Texas A&M Aggies Coach Mike Elko Reveals Status of DL Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy

Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy has missed multiple practices with the Texas A&M Aggies since the start of spring football.

Mississippi State v Texas A&M / Tim Warner/GettyImages

Another Texas A&M Aggies player will miss time this spring due to injury.

First-year A&M coach Mike Elko confirmed that sophomore defensive tackle Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy is currently "banged up" after suffering an offseason injury. There's no timetable for his return entering the second week of practice.

"He has not been able to do a ton physically since the early parts of winter workouts," said Elko. "He is getting closer to getting released and into some activity, and hopefully get him out there and get him going and see where he is."

Brownlow-Dindy, a member of the historic 2022 recruiting class, was not in pads during media session practice earlier this week, but rather off to the sidelines. He was expected to have a more substantial role in Year 1 under Elko, even with the return of junior standout Shemar Turner.

Mississippi State v Texas A&M / Tim Warner/GettyImages

Last season, Brownlow-Dindy saw action in five games, mostly with the second-team defense. His best game came in the bowl matchup against Oklahoma State, where he posted a season-high two tackles and 1.5 tackles for a loss at NRG Stadium.

Missing spring football isn't a sign that regression will set in, but Brownlow-Dindy is one of several players who could benefit from earning more reps. He's missed significant time both in 2022 and 2023 due to injury, and in a new defensive look, this is where depth charts are finalized.

It was hard for Brownlow-Dindy to crack the first-team unit with Turner, Walter Nolen and McKinnley Jackson listed ahead of him. Nolen and Isaiah Raikes elected to transfer following the firing of Jimbo Fisher earlier this offseason. Jackson is off to the NFL draft next month.

Elko, who helped recruit Brownlow-Dindy before leaving for Duke, understands the value of winning in the trenches. In 2020, the Aggies featured a top-10 scoring defense and top-two run unit. In 2021, A&M ranked No. 3 in scoring, largely due to its front seven.

Currently, A&M has five defensive tackles with experience in College Station. Albert Regis should slide into the Raikes' role as the top backup. D.J. Hicks could compete alongside Browlow-Dindy for first-team reps, while freshmen Jadon Scarlett and Samu Taumanupepe fill in for depth.

Wisconsin transfer Rodas Johnson should compete for starting reps, as could incoming freshman Dealyn Evans. Elko also could look at the transfer portal next month and scour for an option for who elects to leave.

The Aggies also could lose a player or two to the portal following the annual Maroon and White Game on Apri 20. As for who's leading the pack in practice, Elko believes it's still too early for that answer.

"We are three practices in, one padded practice in. Hard to say exactly where we are," Elko said.