Texas A&M's Mike Elko Reveals Full-Time Position Switch For Bryce Anderson

Texas A&M Aggies nickel defender Bryce Anderson is switching roles in 2024.

Oct 7, 2023; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies defensive back Bryce Anderson (1) / Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Byrce Anderson entered last season with lofty goals but high expectations. As a true freshman coming out of Beaumont, the Texas A&M defensive back looked poised to start in 2022, but there wasn't a permanent spot on the field without injury.

Antonio Johnson had been A&M's starting nickel defender since 2020. Demenai Richardson had commanded the safety role since his freshman season in 2019 and Jardin Gilbert earned first-team reps following the departure of Leon O'Neal.

Anderson, who finished with 28 total tackles as a freshman, eventually cracked the starting rotation, but not at his natural safety position. Richardson elected to return for his final year of eligibility. Johnson, however, went pro.

Play was adequate for Anderson in the nickel, but it varied from week to week. One Saturday, he'd look like a future All-SEC defensive back. The next, he was a liability in coverage.

New A&M coach Mike Elko believes there's a reason behind the inconsistencies; he was playing out of position. That problem won't arise in 2024 now with Richardson off the NFL and Gilbert off to LSU.

"Bryce is a safety," Elko said Wednesday during his weekly press conference. "We recruited Bryce to play safety," said Elko, who as the former A&M defensive coordinator helped pursue Anderson out of the 2022 recruiting class. "I have always envisioned him being a safety in this defense. He is not playing nickel. I do not think he is a nickel."

Even with the new staff joining the mix, Anderson's rep count was never in jeopardy. Elko, who previously spent four seasons as the Aggies defensive coordinator under Jimbo Fisher, built a relationship with the 6-foot defensive back, maneuvering his way through the recruitment process to secure his commitment.

In fact, Anderson was one of the top players Elko ever secured during his time in College Station prior to taking the Duke job two years ago. He had a plan for the East Texas product, though new defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin thought differently.

While Anderson will control one side of the field, the other safety position remains a mystery. Vanderbilt transfer De'Rickey Wright could be the favorite to start given his SEC experience, but he won't arrive on campus until after graduation in June. Trey Jones (Central Michigan) has impressed in practice, but he could be better served as a rotational player given his lack of reps.

It's still early in the process, but Elko praised freshman Dalton Brooks for his limited but impressive snap count last season as a true freshman and has noticed him grow entering a second offseason.

"[He] has taken a huge step forward this spring and been really happy with him," Elko said. "He is an elite run-and-hit safety. He still has a little bit of a gap to close in terms of processing and understanding everything that we are doing, which he is doing every day. But I do think he has got some really elite traits, and we are excited about that one."

As for the nickel, Elko is leaving it an open battle, though Bravion Rodgers and Florida transfer Jaydon Hill seem to be the front-runners to start Week 1 against Notre Dame. Others are rotating in reps, but Elko, a former defensive back, knows there's a handful of versatile defenders who can play multiple roles.

Then, there are players like Hill, who might thrive in one spot, thus stabilizing the team's aura.

"Nickel is probably a little bit harder than corner," Elko said. "You are a little bit closer to the ball. There is a little bit more going on. From a scheme standpoint, the more reps you can get at nickel, it probably benefits you than always needing them to be out at corner."

The Aggies return to Kyle Field for the annual Maroon and White game on April 20.