Here are the Top 5 incoming defensive transfers to watch out for during spring football

Here are five of the incoming transfer portal members on defense for Texas A&M to watch during the start of spring football next month.

It may be early in the offseason, but Texas A&M’s spring football season is less than a month away, and all eyes will be on how new head coach Mike Elko and his impressive coaching staff will develop the defense, including a bulk of the incoming defensive transfers looking to contribute in 2024 immediately.

Bringing in a wealth of elite defensive knowledge, Elko, combined with new defensive coordinator/ linebackers coach Jay Bateman, see eye to eye scheme-wise, but for consistent success to be had, the newly acquired seasoned veterans paired with key returners such as senior defensive lineman Shemar Turner is the only way towards said production.

With 13 of the program’s 22 portal additions coming on defensive, Aggie’s horrific performance in the secondary last season, specifically a lack of size, depth, and overall talent at cornerback, provided Elko a blueprint on how to attack the portal, landing five corners and two safeties to compete for starting/rotational spots.

Looking ahead to the start of Texas A&M’s spring football season, here are five transfer portal defenders to watch out for next month!

Badgers offer cornerback in transfer portal

Wisconsin offers another player in portal

The Badgers football team has been active in the transfer portal and they extended a scholarship offer to former UAB cornerback BJ Mayes on Wednesday.

Mayes began his collegiate career at the University of the Incarnate Word, a Division II football program in San Antonio, Texas, in 2022. He then spent the 2023 campaign with UAB, recording 41 tackles (31 solo) while intercepting two passes and deflecting 10 others over 12 contests with the Blazers.

With Jason Maitre leaving the Badgers after one season with the team, Mayes could fill a hole left in Luke Fickell’s secondary if the cornerback decides to commit to Wisconsin ahead of the 2024 campaign.

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Auburn offers UAB transfer CB BJ Mayes

Auburn has offered former UAB and Incarnate Word cornerback BJ Mayes.

A new transfer target has emerged in the secondary for Auburn, former UAB cornerback [autotag]BJ Mayes[/autotag] announced a scholarship offer from Auburn on Tuesday.

Mayes spent the past season at UAB after starting his career at Incarnate Word. He started 11 games for the Blazers, making 41 tackles, breaking up 10 passes and snagging two interceptions.

The Houston native played in six games as a freshman at Incarnate Word before breaking out as a sophomore in 2022. The 6-foot-1, 185-pounder made 48 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, 14 pass breakups and one interception.

Auburn is far from the only school interested in Mayes, he has announced offers from Texas A&M, Illinois, Memphis, Arkansas in addition to his one from Auburn.

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