Updated 2024 Texas A&M Defensive Depth Chart Projection: A New Star Pass Rusher?

The Texas A&M Aggies defense is losing several key names, but did bring over a star pass rusher from the Big Ten.

The Texas A&M Aggies are making changes headed into a new era of SEC football.

Jimbo Fisher's time in College Station was met with grand-standing of highs and lows. There were bright spots sprinkled in the darkness that were the final three years of the Fisher tenure, which eventually led to boosters paying $76 million to cut ties with the coach stuck in neutral.

A new version of A&M football resides under first-year coach Mike Elko. He's beloved by fans for his defensive dominance from 20018-2021 and already understands what it takes to win at a place like Kyle Field.

What other changes are coming in 2024? The roster was overhauled by transfers and departures for the NFL. And for every name gone, another stands in their place, looking to become a fixture of the program moving forward.

It's still unclear if Elko or new defensive coordinator Jay Bateman will call plays in the 4-2-5 look entering next season, but much like the caller, expect there to be a new feel around the unit. A&M added 22 transfers, 15 of which hail on the defensive side. Some will be plug-and-play replacements for former starters like Fadil Diggs, Tyreek Chappell and Edgerrin Cooper.

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Others will bide their time or compete for first-team reps beginning in March at spring practice. And then there's the select few who won't arrive until the summer. Players like De'Rickey Wright could start immediately due to experience, but nothing is promised under a new staff making decisions.

Much could change before kickoff against Notre Dame on Aug. 31 at Kyle Field, including a surplus of talent exiting or entering College Station after the second transfer portal wave, but here's the updated defensive depth chart entering February. 

Note:

* - denotes transfer

bold - denotes returning starter

italics - denotes recruit

DEFENSIVE END: Shemar Stewart, Nic Scourton*, Enai White, Mylick Sylla, Ryland Kennedy, Cashius Howell*, Kendall Jackson, Solomon Williams 

Scourton was the prize acquisition of the offseason for Elko. After watching Diggs follow Elijah Robinson to Syracuse, A&M was down an essential component to a top-20 defense from 2023. Consider the problem solved with Scourton coming around the corner. 

The Bryan native led the Big Ten in sacks (10.5) and finished third in tackles for loss (15.5). A second-team All-Big Ten selection, Scourton has the pass-rushing move to manipulate offensive linemen to lean and give up a cushion. His agility should allow him to bend and work upfield back into a play to record the sack. 

Stewart is back after a promising sophomore season that ended with 6.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. Enai White has experience starting and should rotate in between drives. 

Howell, whose 9.5 sacks at Bowling Green were tied for the most in the Mid-American Conference this season, is a breakout candidate heading into the SEC. Few MAC offensive tackles to win at the point of attack, but will the SEC fare better for the senior? 

Jackson and Williams remained committed to the program despite Fisher's departure. Both are already on campus and could compete for first-team reps with promising spring debuts. 

DEFENSIVE TACKLE: Shemar Turner, DJ Hicks, Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy, Rodas Johnson*, Albert Regis, Samu Taumanupepe, Dealyn Evans 

A&M fans exhaled a two-month-long sigh of relief when Turner announced he was returning for his senior season. The DeSoto native can play all four defensive line positions but adds a second element in the pass-rushing department when playing up the middle.

Browlow-Dindy, a former five-star from the historic 2022 recruiting class, will compete with Regis to replace Jackson as the nose guard. One is better in run support while the other has a bit more upside as a pass rusher. Regis might have a slight advantage given his previous starting experience in conference play.

Johnson joins the Aggies from Wisconsin after starting 12 games for the Badgers in 2023. Much like Turner, he's a multi-position specialist who excels defending the run. Last season, he recorded 10.5 tackles for loss, third-most among Big Ten defensive tackles.

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LINEBACKER: Taurean York, Scooby Williams*, Martell Harris, Alex Howard*, Chantz Johnson, Tristan Jernigan, Jordan Lockhart 

Cooper was recruited by Elko out of Covington, La., so it stings the former coordinator is returning home without his leader up the middle. While Cooper is off to the NFL, he's leaving A&M's defense in good hands with York, arguably A&M's second-most consistent defensive player in 2023. 

Tackles missed were few and far between for York, who totaled 74 stops in 10 starts last season. By November, he was relaying info to the defensive line and secondary while calling audibles before the snap. 

Williams is a former top-100 prospect, so a change of scenery could do wonders in bringing out his potential. Under Bateman in Gainsville, Williams started 10 games at middle linebacker and was a tad underwhelming, leading all Gators with 15 missed tackles, per Pro Football Focus. 

Howard could win the job over Williams after putting up consistent numbers at Youngstown State. Last season with the Penguins, he finished with a team-leading 76 stops, 3.5 sacks and an interception. At worst, his experience provides value as a rotational specialist. 

Harris and Johnson provide depth on special teams. Jernigan, a four-star recruit from Tupelo, Miss, is already on campus and could carve out a role in the rotation by midseason. 

CORNERBACK: Jayvon Thomas, Will Lee III*, Dezz Ricks*, Bravion Rogers, Sam McCall, BJ Mayes*, Donovan Saunders*, Jaydon Hill*

No position saw more turnover this portal cycle than cornerback. Both starters left via the portal and top backup Josh DeBerry ran out of eligibility. Tony Grimes never saw action due to injury and elected to leave for UNLV. 

What does this mean for A&M? Open competition entering spring practice. 

Thomas started six games in 2023 and should at least enter camp on the outside at one spot. The real battle is for the No. 2 spot between Ricks and Lee. Lee has two years of experience, but he wasn't consistent at Kansas State in coverage. After losing his starting job at the midseason mark, Lee regained the title of CB1 and ended the year on a promising note. 

Ricks, a former five-star from the IMG Academy, was expected to replace Terrion Arnold at Alabama before Nick Saban retired. Now, Ricks has at least two more years to develop into one of the conference's top cover corners. His potential screams No. 1 defensive back, but will he earn the respect of the coaching staff before the start of fall camp? 

Rogers saw brief action last season. McCall is versatile enough to play all four positions in the secondary. Mayes and Saunders, two transfers from the Group of Five level, have at least seven starts under them within the past two years. 

NICKEL BACK: Bryce Anderson, Jaydon Hill*, Jared Kerr

Chad Kroeger might not be coming to College Station with his hit classics, but the nickelback position isn't hitting a wall. If anything, it's being upgraded with quality depth. 

Anderson could move back to safety with the departure of Demani Richardson, but he also could remain near the line of scrimmage as a high-end run defender. Hill has experience on the boundary, but he was at his best last season with Florida when lined up inside. 

In 11 starts, Hill totaled four tackles for loss and a pair of interceptions. Elko could have him working overtime in spring practice to determine his best fit, but it won't be shocking to see Hill remain down low and Anderson switch spots. Kerr offers stability as a second-team option and could start with little concern from the coaching staff if either Hill or Anderson were injured.  

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SAFETY:  Jacoby Mathews, Trey Jones*, De'Rickey Wright*, Marcus Ratcliffe*, Bryce Anderson, Bobby Taylor, Dalton Brooks, Jared Kerr, Myles Davis, Jordan Pride 

Much like cornerback, safety took a hit following the Texas Bowl. Richardson is off to the NFL draft and Jardin Gilbert is returning to Louisiana to play for LSU. 

Mathews found a rhythm down the stretch and should retain his starting free safety position. Strong safety could be a position to monitor entering the summer since Wright, a two-year starter at Vanderbilt, won't arrive until after spring practice.

Wright is the epitome of what Elko looks for in safeties. His hard-hitting fly-to-the-football demeanor sets the tone in open-field tackling and forces quarterbacks to think twice when looking to target a receiver deep. Wright also has impressive ball skills, recording five interceptions and 15 pass breakups since 2022. 

Jones started three seasons for Central Michigan and has more experience than any defensive back on the roster. Ratcliffe flipped his commitment from UCLA to A&M after a promising first season with San Diego State and has three years of eligibility remaining. 

Anderson was one of the state's top safeties coming out of Beaumont and could move back if Hill shows signs of development at the nickel defender spot. Kerr also rotated with Sam Mathews at safety against Oklahoma State in the Texas Bowl. Davis, a four-star recruit from Judson, might crack the rotation with a promising spring.