Texas A&M quarterback Conner Weigman, a former five-star recruit who began each of the last two seasons as the Aggies’ starting quarterback, intends to enter the transfer portal, a source briefed on the decision confirmed.

The decision, while not unexpected, closes the chapter on what was once a promising A&M career for Weigman.

As part of Texas A&M’s historic 2022 recruiting class, the highest-rated in the modern recruiting era according to 247Sports, Weigman showed early flashes of the talent that earned him his lofty recruiting ranking. He started four of the last five games of the 2022 season, then won the starting job going into the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

His 2023 campaign was cut short by a foot injury suffered in the first month of the season. At the time, Weigman was playing his best football, completing 68.9 percent of his passes for 979 yards, eight touchdowns and two interceptions.

After A&M’s coaching change from Jimbo Fisher to Mike Elko, the program entered 2024 with high hopes for Weigman. But he endured a rough debut in A&M’s 23-13 loss to Notre Dame and missed three games later in September with a shoulder injury. He returned to start the next three, including a 41-10 win over Missouri in which he looked dominant, but he was benched in an Oct. 26 win over LSU for Reed, who had started earlier in the season while Weigman was sidelined.

Weigman only saw the field once in November, playing nine snaps in the second half of a 38-3 win over New Mexico State.

In three seasons, Weigman appeared in 15 games (starting 13), throwing for 2,694 yards, 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He completed 60 percent of his throws.

Despite his up-and-down 2024 season, Weigman is likely to find plenty of suitors in the transfer portal. When he’s at his best, he was considered one of the nation’s top quarterbacks. Coming into the season, there was some buzz about Weigman being a potential first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft if he had a strong season.

But he struggled to find consistency as A&M’s starter this season. After being benched in the LSU game, Elko said that Weigman was “sped up” in going through his progressions and not seeing the field as well as he had before. That led to poor decisions and inaccurate throws.

“His clock starts moving faster when he’s not having success,” Elko said on Oct. 28. “His eyes are going through the progressions a little too quick. He’s getting the ball out of his hand a little too quick. I think we saw that a couple of throws.

“Or he rushes his mechanics a little bit and the ball sails on him.”

The fact that his last two seasons were interrupted by injury also didn’t help him. Weigman never had a chance to be a full-time starter for more than four consecutive games during his A&M career. Weigman, from Cypress, Texas, near Houston, was the No. 2 quarterback in the 2022 class, according to 247Sports.

The transfer portal officially opens on Dec. 9.

(Photo: Tim Warner / Getty Images)

We must conserve water

Re: “Greed, not need, is behind reservoir plan — Companies proposing lakes also build them; there are better water alternatives available,” by Justin Lannen, Sunday Opinion.

Thanks and thanks again to Lannen for a timely and necessary piece of writing about the water needs of North Texas. The inescapable observation of the author is that while “El Paso and San Diego are proving that sustainable water management is not only possible but effective, Texas clings to an outdated and exploitative model.”

So why can’t Dallas and North Texas conserve? Do we really need huge green lawns? Gardens which are reminiscent of New England?

Lannen clearly states “conservation is not just an alternative; it’s a responsibility.” How much property will have to be lost? How many families will have to lose their businesses? How much natural heritage? How much is enough?

Ellen Taylor Seldin, Dallas

Questions about Guyger case

Re: “Guyger should get a lawyer and sue Dallas — City should have provided for her defense in civil case she lost,” by Geoff J. Henley, Sunday Opinion.

The result of the lawsuit against Amber Guyger has left a really bad taste for me. Where is the justice in suing someone who has no income to hire counsel? Was it not enough that Guyger is paying for her mistake — and it was a mistake, there was no premeditation — with years of incarceration?

I have no problem with that, but to ruin the rest of her life with a judgment she will never be able to pay is just too much.

One more question. Where was the American Civil Liberties Union during this? Don’t they pride themselves in taking on any case no matter how unpopular it is? Perhaps they should step up and file an appeal.

Richard L. Williams, Dallas/Oak Cliff

Column reminds of favorite quote

Re: “Give thanks for old friends today — Those who ran with me in the past walk with me now,” by Talmage Boston, Thursday Opinion.

Boston’s column was very enjoyable, especially the quotes about friendships. My favorite quote about friends is from the movie Stand by Me. The narrator, while reflecting on his group of childhood friends, says, “I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was 12. Jesus, does anyone?”

That pretty much held true for me. Maybe it does for a lot of people.

Fred R. Neary, Far North Dallas

A&M-Texas memories

Re: “A&M-Texas rivalry back where it belongs — Football, not politics, used to make Thanksgiving tense,” by Ryan Sanders, Nov. 24 Opinion.

As an Aggie wife with an Aggie husband, both of us enjoyed the column by Sanders. My husband and our granddaughter both graduated from Texas A&M in 1956 and 2006 respectively. They are both proud Aggies. But aren’t they all?

Our son-in-law and grandson are Longhorns. Years ago when they came to our home to watch the game (or should I say “the debacle”), both of them were relegated to the garage to watch the game on a very small TV set on top of a refrigerator.

Our grandson, who lives in Houston, just yesterday reminisced about the injustice they received. Being a very vocal Longhorn father, at least he did not curse before his son during the game.

To this day, unsportsmanlike conduct still exists. But Paw Paw still loves you, Hunter! But, after Saturday, not so much!

To all readers, my husband still says, Gig ‘Em!

Paula Dardaganian, Richardson

A disservice to students

The decision to emphasize the Bible in Texas school textbooks raises an important question: Are we preparing our children to succeed in a global economy? In an interconnected world, success stems from cultural competency — the ability to understand, respect and collaborate with diverse cultures and perspectives. As Texas emerges as an economic powerhouse, we must ask if our state is ready to be a global destination for recruiting and retaining talent.

While nations worldwide educate their students on multiple religions and traditions, Texas risks narrowing its focus to Christianity. This narrow approach does a disservice to our students, particularly in a state as diverse as ours. To compete on the world stage, our education system must reflect and celebrate this diversity.

My Hindu children attended an Episcopal school where a Jewish teacher taught a semester-long course on Islam. They explored its traditions, cultural practices and global influence. This experience not only enriched their worldview but also prepared them to connect and collaborate with people from all backgrounds — an essential skill in today’s economy.

Cultural inclusivity is the key to preparing our children for success.

Chanda Parbhoo, Dallas

Religion in public schools

I have lived in Texas since 1973 and found Texas values very productive. The current problem that I see is building programs that will benefit the people of Texas and be manageable. The U.S. Constitution talks about freedom of religion and freedom from religion. Texas is famous for its religion and its propagation. Little communities that struggle to have a school still have one or two churches.

Why, then, do our state leaders feel we need a religious curriculum to be taught in our schools? This is not only a violation of the separation of church and state, but they are sticking their nose into church business. We should cough up the money to make sure that we provide the very best education to Texas students and let the church see to the child’s religious education.

Texas churches, if you were doing a better job this would not be happening. Contact your legislator and make it clear what your church position is and tell your members what the church’s position is.

Goebel H. Vaughn, Plano

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Blaine Crim has been looking for a path to the Texas Rangers for a couple of years now.

A path to the Majors may finally appear in 2025. But, it may take him being selected in the Rule 5 Draft to make it happen.

Crim was one of several top Rangers prospects that were left exposed in the Rule 5 Draft when they were not moved to the 40-man roster. So, when baseball descends on Dallas for next month’s annual winter meetings, Crim will be on the list of players available to other teams.

He was left exposed last year and wasn’t selected. Things could go differently this time.

Baseball America recently highlighted Crim as a player to watch in next month’s draft.

Why? He’s been a highly-productive minor leaguer since he joined the organization in 2019 as a 19th round selection out of Mississippi College.

He has played two full seasons at Triple-A Round Rock and has built a track record for productivity.

He has had four straight 20-home runs season in the minor leagues, starting in 2021. He slashed .277/.370/.469/.839 with 20 home runs and 86 RBI last season and .289/.385/.506/.891 with 22 home runs and 85 RBI in 2023. He’s never hit below .277 in a single minor league season and his OPS has never dipped below .800.

Under normal circumstances, Crim would have made his MLB debut already. But, the Rangers are set at first base with Nathaniel Lowe. He won the Silver Slugger and a Gold Glove in 2023 when Texas won the World Series. He also has two years of team control left, as he’s not eligible for free agency until after the 2026 season.

The Rangers also prefer to not have a primary designated hitter, which would also be a potential fit for Crim.

Baseball America sees Crim as a “low-risk, low-cost” selection because he can help at team at first base and at designated hitter. Their evaluators compared him to the Ryan Noda. He gave them cheap power as a rookie in 2023, as he hit 16 home runs and drove in 54 runs in 128 games.

So, for teams looking for cheap power at the corner that could play in the Majors in 2025, Crim may be an answer for them next month.

Crim is eligible because he’s played at least four minor-league seasons and was signed after age 19. Players signed before 18 have to play at least five years to be eligible. To be protected, a player must be moved to a team’s 40-man roster.

If he is selected, the team that picks him the Rangers $100,000 and must put Crim on its 26-man roster and, if they decide not to keep him, Crim must be placed on outright waivers in order to be removed from the 26-man roster in the subsequent season.

Should he clear waivers, Crim could be offered back to the Rangers for $50,000.