Tag: bryce anderson

Texas A&M Safety Bryce Anderson officially announces that he will return for the 2024 season

Through Texas A&M’s official NIL partner, Texas United, sophomore safety Bryce Anderson announces his return for the 2024 season.

Texas A&M’s football roster in the beginning stages of the offseason has already dealt with significant attrition, as more than a dozen players have entered the transfer portal. At the same time, several 2024 commits have either flipped or de-committed this month.

Three veteran players have also declared for the 2024 NFL Draft, including wide receiver Ainias Smith, defensive tackle McKinnley Jackson, and offensive lineman Layden Robinson.

Still, great news made its way to social media on Monday night, as stand-out sophomore safety Bryce Anderson announced that he will return for the 2024 season amid recent false rumors (his Twitter was hacked) regarding his potential entry into the portal. Through Texas A&M’s official NIL (Name, Image Likeness) partner “Texas United,” Anderson was tagged in a post, simply stating, “Staying in Aggieland.”

Bryce Anderson’s ascendance up the depth chart slowly gained traction during his 2022 freshman season, as the former high school quarterback immediately converted to safety due to his speed, instincts, and efficient tackling in the open field, recording 28 tackles, 16 solo tackles, and 3.5 tackles for loss in 11 games.

Defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin began utilizing Anderson off the edge in blitz packages this season, leading to an uptick in tackles for loss (7) while finishing fourth in tackles with 47, three QB hits, 1.5 sacks, four pass deflections, and an interception on the year.

Bryce Anderson’s importance to the defense can’t be described just with statistics. Still, as McKinnley Jackson and safety Demani Richardson depart, Anderson will take on a more prominent leadership role in the locker room next season among a roster with many new faces.

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Linebacker Edgerrin Cooper and the relentless Aggie defense stuffed the stat sheet in Texas A&M’s 30-17 win over South Carolina

Within Texas A&M’s 30-17 win over South Carolina, several Aggie defenders, including LB Edgerrin Cooper, completely dominated the stat sheet.

If you’ve been paying attention, Texas A&M (5-3, 3-2 SEC) is just inches (yeah, I said it) away from reaching 7-1 on the year, which includes an undefeated record in the SEC if the Aggies offense had been up to snuff in the second half in consecutive losses to Alabama and Tennessee.

On the other hand, Texas A&M’s 9th-ranked defense has been one of the most significant bright spots in college football since falling to Miami in Week 2, consistently tying or leading the country in sacks after every week. At the same time, junior linebacker Edgerrin Cooper has solidified himself as the best linebacker in the country by a fair margin.

“I got comfortable with the strategy of our game and playbook. I am able to see everything and compete.”

On Saturday, the Aggies came off their Week 8 bye week motivated to prove that the 2023 campaign is not a lost cause just yet, facing a South Carolina team dealing with midseason roster attrition and poor play on both sides of the ball, providing A&M’s defense a clear opportunity to tee off on quarterback Spencer Rattler throughout the afternoon.

Despite scoring 17 points, the Aggie D limited the Gamecocks to 209 total yards (176 passing, 33 rushing) while recording four sacks and ten tackles for loss, led by Edgerrin Cooper (7 tackles, one sack, 2 TFLs) and standout safety Bryce Anderson (7 sacks, two sacks, 2 TFLs) as both returned from injuries in the loss to Tennessee.

Even more impressive? Four players recorded six or more tackles, while Cooper, Anderson, safety Demani Richardson, and edge Fadil Diggs all recorded a pass deflection, exhibiting their dominance at the line of scrimmage.

Dealing with early season scrutiny, second-year defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin deserves much credit, especially in player development. While Edgerrin Cooper’s incredible rise as a future NFL early-round pick has stuck out consistently, it’s evident that nearly every contributor on the defensive line and the secondary has taken a step in their collective development and in a must-win to keep their season afloat, every defender who took the field on Saturday proved made an impact.

Texas A&M will now travel to Oxford (MS) to face the Ole Miss Rebels on Saturday, Nov. 5, where the game will again air on ESPN at 11:00 a.m. CT.

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‘It’s a tough loss. I still believe in my guys.’ Ainias Smith and Bryce Anderson reflect on Texas A&M’s loss to Alabama

Ainias Smith and Bryce Anderson recap the tough loss to Alabama, while noting the team must bounce back against the Vols next week.

Texas A&M (4-2, 2-1 SEC) was unable to put together a complete game as they fell 26-20 to No. 11 Alabama (5-1, 3-0 SEC) on Saturday. Many had expected a physical clash between these two, and that script certainly delivered at Kyle Field.

Despite six combined sacks on Jalen Milroe and two forced turnovers, A&M’s defense didn’t receive equal assistance from their offense. The Maroon and White went 4-for-12 on third down while averaging just 1.9 yards per rush attempt, as their offense ground to a halt at the most inopportune time.

Lack of execution on offense, as well as questionable game management decisions from Jimbo Fisher, ultimately handicapped A&M’s offense. The Aggies should have led 14-0 in the first quarter but had to settle for just three points through the first period of action.

For every step forward the Aggies defense made, the offense took two steps backward. No example was more indicative than Max Johnson’s ugly third-quarter interception, which immediately followed a huge interception from Bryce Anderson off of Jalen Milroe.

The frustrating conundrum of being unable to play a complete game on both sides of the ball was ultimately the nail in the coffin on Saturday. Ainias Smith, as well as Anderson, advocated just as much in their postgame press conferences. While the loss has inevitably stung the locker room, this team knows there’s no time to sulk with a huge game against Tennessee on deck next week.

Below are Ainias Smith and Bryce Anderson’s entire postgame press conferences following Saturday’s loss, as well as notable takeaways from their time at the podium.

Texas A&M’s ferocious pass rush against the Auburn Tigers can, and needs to be sustained

Texas A&M’s defense completed dominated the visiting Auburn Tigers on Saturday, while their notable pass rush finally found life.

Texas A&M defensive coordinator D.J Durkin has rightfully been under fire through the first three games this season after the Aggie’s 48-33 loss to Miami in Week 2, plagued by one of the worst defensive efforts witnessed from the program in quite some time.

However, minor improvements were made after defeating UL Monroe 47-3 in Week 3, leading to Saturday’s defensive explosion that none of us saw coming in Texas A&M’s rousing 27-10 victory over the visiting Auburn Tigers to open SEC play.

While starting quarterback Conner Weigman’s ankle injury (X-rays were negative) has taken most of the attention away from the big win, the Aggies suffocating pass rush and “bend but don’t break” defensive approach yielded seven sacks (most since 2017), 15 tackles for loss, while allowing only 54 yards through the air from three Auburn quarterbacks, while wreaking absolute havoc on veteran signal-caller Peyton Thorne on every possession.

Texas A&M’s sudden surge on the defensive line isn’t a mystery, as Durkin’s willingness to change up his scheme and blitz at a high rate paid off, utilizing the incredible athletes in the trenches. At the same time, the linebacker duo of Edgerrin Cooper and freshman Taurean York led the team in tackles and set the defensive tone from start to finish, according to star defensive back Byce Anderson.

“We have a crazy defensive line. (Taurean) York and (Edgerrin) Cooper played great… Today was a collective effort.”

Cooper, who recorded eight tackles and led the team with two sacks, was second to York’s game-high 11 tackles, and two tackles for loss have vaulted him in the discussion for one of the top freshmen in the country. They will only continue to develop throughout the SEC slate.

“Auburn is not the main goal. The main goal is to run through the SEC… This is a step along the way.”

With nine players recording three or more tackles on the afternoon, this was definitely a collective effort, but asking, “Is this sustainable?” may keep Aggie fans on their toes, especially with the high-scoring Arkansas Razorbacks coming to Arlington, Texas next Saturday.

Simple answer? Maybe, but the results against the Tigers are certainly encouraging, and to keep Razorbacks QB K.J Jefferson from developing a passing rhythm early, Durkin should keep a similar game plan and continue to emphasize pressure through a variety of creative blitz packages while keeping the secondary from being exposed.

However, as Anderon alluded, consistent effort was the primary factor in the Aggies’ defensive ascendence, and to reach their lofty goals with eight games remaining, replicating Saturday’s performance is the first step.

Texas A&M will now travel to AT&T Stadium to face the Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday, Sept. 23 at 11:00 a.m. CT., and air on the SEC Network.

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‘This first SEC win means everything, and we need to keep stacking,’ Max Johnson, Ainias Smith, and more recap win over Auburn

A handful of Aggie players had no shortage of praise and admiration for the manner in which Max Johnson led his team to victory.

Texas A&M (3-1) won its first SEC matchup of the season with a hard-fought 27-10 win over Auburn (3-1) on Saturday. It marks a milestone, the Aggie players know they can be even better moving forward.

Following Saturday’s win, Max Johnson, Ainias Smith, Layden Robinson, Bryce Anderson, and Edgerrin Cooper all took to the podium to recap the team effort. The victory warranted a group effort in all three phases of the game, and a sluggish first half only exacerbated that truth.

A&M’s offense stumbled through the first two quarters to take a 6-3 lead at the half. The Aggies’ defense showed up to play, but it took a minute for the offense to click. And then with 4:30 left to go in the second quarter, an injury to Conner Weigman only heightened the pressure.

But in Weigman’s absence, backup Max Johnson entered the fold and displayed a level of poise and leadership that one can only find in A&M’s quarterback room. He proved to be the x-factor for the game, having connected with brother Jake Johnson and receiver Evan Stewart to finish 7/11 for 123 yards and two passing touchdowns.

After the game, Johnson’s teammates had no shortage of praise and admiration for the manner in which the senior southpaw led his team.

Below are Max Johnson, Ainias Smith, Layden Robinson, Bryce Anderson, and Edgerrin Cooper’s full postgame press conferences, as well as notable highlights.

Everything Noah Thomas and Bryce Anderson had to say during Texas A&M’s Fall practice Media Day

Here is everything Noah Thomas and Bryce Anderson had to say during their Q&A portion of Texas A&M’s Fall Practice Media Day.

Texas A&M’s first and only open practice during fall practice is slated for Sunday afternoon inside Kyle Field, as both the public and the media will have the opportunity to preview what’s to come ahead of A&M’s season opener vs. New Mexico on Saturday, Sept. 2.

Before the open practice, the Aggies held their annual Media Day, as every media member in attendance posed questions to every coach and player available to take the podium were Assistant Head Coach Elijah Robinson, Defensive Coordinator DJ Durkin, Offensive Coordinator Bobby Petrino, and players Max Johnson, Conner Weigman, Noah Thomas, and Bryce Anderson. Of course, media day wouldn’t be complete without the Aggies’ leader at the helm, Head Coach Jimbo Fisher.

Representing the wide receivers, Spring MVP Noah Thomas is entering his sophomore season with high exceptions after a mostly absent 2022 campaign; the 6-5 sprinter possesses every trait needed to succeed in what should be a much-improved offense under new offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino, paired with an elite starting WR unit including Evan Stewart, Ainias Smith, and Moose Muhammad III. Oh, and it looks like Thomas is very comfortable with both options at quarterback this season.

“For both of those guys, being on the field together and competing against each other is great because they get better every single day.”

Speaking for the defense, sophomore defensive back Bryce Anderson, one of the most versatile athletes in the country, will likely fill the void left by nickel corner Antonio Johnson, who the Jacksonville Jaguars drafted in the 2023 NFL Draft. Possessing an elite blend of physicality and athleticism is already a proven run-stopper due to his notable closing speed after accumulating 28 total tackles (16 solo) with 1.0 forced fumble and two fumble recoveries last season. As a proven leader in the locker room, Anderson knows that the work the Aggies have put in this offseason will finally lead to positive results.

“We are going to prove everybody wrong. We have a standard set… We have to meet that standard everyday.”

Here are Noah Thomas and Bryce Anderson’s full press conference videos from Fall Camp Media Day 2023.

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Texas A&M Football 2023 Position Preview: Cornerbacks; Transfer additions will be key to success

Despite boasting a potential breakout star, key departures leave Texas A&M’s cornerback group with questionable depth heading into the new season.

Texas A&M kicks off the 2023 college football season in just under two months, and while the offseason is nearing its conclusion sooner than later, it’s time to preview what Jimbo Fisher and his staff will be working with from a roster perspective.

The cornerback unit is coming off an impressive 2022 campaign in which they allowed just 162.1 yards per game through the air, which was the best mark in the SEC. However, some key departures leave this unit with questionable depth heading into the new season.

Returning production:  Junior Tyreek Chappell returns after appearing in 11 games last season, having logged 44 total tackles and eight pass breakups. According to Pro Football Focus, he finished with a 65.9 overall defensive grade and a 69.8 coverage grade.

Sophomore Bryce Anderson returns for what could shape up to be his breakout season, having appeared in 11 games last season while recording 28 total tackles, two fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble. As a true freshman, Anderson finished with a 66.9 overall defense-grade and an 80.9 run defense grade.

Rounding out the returning production is redshirt sophomore Deuce Harmon, who appeared in four games last season while logging nine total tackles.

Departures:  Junior Jaylon Jones departed Aggieland after declaring for the 2023 NFL Draft. Jones was selected in the seventh round by the Indianapolis Colts after appearing in 10 games for Texas A&M last season, recording 33 tackles with two pass deflections and one fumble recovery.

Incoming sophomore Denver Harris transferred to LSU, Marquis Groves-Killebrew transferred to Louisville, Myles Jones transferred to Duke, Brian George transferred to Houston, and Josh Moten entered the portal but has yet to find a new program. Defensive back Smoke Bouie had transferred to Georgia but has since departed the team.

Final Observation:  With the exception of Anderson’s likely breakout campaign as the nickel corner, the Aggies will rely on transfer additions Tony Grimes and Sam McCall to lead the group. Boston College transfer Josh DeBerry adds some veteran depth behind them, but otherwise, the unit does not boost nearly as many experienced players as the other positions on the roster.

To put it gently, it’s less than ideal for an Aggies team heading into a significant 2023 season. However, with fall camp just around the corner, it provides a perfect opportunity to build a good rapport with the new faces on the roster. That, coupled with a string of good health for the long haul of the season, should put Texas A&M in good shape.

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Texas A&M’s Bryce Anderson flashes top-tier speed in offseason workout video

Texas A&M defensive back Bryce Anderson is hard at work in the offseason as he nears a potential breakout season for the Aggies.

Texas A&M is determined to put together a bounce-back season in the fall, beginning with putting in the work through the offseason.

Last month, Aggies defensive back Bryce Anderson was vocal about the difference in mindset between this year’s squad versus last year, which notably struggled onward to a 5-7 record (2-6 SEC). While injuries played a pivotal role, Anderson noted that passion and commitment from the start were inevitably lacking:

“Cause I feel like that this team is committed… like last year some of the young guys were kind of like ‘loose in the head’ they weren’t really focused. But I feel this year, we coming out, everybody’s ready to practice, everybody wants to practice like it’s a whole different mindset this year.”

That statement carries weight ahead of a pivotal 2023 season for Texas A&M, but as the saying goes, actions speak louder than words. Anderson understands that to the fullest and echoed that statement with a video of him hard at work through offseason training:

Anderson has been a consensus pick to be a breakout candidate this coming season, not only in the secondary but for the roster as a whole. He was named one of the tteam’sDefensive MVPs after a promising spring program, and according to coaches and staff alike, has been pegged as a bonafide leader on defense.

Anderson was a four-star prospect coming out of high school and hails from the AAggies’vaunted 2022 recruiting class, ranked best in the country. In 11 games last season, he logged 28 total tackles (16 solo) with 1.0 forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.

Texas A&M’s pasA&M’sense, which allowed just 162.1 YPG through the air last season, should be equipped to be a top-tier unit once again as Anderson heads into a potential breakout season. But locking down opposing receivers will draw the eyes of more than just Aggies staff and fans alike.

It’s not It’sfetched to assume Anderson could draw potential first-round draft consideration so long as his off-season work ethic translates to in-season impact, which feels like a certainty. In addition, based on his workout video alone, that closing speed should have scouts ecstatic and have his future draft stock rising.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Pete on Twitter: @PeteThreee.

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Ranking the 15 best players on Texas A&M’s 2023 football roster

As Texas A&M prepares for a critical 2023 college football season, here are the 15 best players on the roster based on both production and future potential.

Texas A&M is headed toward a crucial 2023 football season in the coming months, which means they’ll be relying on a handful of key impactful players on both sides of the ball.

Much conversation has been made about the Aggies’ underwhelming 5-7 2022 campaign (2-6 SEC), but what is often overlooked is the contributions made by more than a handful of true freshmen. For being thrust into the fire on a moment’s notice, Texas A&M flashed its potential on offense and by all means stood its ground on defense, which figures to be a promising unit this coming season.

As Jimbo Fisher has noted recently, the trials of last season will serve as a lesson learned and fuel for the future, which means a number of players could be set for impactful, and even breakout seasons.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at some names Texas A&M will be counting on this fall.

Texas A&M’s safety group has a nice mix of experience and breakout potential heading into 2023

Texas A&M’s safety unit possesses a nice mix of veteran experience and star potential, led by two returning starters with one breakout candidate to keep an eye on.

With spring football in the rearview mirror, it leaves ample time to dissect what appears to be one of the stronger units on the Texas A&M roster in their safety group.

Headling the backend unit for the Aggies are two experienced starters in Demani Richardson and Jardin Gilbert. Richardson returns for his fifth season while Gilbert heads back for his third, and the fact that both have improved year-over-year should spell great things for this unit in 2023.

Richardson has gotten better in coverage over the last few seasons and was graded 66.4 in coverage per PFF (393rd out of all safeties). He’s fine-tuned his ability to see plays as they develop and anticipate routes for pass breakups. Gilbert has improved his tackling and feels primed to make a leap in run support after being graded 43.9 in run defense by PFF in 2022.

Perhaps the biggest x-factor of this unit is sophomore Bryce Anderson, who many coaches and observers noted was one of the best performers during the Aggies 2023 spring football program. That consensus belief seems justified as he was named one of the team’s defensive MVPs during the Maroon and White game.

Anderson was rated as a four-star coming out of high school and already has a bevy of experience underneath him after logging snaps as a backup last year, as well as on special teams.

He’s currently slotted in as a nickel corner, which means he’ll likely fill the void left by Antonio Johnson. The fit makes sense as he should thrive with his physicality and athleticism, but don’t rule out a possible shift to one of the safety spots in the near future. If there was one name in this unit to keep an eye out for a potential breakout season, it’s Anderson.

When it’s all said and done, there’s a chance he could lend just as great of an impact as Johnson did before him.

Outside of the aforementioned names, it gets a bit spotty when it comes to safety depth. Granted, that’s to be expected when you have a handful of younger players that are bound to face a learning curve. Jacoby Matthews has size but was in and out of spring ball. Jared Kerr was also a bit banged up, and the playing time for Bobby Taylor remains to be seen. He did enter, then exit, the transfer portal just recently, so perhaps more snaps on the field is in the near future for him.

Jimbo Fisher could very well round out this unit with additional depth via the transfer portal, but as the group currently stands they have a nice blend of veteran experience, coupled with a potential breakout star, that should put a stamp on the impending 2023 season.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Pete on Twitter: @PeteThreee

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