Tag: D.J Hicks

Texas A&M DE Nic Scourton is focused on controlling the line of scrimmage

While sacks are a plus, stopping the run is the key to Texas A&M’s defense becoming an elite unit

Texas A&M’s defense, by all accounts, looks to the strength of the roster after Elko added former Purdue defensive end Nic Scourton from the transfer portal after already inheriting a talented defensive line led by defensive linemen Shemar Turner and Shemar Stewart.

After recording a Big Ten-leading ten sacks during his 2023 sophomore season, it was Scourton’s 50 tackles that likely caught Elko and his defensive staff’s eyes once he officially entered the portal. They showed a player who is willing to get his hands dirty at the line of scrimmage and stop the run.

As the season opener vs. Notre Dame is just three weeks away, Scourton took questions from local Aggie media late last week to discuss the defense’s progress while stating that controlling the LOS is the key to the pass rush consistently getting home.

“That’s the standard, right? We gotta shut down the run, get the pass rush home on third down. That’s just what it is, and the rest of the guys know that.”

In-game mentality is everything, and if fall practice has proven anything thus far, Mike Elko and defensive coordinator Jay Bateman aren’t lacking players to get the job done.

Texas A&M will open the 2024 season vs. Notre Dame on Saturday, August 31. The game will air on ABC at 6:30 p.m. CT.

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Five takeaways from Texas A&M’s 31-23 loss to Oklahoma State in the TaxAct Texas Bowl

After falling to Oklahoma State in the TaxAct Texas Bowl on Wednesday night, several young Aggies showed up and showed out.

Texas A&M’s 2023 season, along with the Jimbo Fisher era, has finally ended after falling to the No. 20 Oklahoma State Cowboys 31-23 on Wednesday night.

While the news regarding A&M’s depleted roster, as just 48 scholarship players were available due to injury and the transfer portal became the dominant narrative, it was Aggie freshman quarterback Marcel Reed’s record-setting performance that potentially provided a blueprint for what new head coach Mike Elko will bring to the program in 2024 and beyond.

After injuring his non-throwing arm after the first play of the game, A&M QB Jaylen Henderson’s frustrating departure led to one of the more memorable performances by an Aggie signal-caller in program history, as Reed, in just his second appearance on the year, passed for 361 yards, the second most yards against a Power 5 opponents since former QB Kellen Mond’s 430 against Clemson in 2018.

Outside of Reed’s introduction, several players on offense and defense stepped up, most notable 12th Man representative and linebacker/safety Sam Mathews, who led the team with 14 tackles and an interception, played his last game in an Aggie uniform, and man, was it a memorable one.

Focusing on the future, Elko and his staff have plenty of talent to work with on both sides of the ball, and by the looks of it, the current quarterback room looks borderline elite heading into next season.

Here are five things we learned from Texas A&M’s bowl game loss to Oklahoma State.