COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Texas A&M's win over The University of New Mexico last year marked a changing of the guard, with sophomore Jerrod Johnson taking over at quarterback.

The Mike Sherman era, however, never truly recovered from what happened the previous week: A humiliating opening loss to Arkansas State.

The Aggies begin the 2009 season today against the Lobos at Kyle Field, the first step to improve on last year's 4-8 record and a chance to show A&M's impatient fan base that the program is heading in the right direction.

"The opener kind of sets the tone for the season," said sophomore wide receiver Jeff Fuller. "That's definitely what we're going to try to do."

A&M's chances for a turnaround begins with Johnson, who won back his job in a tight competition with Ryan Tannehill, A&M's top receiver in 2008. Tannehill is now Johnson's full-time backup.

Johnson was the No. 2 quarterback heading into last season, but senior Stephen McGee sprained his shoulder early in the New Mexico game on Sept. 6. Johnson came in, threw three touchdown passes in the Aggies' 28-22 victory and never relinquished the job.

"I didn't think about it much," he said this week. "I guess I figured this is what I've got to do for the team. The time came and fell upon me. This year, it's a little bit of a different situation."

Johnson's debut turned out to be one of his best performances of the season. He was inconsistent, gave away too many turnovers and finished the year ranked in the bottom half of the Big 12 in every passing category.

He feels more secure in his role now, after a full year to learn the offense and hammer out the flaws in his game.

"Last year, I was kind of tough figuring out what I needed to do, what am I going to expect?" he said. "Now, I know what to expect, know what game day's going to be like, know what the atmosphere is going to be like."

Fuller leads what should be an improved batch of A&M receivers and speedy Cyrus Gray moves into the starting running back spot after Mike Goodson left a year early to play in the NFL.

Sherman says he'll be most closely watching his offensive line after the unit struggled with injuries and inexperience in his first season. The Aggies ranked last in the Big 12 in rushing offense (88.5 yards per game) and sacks allowed (39) in 2008.

Three starters return and LSU transfer Matt Allen moves in to play right tackle, but sophomore Danny Baker will make his first start at left tackle against the Lobos.

"As a group, I feel like we've made some progress," Sherman said. "Danny Baker has done a nice job for us in the offseason. That's always going to be the position I'm most concerned about because that is the blind side of the quarterback."

The Lobos are seeking a similar turnaround after matching A&M's 4-8 record and a 2-6 mark in the Mountain West Conference. UNM dropped its last four games in 2008 and coach Rocky Long resigned.

Quarterback Donovan Porterie will make his first start since tearing knee ligaments in the fourth game last season.

Porterie threw for 3,006 yards in 2007, the fourth-best total in school history, and first-year head coach Mike Locksley says Porterie looked sharp in August workouts.

"Donovan has earned the right to be our starting quarterback," Locksley said. "You can see the leadership that maybe I didn't see in the spring."

Locksley is probably looking forward to his coaching debut as much as anyone as a legal dispute with a former administrative assistant drags on.

He said he's been so immersed in preparations for the opener, he's had little time to think about much else.

"I haven't really had a chance to think about it," he said. "I'm in the offensive staff room helping with the day-to-day game plan. I told the team that, in the quiet before the storm, in the tunnel before we come out, that's where hopefully, that's where those emotions come out."