Ryan Tannehill Leads Texas A&M Offense After Long Wait

ARLINGTON, Texas -- For the better part of three seasons, Ryan Tannehill believed and hoped his chance to play quarterback for the Texas A&M Aggies would come.

Then he would trot out onto the football field and play the role of the Aggies' trusty wide receiver. It was something of a weird paradox Tannehill existed in, starring at receiver while holding tight to the belief his lone chance to start at quarterback would come in 2011 -- his senior season -- once Jerrod Johnson's eligibility was complete.

But about midway through this season with Johnson still struggling from off-season shoulder surgery, Tannehill was called upon to start his quarterback career early.

"I always had hope it was going to work out, but I didn't think it was going to happen this year with Jerrod coming back this year after a great year last year," Tannehill said to FanHouse. "I wasn't really expecting to have the opportunity this year so I was going to make the most at receiver while I was out there. But I always had hope in the back of my mind that it was going to happen for me my senior year."

In the meantime, Tannehill was content catching balls as a gameday receiver and hoping Mike Sherman would give him a one-year shot next season. He had become a reliable receiver in Sherman's pro-style offense, catching 112 balls for 1,596 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2 1/2 seasons.

"It was definitely tough, not being in a position you felt you wanted to play," said Tannehill, who had been the subject of transfer rumors in the past. "But the fact I was able to get on the field at receiver lightened that up for me. If I was having to sit on the sidelines, it definitely would have been a lot tougher for me. But the fact I was able to get on the field and play 2 1/2 years at receiver, I think it definitely eased the frustration of not playing quarterback."

Throughout his time at receiver, Sherman and Tannehill kept the dialogue going about what the future held and his desire to play quarterback. Tannehill seemed assured he would get his shot.

"He always had trust in me, faith in me that I can play the quarterback position," Tannehill said. "He definitely let me know he thought I could play quarterback here. So it wasn't like he just kept me on the back burner and didn't tell me anything. He was very supportive in the fact, 'Jerrod is our guy right now, but you definitely will be the quarterback.'"

Tannehill's elevation may have come early, but it seems to have been just in time to turn around what appeared to be a disappointing season in Aggieland. Texas A&M was reeling at 3-3 and 0-2 in the Big 12 when Tannehill began playing meaningful snaps.

The Aggies haven't lost since. They are 6-0 since Tannehill began playing quarterback and 5-0 with him as a starter as they head into Friday night's primetime matchup against LSU in the AT&T Cotton Bowl.

It's easy to see how most attribute the turnaround to Tannehill's presence as a smart and gritty player. Everything started clicking once Tannehill took over, the offense got rolling and the defense began delivering performances reminiscent of heyday as the 1990s Wrecking Crew.

"I see it as a team effort. I just kind of came in at the right time. Everyone wants to put it on me, but it wasn't me at all. "
-- Ryan Tannehill, on A&M's winning streak But Tannehill insists giving him the credit is really missing the point.

"I see it as a team effort," said Tannehill, who has thrown for 1,254 yards and eight touchdowns in his five starts. "I just kind of came in at the right time. Everyone wants to put it on me, but it wasn't me at all.

"Our team really came together as an entire team. The defense started making plays, flying around and being the Wrecking Crew and the offensive line gelled as a unit. Everything started coming together, the receivers continued to get better and started making plays and (running back) Cyrus Gray when Christine Michael went down he came on strong and started making plays for us."

Suddenly, a program that seemed to find a way to lose the big games was knocking off everyone. The Aggies thumped Texas Tech in Tannehill's first start, then they upset Oklahoma and Nebraska -- the South and North Division champs -- en route to one of the most impressive finishes in the country.

As a result, Tannehill gets to lead the Aggies into maybe their most eagerly anticipated bowl game since the 1999 Sugar Bowl matchup with Ohio State. A win over the Tigers could set the stage for a season of anticipation for Tannehill and the Aggies in 2011.

But instead of looking too far ahead, Tannehill is still just trying to absorb the whirlwind in which he and the Aggies are caught up.

"It's special," he said. "I wanted to be a quarterback here when I came here. It's been a goal of mine the entire time and to realize that goal and have that opportunity starting the Texas Tech game and to kind of carry it out the rest of the season, it's been great.

"This is going to be my first bowl game as a quarterback and I'm really cherishing it right now and trying to make the best of it on Friday."