Eleven Aggies Named To Senior Bowl Watch List

College football's premier all-star game could feature a handful of Aggies in 2024.

The Senior Bowl is one of the staple all-star games in college football that allows prospects to work with NFL teams and provide more context to scouts before the NFL Combine.

Texas A&M could be well-represented in Mobile, Ala. next January when kickoff ensues at Hancock Witney Stadium.

Eleven Aggies were named to the Senior Bowl watch list, Senior Bowl officials announced Monday. The near dozen players include cornerback Tony Grimes, cornerback Josh DeBerry, defensive lineman McKinnley Jackson, defensive lineman Fadil Diggs, linebacker Edgerrin Cooper, linebacker Chris Russell, offensive lineman Layden Robinson, receiver Ainias Smith, receiver Moose Muhammad, safety Demani Richardson and tight end Max Wright.

Smith, Richardson, Jackson, Cooper, Diggs, Robinson and Wright headline the group as staples of the program entering 2023. All seven players have been multi-year starters and garnered national attention as members of multiple preseason All-SEC rosters.

Smith, who enters his fifth year with the program, might be the most recognizable name nationally after serving as the Aggies' go-to target the previous three seasons. He's currently on a 27-game streak where he's recorded at least one catch, dating back to A&M's Texas Bowl win over then-No. 25 Oklahoma State in 2019.

Last season, Smith was expected to have a breakout campaign but suffered a season-ending leg injury in a victory over then-No. 10 Arkansas in the Southwest Classic at AT&T Stadium. Instead of going pro, the Missouri City product elected to return for another season, thus bettering his chances to move up the all-time receptions and receiving yards list in program history.

Through four seasons, Smith has totaled 127 catches for 1,612 yards and 17 receiving touchdowns. A multi-purpose weapon, Smith also has rushed for four touchdowns on 64 carries and scored another touchdown on a punt return.

Richardson, who served as a captain last season, also enters his fifth year on campus and has started 44 games since 2019. Last season, Richardson led the Aggies in total tackles with 73 tackles. He also notched five pass breakups and an interception. Richardson earned SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors twice after scoring defensive touchdowns in the wins over the Razorbacks and No. 5 LSU.

Jackson, a Lombardi Award Preseason Watch List selection, started seven games in 2022, recording a career-high 37 tackles and ranked second in tackles for loss with 7.0 stops. Last season, Jackson posted a career-best 12 tackles against No. 15 Ole Miss.

Robinson, a stalwart of Jimbo Fisher's trenches, enters his third season as A&M's starting right guard. Last season, he helped All-SEC running back De'Von Achane rush for a career-high 1,102 yards, including a 215-yard performance in the upset win over the Tigers in the season finale.

Diggs, who enters his second season as the Aggies' full-time starting defensive end, recorded a team-high three sacks in eight games prior to suffering a season-ending injury. He also registered 28 tackles, five tackles for loss and three forced fumbles.

Cooper and Russell are expected to once again start at linebacker under second-year coordinator D.J. Durkin. Russell finished third in tackles with 66 stops, seven of which were for losses. Cooper led the Aggies in tackles for loss (8.0) while totaling 61 tackles and an interception.

Wright has primarily been A&M's blocking tight end, but has come on in the passing game the past two seasons. Since 2020, the sixth-year senior has tallied 13 catches for 194 yards and two TDs. Muhammad, the son of Pro Bowl receiver Muhsin Muhammad, led A&M in receiving touchdowns with four scores to go along with 38 catches for 610 receiving yards.

Grimes and DeBerry, two newcomers via the transfer portal, have multiple years of starting experience at North Carolina and Boston College, respectively. A former All-ACC defensive back, Grimes totaled 97 tackles, 19 pass breakups and an interception in three seasons with the Tar Heels. DeBerry notched 158 stops, 15 pass breakups and four interceptions in four years with the Eagles.

A&M opens the season at Kyle Field on Sept. 2 against New Mexico. 

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