Texas A&M DL Shemar Turner Announces Return For Senior Season

The Texas A&M Aggies defensive line is getting a welcomed addition back for 2023.

Shemar Turner isn't done in College Station yet. 

The Texas A&M defensive lineman announced Monday evening he would return to the Aggies for his senior season. Turner did not put his name into the draft pool prior to Monday's hard deadline. 

Last season, Turner was influential in helping A&M boast one of the SEC's top defensive lines, ranking third in tackles for loss and eighth in sacks among FBS schools. The DeSoto native recorded 33 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and six sacks. 

Turner's best game of the regular season came against Arkansas in the Southwest Classic when he recorded a season-high five tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and a sack. Turner has totaled 17 tackles for loss and eight sacks over his three seasons with the Aggies at various positions. 

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The return of Turner only fortifies a veteran defensive line for first-year coach Mike Elko. Shemar Stewart is slated to return as the team's starting defensive, while Albert Regis and DJ Hicks should rotate at defensive tackle in place of the departed McKinnley Jackson. 

The Aggies struck big in the transfer portal with the addition of former Purdue edge rusher Nic Scourton. A native of Bryan, Scourton led the Big Ten in sacks with 10 and finished third in tackles for loss with 15.5. 

A&M's defensive front was at its best under Elko during his four seasons as Jimbo Fisher's defensive coordinator. In 2020, the Aggies ranked second in run defense, holding opponents to 92 yards per carry. A year later, A&M's ranked third in scoring, allowing 15.9 points per contest. 

Top Transfer Portal Names Texas A&M Could Still Target For 2024 Season

Elko, who went 16-9 in two seasons with Duke, has aggressively bolstered the roster via the transfer, adding 21 players since being hired in December. Along with Scourton, top defensive transfer names include cornerback Will Lee III (Kansas State), linebacker Scooby Williams (Florida), cornerback Jaydon Hill (Florida), defensive lineman Rodas Johnson (Wisconsin) and safety De'Rickey Wright (Vanderbilt). 

The Aggies open the 2024 season at Kyle Field against Notre Dame on Aug. 31.