Texas A&M Aggies Defensive Line Well Represented on Top-100 Players List

The Texas A&M Aggies could have a defensive line to be reckoned with in 2024

Sep 3, 2022; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies defensive lineman Shemar Turner (5) / Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports

The Texas A&M Aggies were forced to rebuild a good portion of their roster this offseason, following extensive losses to the NCAA Transfer Portal and to the NFL Draft.

Fortunately, head coach Mike Elko and his new staff were able to bring in a stellar portal haul of their own, while managing to keep many key players in College Station.

As a result, the Aggies will field a very talented roster, particularly on the defensive side of the ball, where they have an argument for one of the better front seven units in the SEC.

In fact, CBS Sports recently released their ranking of the top-100 players in college football, with three Aggie defensive linemen making the list - including two of those incoming transfers.

Sep 3, 2022; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies defensive lineman Shemar Turner (5) / Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports

First up on the list for the Aggies was Bowling Green transfer Cashius Howell, who came in at No. 31.

"Unless you're addicted to MACtion, you don't know about Howell, but the Bowling Green transfer has some ridiculous tape," CBS Sports wrote. "Howell is explosive and has a nice toolbox of speed and counter moves to go along with a relentless motor. He will see a major uptick in competition but with Nic Scourton and Shemar Turner taking the majority of the attention, expect Howell to become a household name soon enough."

Last season with Bowling Green, Howell finishing with 9.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss in 13 games, ranking first in the MAC conference in sacks and ninth in TFLs.

However, he wasn't the only big time edge rusher to commit to the Aggies this offseason.

Also on the list is Purdue transfer Nic Scourton, who some conisder to already be the best player on the Texas A&M defense. On this list, he comes in at No. 43 and the seventh-ranked edge in the nation.

"Scourton abuses offensive tackles with one of the best spin moves in the nation and plays with an excellent motor. He is sudden on the edge and stunts well inside," CBS Sports wrote. "And he can demolish zone-reads. Scourton should flourish with the noisy home-field advantage at Kyle Field but needs to elevate his pass-rush moves beyond a spin."

Rounding out the list for the Aggies was interor defnesive lineman Shemar Turner, who ranked No. 60.

Turner has been a force for the Aggies over the last three seasons, racking up eight sacks, 17 tackles for loss, and 79 total tackles in his career. Despite playing both inside and outside over that time, he will likely spend the majority of next season on the interior

With Scourton, Howell and Turner alongside alongside Shemar Stewart, Albert Regis, Malick Sylla, Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy, DJ Hicks, and Enai White, the sky is certainly the limit for the Texas A&M front seven.