Tyler White earned Ray Guy honors after a monster night at LSU, but his seven punts also revealed just how badly Texas A&M’s offense struggled.
Texas A&M punter Tyler White was outstanding against LSU. That’s the good news.
The bad news is the Aggies needed him seven times.
White was named the Ray Guy Award Punter of the Week after averaging 51.9 yards per punt in Texas A&M’s 35-6 loss at LSU, but his huge night also underscored just how little the Aggies’ offense accomplished in Baton Rouge.
Texas A&M finished with only 197 total yards while LSU rolled up 506. Quarterback Marcel Reed completed 10 of 26 passes for 106 yards, and the Aggies never reached the end zone.
So White stayed busy.
The senior from Southlake punted seven times for 363 yards, with six of those kicks traveling at least 50 yards. His longest went 58 yards, three landed inside the LSU 20 and two forced fair catches.
Only one punt was returned, and it went for negative yardage.
That’s dominant work from a punter. It’s also not the workload Texas A&M wants him carrying every Saturday.
White is averaging 50.0 yards per punt through four games, the best mark among qualified FBS punters. Ten of his 15 punts have traveled at least 50 yards, seven have been placed inside the 20 and opponents have totaled minus-2 return yards against him.
Texas A&M’s special teams produced essentially all of the bright spots in Baton Rouge.
Transfer kicker David Olano supplied all six Aggie points, converting from 24 yards and drilling a career-long 53-yarder in the third quarter.
Afterward, head coach Mike Elko didn’t sugarcoat where his team stands.
“We have to find a way to play better football,” Elko said. “We’re not playing football at nearly a good enough level.”
White, meanwhile, continues to look like a future professional punter. His leg strength, placement and ability to limit returns give Texas A&M a legitimate field-position weapon.
The Aggies would just prefer not to showcase him quite this much.
Texas A&M returns home Saturday to face Arkansas at Kyle Field with kickoff scheduled for 6 p.m. on ESPN2.
If White has another award-worthy night, the Aggies better hope it comes with considerably fewer punts.
