The 50 most important college players in Texas in 2016 — No. 32: Texas A&M's Christian Kirk

Screen Shot 2015-11-14 at 10.19.50 PMThe importance of a player is not always defined by their skill. The most important player on a team is not always the best player on a team. This list is designed to breakdown the 50 most important players in Texas college football for the 2016 season. It is not a ranking of the 50 best college football players in the state. Importance can be defined by position, need, skill or leadership. We’ll count down the list through the summer, all the way to No. 1.Previously — 33: Houston WR Chance Allen // 34: UTSA QB Jared Johnson // 35: ACU LB Sam Denmark // 36: Houston Baptist RB Terrance Peters // 37: Rice DE Graysen Schantz // 38: UTEP DE Alvin Jones // 39: SMU RB Xavier Jones // 40: Sam Houston RB Corey Avery // 41: Prairie View A&M DE DeVohn Reed // 42: Texas State WR Demun Mercer // 43: UTEP S Devin Cockrell // 44: UNT DT Bryce English // 45: Texas OL Connor Williams // 46: Texas Tech DT Breiden Fehoko // 47: Houston DT B.J. Singleton // 48: Texas A&M DT Daylon Mack // 49: TCU S Denzel Johnson  // 50: Baylor S Chance WazNo. 32 – Texas A&M wide receiver Christian KirkThe History Wide receiver and return specialist Christian Kirk had no doubt he’d make an instant impact at Texas A&M. The former five-star recruit out of Arizona chose the Aggies over multiple big-name programs like USC, UCLA, Auburn and Arizona State. As a prep senior, he totaled more than 3,000 all-purpose yards. He rushed for 1,692 yards and 25 touchdowns, while catching 61 passes for 1,187 yards and 17 touchdowns. Kirk also scored on punt, kick and interception returns. He was named Gatorade Player of the Year for Arizona and enrolled early at Texas A&M to get a jump on the incoming freshmen. It worked. Kirk became Texas A&M’s No. 1 target as a true freshman. He finished the season with 1,009 yards and seven touchdowns on 80 receptions. He also added scores in the return game. Kirk averaged 12.6 yards a catch with a long of 66. Kirk surpassed 100 yards receiving in three of his first four games, but could only duplicate that feat one time after September, and that came in an out-of-conference game against Western Carolina. The Skillset Kirk was listed as a five-star recruit by every recruiting service for a reason. His skills are rare in a wide receiver. Kirk is a weapon every time he touches the ball. He can score as a wide receiver, be a threat in the rushing attack on jet sweeps and end-arounds, and he is emerging as the best returner in college football. He isn’t physically imposing at 5-foot-11 and 200 pounds, but Kirk makes up for it with elite quickness during his routes and the ability to pick up yards once he’s made the catch. Kirk turns into Texas A&M’s most explosive player once he touches the ball. He’s still working on becoming a better route runner. The Impact Texas A&M entered the season hoping a trio of wide receivers – Kirk, Speedy Noil and Ricky Seals-Jones – would help lead the offense. Kirk ended up being the only one to surpass expectations. Noil ended up suspended for the opener and Seals-Jones has yet to take the wide receiver position by storm despite a frame that remind many people of former Aggie great Mike Evans. Kirk is the No. 1 target in the Aggies offense and maybe that opens up more opportunities for the other wide receivers on the team. Kirk’s impact is felt on offense and special teams, making him one of the most impactful players in this state.

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