Aggie Football: Tribute to #5

My first favorite Aggie football player was Ja'Mar Toombs who wore #5 during what was his final season and my first season (2000). TOOOOOOOOOMBS! was my warcry from far atop the third deck of the student section. Ja'Mar decided to test the NFL waters after his junior season so we missed getting to see the big guy carry the pile for his senior season.

The 2001 season started and I was in need of a new player to root for. I remember being at the season opener against McNeese State sitting at the far north end of the student section watching the team warmup in the north endzone before kickoff. Naturally, #5 caught my eye and I was surprised to see him, as a true freshman, get so much action in the game. He actually led the team in receptions and yards (4 for 79) including the first receiving TD of the season. I found my new favorite player that day and Terrence Murphy carried that title through the 2004 season. He left Aggieland with his name a top virtually every A&M receiving record list.

Interestingly enough, during the spring of 2003, one of my good buddies growing up, Evan Carthey, tried out for the team and made it as a walkon. He played WR in high school but made the squad as a DB. What was so great about the situation was that he hadn't even worn pads since our senior season had ended in the fall of '99 but he got himself into playing shape 3 years later.

I met Evan in the first grade when we played soccer together and through the years we played on countless teams in several sports in addition to suffering through the same boring classes. Evan's dad, in fact, is partially responsible for my relative success on the baseball diamond in high school because when I was 11 I couldn't hit worth a lick but I learned how to bunt, which was my ticket to my varsity letters.

By sheer coincidence, Evan wore #5 on the defensive side of the ball in 2003 and 2004. He never made the field but had we scored once more in the '03 Baylor game he was going to be part of the next 12th Man Kickoff Squad.

I had no clue what to do in 2005 now that both T-Murph and E were gone but I was quite excited to see that Aggie baseball diamond standout slash scholarship football player, safety Jordan Chambless, had changed his number to #5 before the season (from #10 in '04 when he redshirted). Considering my passion for Aggie baseball my problem was solved fairly easily.

Jordan blew out his ACL in the Oklahoma State game but at this point in the season I had already added Justin Brantly, despite being a non-#5 wearer, on my list of favorite players so I had someone else to root for. I had also made mention of true freshman, Howard Morrow, in my season preview. Howard wore #5 on the offensive side of the ball.

I now need to mention another youngster who will more likely contribute after the summer injuries....true freshman #5 Howard Morrow, who by choosing to wear #5 is almost a default favorite player of mine. The rumors are swirling regarding whether we red-shirt Morrow or not....my stance on it is if he will help us win in 2005 then he should play in 2005....especially with the losses of Riley & Dickerson. Feel free to feel differently.

Howard didn't redshit but also didn't get the ball too frequently (3 receptions in the first 9 games) but he finished the season with 6 receptions including two which were SportsCenter Top 10 worthy.

Before the 2006 season Chambless chose to focus solely on baseball which left Howard Morrow as the lone #5 on the roster. He is going to be a star. Keep playing hard and the fans will love you for it.

Photos

Ja'Mar Toombs

Evan Carthey

Howard Morrow

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