Texas A&M Aggies Defensive Players To Watch vs. Ole Miss

The Texas A&M Aggies' defense was one of the few bright spots in what was otherwise a scuffling season in College Station.

The Ole Miss Rebels were a field goal away from dropping what would have been their second game of the 2022 season.

The Texas A&M Aggies' defense broke down and allowed the Rebels to score 24 points in one-and-a-half quarters.

Here are the three Texas A&M defenders Ole Miss will have to game plan for when the two square off in week 10.

SAF Demani Richardson

With Ole Miss' pass-first offensive approach, expect to see a lot of safety Demani Richardson Nov. 4.

He could have gone to the NFL after last season with fellow safety Antonio Johnson, but he decided to return for his senior season.

Richardson roams center field for the Aggies, can cover ground when helping cornerbacks over the top and can come down to the line of scrimmage and defend the run.

He led Texas A&M with 73 tackles last season, intercepting a pass and breaking up five others.

If quarterback Jaxson Dart is not sharp with his throws to his array of pass-catching options, it might end up in Richardson's hands going the other way.

DL McKinnley Jackson

Like Richardson, defensive lineman McKinnley Jackson was named Preseason Second Team All-SEC honors.

Four of the first five games of Jackson's 2022 campaign were lost due to injury, failing to record a tackle until the Alabama game Oct. 8, 2022.

His five-tackle performance against the Crimson Tide jump-started a five-game stretch that defined his season. In that time, Jackson had 32 of his 37 tackles he recorded last season, all seven tackles for loss, both of his sacks and a blocked kick.

He was lights out against Ole Miss last season, recording a career-high 12 tackles, 1.5 for loss and a sack.

The Rebels' offensive line will have to get a good push and likely double-team Jackson, who stands 6-2 and weighs 325 pounds, to reestablish the line of scrimmage and create running lanes for running back Quinshon Judkins.

DL Walter Nolen

Texas A&M released its 2023 roster Wednesday, and one of the glaring differences was defensive lineman Walter Nolen's 30-pound weight loss between years one and two.

Head coach Jimbo Fisher said the No. 2 player in the class of 2022 lost all the weight during the season last year rather than during the offseason.

Nolen recorded 29 tackles, 2.5 for loss, a sack and recovering a fumble last season in 10 games.

However, if the Powell, TN. native has a quicker step in 2023, the opposition needs to beware.

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Follow Casey Smith on Twitter @casey_smith2419

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