When Texas A&M sophomore quarterback Conner Weigman came to Jordan-Hare Stadium last fall, he was a wee freshman that had just taken over the Aggies starting job and had yet to win a SEC game on the road.

“My head was spinning,” Weigman said Monday when asked about last year’s game at Auburn.

Weigman went 14-for-36 through the air against Auburn and threw one touchdown. All the while, the Auburn defense harassed the rookie, sacking him three times for a loss of 26 yards and hurrying him six other times.

Auburn went on to win a 13-10 low-scoring affair, giving Cadillac Williams his first win as the Tigers’ interim head coach.

But a “whole lot” is different between Weigman last year and Weigman this year, the sophomore quarterback says.

“I feel a way better grasp on the offenses and knowing what defenses are trying to do to confuse me,” Weigman said Monday.

And to date, Weigman’s stats back that up.

Through three games, Weigman has passed for just more than 900 yards, eight touchdowns and two interceptions. His average of 303 passing yards per game ranks 10th in the country.

On the year, Weigman boasts a 70% completion rating. Last week against Louisiana-Monroe, Weigman completed more than 86% of his passes for 337 yards, good for a stat line that — regardless of opponent — is impressive.

“He’s throwing it at a really high level right now,” Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze said of Weigman.

However, Weigman — like most quarterbacks — doesn’t play the same when he’s under pressure.

When working with a clean pocket, Weigman has completed 80% of his passes for 622 yards, according to Pro Football Focus. On the other hand, when Weigman is forced to work in the face of pressure, his completion percentage plummets to 52.4% and he’s been good for just 287 yards.

And here’s more good news: The Texas A&M offensive line isn’t great at pass blocking.

Of the 133 teams in the FBS, PFF rates the Aggies No. 98 in pass protection as the Texas A&M offensive line has allowed 45 pressures, 37 quarterback hurries and four sacks.

By contrast, Auburn’s offensive line has allowed just 14 pressures, nine quarterback hurries and three sacks.

So the opportunity to disrupt Weigman and the Texas A&M offense is certainly there. Can the Tigers’ defense do it, on the other hand, begs a different conversation.

Auburn’s offense is good — like really, really good — in some areas.

The Tigers boast the No. 1 red zone defense in the country, leads the SEC in fewest number of passing yards allowed and has the best defensive efficiency in the conference, which is good for the fifth-best in the country.

In other areas, however, the Auburn defense leaves plenty to be desired. And the defensive line is one of those areas.

“We haven’t done really well rushing the passer with just the front,” Freeze said Monday.

Come Wednesday, Auburn’s head coach doubled down on his concern.

“We’ve been probably average at best at, truthfully, getting after the quarterback without having to bring extra guys,” Freeze said. “Hopefully we can get a little healthier and try to improve that.”

It’s no secret that not having Jack linebacker Jalen McLeod available due to an ankle injury in two of Auburn’s three games hasn’t helped. He’s a guy the Tigers desperately want to get back.

“He’s probably our best pass rusher, and we’ve missed having him healthy for sure,” Freeze said. “We’ve had to create it other ways.”

Fortunately for Auburn, signs are pointing towards McLeod returning to action this Saturday against the Aggies — a team the Appalachian State transfer is familiar with.

Last fall, McLeod and the Mountaineers walked into Kyle Field and snatched a 17-14 win out from under the Aggies.

McLeod tallied three tackles, two tackles for a loss, two sacks and forced two fumbles — including strip sacking former Texas A&M quarterback Haynes King on a critical down. A Texas A&M offensive lineman went on to recover the fumble, only for McLeod to strip the ball again — this time for it to be recovered by Appalachian State.

Getting McLeod back would be a huge win for Auburn, especially considering the Tigers’ defensive backfield will be thinned in the absence of nickel back Keionte Scott, who suffered a high-ankle sprain against Samford and had surgery Monday.

“These guys have weapons that you certainly would like to have some guys in coverage and not always add to the box to bring pressure,” Freeze said.

Sophomore receiver Evan Stewart is Texas A&M’s receiving leader with 19 receptions, 257 receiving yards and two touchdowns. After missing last week’s game against Louisiana-Munroe, Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher expects Stewart to be available against Auburn.

And Stewart certainly has the respect of Freeze and the Tigers.

“They have great receivers. One of the best I’ve ever seen in (Evan) Stewart,” Freeze said. “He’s really talented, and I think they’re doing some really good things offensively.”

Senior receiver Anais Smith is another guy that has helped Texas A&M’s offense produce. He’s added 13 catches and 194 yards through three games and led the team with 127 yards on seven catches last week in Stewart’s absence.

But the successes of guys like Stewart and Smith can largely be limited if the Tigers’ defense can get after Weigman.

And that starts with Auburn’s defensive front.

“It’d be nice to get some pressure on him with just our front,” Freeze said. “And hopefully we can do that.”