had six incompletions during the afternoon scrimmaging, but the sure-handed Fuller made the catch the quieted the defense.
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Et cetera: A&M added another verbal commitment from its Sunday Junior Day -- Dallas Skyline linebacker Domonique Patterson (6-1, 210). ... Fort Worth All Saints tight end Hutson Prioleau, who will be a freshman this fall, watched the afternoon practice. Others in the crowd were former Bryan High head coach Marty Criswell and two members of his staff, Sam Smith and Jim Kazmierski. Bryan High AD Harry Francis Jr., who played baseball at A&M, was also there along with son Trey.