COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Texas A&M freshman quarterback Kyler Murray missed the Aggies' practice on Wednesday for what coach Kevin Sumlin called "personal things."
Murray, along with his father, Kevin, met with Sumlin on Tuesday and Wednesday but was sent home by Sumlin before Wednesday's practice while speculation ran rampant about Murray's future and the possibility he might transfer.
Asked if Murray is considering a transfer out of the program, Sumlin said, "I don't know that he's considering. We had a discussion about all kinds of things.
"He's going through some things," Sumlin said Wednesday. "He didn't feel well. I told him to stay home today. I expect him to be back out here tomorrow. ... I told him to stay home today, and we'll talk tomorrow."
When asked if he expects Murray to start the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl, in which the Aggies will face Louisville on Dec. 30 at 7 p.m. on ESPN, Sumlin said, "Yes, I do."
Sumlin declined to elaborate on details of the meeting with the Murray family. Murray was the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback recruit in the 2015 ESPN 300. He started three games this season but spent the last two games of the regular season on the bench behind Kyle Allen and sophomore Jake Hubenak. Murray arrived as a ballyhooed recruit, having gone 42-0 as a starter at Allen (Texas) High School with three state championships. Kevin Murray was a star quarterback at Texas A&M in the 1980s.
The situation comes less than a week after Allen, who started nine games this season and 14 in his two-year Aggies career, transferred out of the program.
Allen, the No. 1-ranked pocket passer in the 2014 recruiting class, announced his intention to transfer out of the program Dec. 10. Sumlin said Wednesday he was surprised with Allen's decision to leave the program and said, "Obviously, we didn't agree with it."
A sophomore, Allen ended the regular season as the starter and presumably would have remained in that role for the bowl.
"He and his family made a decision they thought was best for them," Sumlin said of Allen. "This program is not about one person or about one coach. After those discussions, he wanted to leave."
The Aggies, who started the season 5-0, lost four of their final seven regular-season games and finished the season tied for fourth in the SEC West. Statistically, they had their worst season offensively since their SEC debut in 2012. They finished 48th nationally in yards per game (423), 63rd in yards per play (5.64), 69th in scoring (28.3 points per game), 81st in yards per pass attempt (6.46) and 97th in red zone efficiency (54.9 percent). That has led many to wonder whether changes on the offensive coaching staff are afoot.
Sumlin said the evaluation process is ongoing and will continue through the Music City Bowl.
"I've been evaluating our staff the whole time," Sumlin said. "We've done some things very well, and we've done some things not so well. Offensively, we've struggled. If there's anybody to blame, that's me.
"Just like the other things that have happened since we've been here, whether it's been on the field, off the field, defense, things that have been issues for us, we've addressed the problem and, for the most part, corrected those things. I think that's going to happen in this case."