Tag: Jay Bateman

Texas A&M Defensive end named to AP All-America second team

New Texas A&M DE Nic Scourton has been honored once again just a week before the the 2024 season opener

Texas A&M’s 2024 season opener vs. Notre Dame is just 12 days away, as the 7th-ranked Fighting Irish will visit College Station for the first time in 20-plus years. For the Aggies, this will pose as the inaugural opener for new head coach Mike Elko.

Looking to avoid the usual first-year slump, Elko inherited a talented veteran roster while adding nearly 30 players from the transfer portal this offseason, including former Purdue defensive end Nic Scourton, who, after two productive seasons with the Boilermakers, has joined a stacked defensive line.

A Bryan, Texas native, Scourton’s journey back to College Station has NFL scouts excited to watch what he can do in the SEC after recording 72 tackles, 48 solo tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and 3 passes defended during his last two seasons in Indiana.

After receiving plenty of well-deserved preseason hype, Scourton has been named to the 2024 AP All-America team as a second-team defensive end. Tennessee junior Edge James Pierece Jr. received a first-team designation.

Standing at 6-4 and 285 pounds, Scourton is built like an NFL Edge, coming off his Big Ten-leading 10 sacks during the 2023 season, as Elko and defensive coordinator Jay Bateman are expected to rely on the junior pass rusher to also stop the run at a high rate.

No. 20-ranked Texas A&M will host No. 7-ranked Notre Dame on Saturday, August 31 at 6:30 p.m. CT. The game will air on ABC.

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‘I think it will be a real strength’ Texas A&M’s cornerback room is taking shape

Texas A&M’s cornerback room is loaded, led by former Alabama CB Dezz Ricks who has looked the part during fall camp

As Texas A&M’s fall practice period enters its final stages before the Aggies prepare for the 2024 season opener vs. Notre Dame, head coach Mike Elko, alongside offensive coordinator Collin Klein and defensive coordinator Jay Bateman, spoke to the local media after the program’s 14th fall practice on Saturday.

Ahead of the team’s final fall scrimmage on Sunday, Bateman, who has received praise for his coaching tactics from multiple players, discussed the immense progress made by A&M’s cornerback room, which features five new veterans from the transfer portal, including former Alabama CB Dezz Ricks.

Ricks, a 5-star prospect out of the prestigious IMG Academy in the 2023 recruiting class, left Tuscaloosa after one season, knowing that joining two of the best defensive minds in Collge Station was the right move for his playing career. According to Bateman, Ricks has consistently stood out this month, as his elite traits have shown up throughout the fall period.

“Dezz (Ricks), we have been really impressed with… Every practice he continued to impress, and he is really talented.”

“That corner room is really competitive, and I think it will be a real strength.”

Reading the term “strength” being associated with Texas A&M’s cornerback rotation is certainly a positive change of pace compared to last season’s ugly results. Senior corner Tyreek Chappell also noted that with the added depth, speed, and length at the outside corner and nickel, this unit has plenty of juice to be formidable and match up against any offense.

“A shutdown, lockdown secondary… I believe we can be the best defense in the league this year.”

No. 20-ranked Texas A&M will host No. 7-ranked Notre Dame on Saturday, August 31 at 6:30 p.m. CT. The game will air on ABC.

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Will Terry Bussey play more on offense for Texas A&M this season?

Terry Bussey could be more time at wide receiver during his freshman season

Texas A&M’s 2024 recruiting class was capped off with the signing of 5-star athlete Terry Bussey, who was by far the most explosive player in the cycle and can only be compared to Colorado sophomore wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter, who is predicted to be a top-five pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Bringing elite versatility to the table, as soon as Bussey set foot on campus, head coach Mike Elko and his staff knew that finding his permanent position would be a difficult task, as Bussey dominated as quarterback, wide receiver, and cornerback during his historic career at Tipson HS.

Bussey’s speed and soft hands made him a candidate for the slot corner spot this fall, which has become highly competitive with junior Bryce Anderson moving back to safety. Still, during the final week of practice, Bussey spent most of his time at wide receiver, impressing the offensive staff.

After the 14th fall practice on Saturday, Mike Elko noted that while he can excel on offense this season, he’s still unsure of his permanent position going forward:

“He is a kid that has a lot of value. We have talked about his flexibility. We have moved him around a little bit… Where he ultimately ends up still a little bit up in the air.”

However, offensive coordinator Collin Klein feels that Bussey can even take reps at running back due to his instincts and physicality, but wide receiver looks like a smoother transition:

“We will be able to move him around quite a bit. He has adapted already. His skillsets are very diverse. He has great route running ability, ball skills and is big and physical enough to have him in the backfield.”

No. 20-ranked Texas A&M will host No. 7-ranked Notre Dame on Saturday, August 31 at 6:30 p.m. CT. The game will air on ABC.

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Texas A&M Defensive end named to ESPN’s preseason All-America team

The Nic Scourton hype continues

Texas A&M’s 2024 football outlook is mixed.

Those of us who cover the program collectively feel that the team’s “ceiling” is 9 to 10 wins, while a seven- to eight-win campaign seems more realistic under head coach Mike Elko’s first season with the program.

However, knowing what Elko has inherited roster-wise, paired with the nearly 30 players he landed from the transfer portal, don’t count this team out from any game this season because former Purdue defensive end Nic Scourton has a chance to be an absolute game-wrecker after the Bryan, Texas native returned home before starting his NFL career.

Not recruited by former Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher, Scourton, who likely felt somewhat betrayed by the snub, made the most of his time at Purdue, recording 72 tackles and 12 sacks during his final two seasons, including 50 tackles, a Big Ten leading ten sacks, and 15 tackles for loss last season.

Bringing immense size (6-4, 285 pounds) and strength to an Aggie defensive line littered with 5-star talent, Scourton joins what could be a dangerous pass rush trio with junior DE Shemar Stewart and senior DL Shemar Turner returning in the trenches.

While several other players on A&M’s roster deserve preseason recognition, Scourton was recently named as the program’s only ESPN preseason All-American, coming in opposite Tennessee DE James Pearce Jr.:

“Scourton is back home after transferring from Purdue. He’s from nearby Bryan, Texas, and was a big score for new Aggies coach Mike Elko in the transfer portal after leading the Big Ten with 10 sacks last season. The 6-4, 285-pound junior had 42 total quarterback pressures a year ago, and both Michigan and Ohio State had problems blocking him. Scourton’s deep array of pass-rush moves, according to Pro Football Focus, is the best in the country.”

Scourton isn’t just a bull rusher who solely depends on his size to get in the backfield. As Pro Football Focus noted, his pass rush finesse and deep bag of moves set him apart when NFL scouts come to College Station this season.

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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Texas A&M’s 2024 football season is just three weeks away

Texas A&M’s 2024 season opener vs. Notre Dame is now just three weeks away. Please clap!

If you’re getting, as the kids say, “the feels” knowing that the 2024 college football season is just two weeks away, I can safely say that Aggie fans are equally pumped as Texas A&M’s August 31 season opener vs. Notre Dame is just three weeks away, as the Mike Elko era has officially arrived.

For the last three weeks, Texas A&M’s fall camp has shown steady improvement at every position. The focus has continued to gear toward the offensive line, wide receiver corps, and cornerback rotation, as all three units entered the offseason with question marks.

So far, sophomore OL Chase Bisontis’s move to guard after spending the entire 2023 season at right tackle could end up being the most positive change this season.

Last week’s practice session featured senior Tyreek Chappell and former Alabama CB Dezz Ricks running with the first-team defense alongside safety Dalton Brooks and Bryce Anderson, which could be a preview of the starting secondary.

Offensively, former La Tech WR Cyrus Allen is also a name to watch as a potential starter after last week, as he is battling with senior WR Moose Muhammad II for the third starting spot and providing starting quarterback Conner Weigman plenty to work with in the passing game.

To prepare you for what’s to come, Texas A&M’s media team released a new preview video to get you in the football spirit. Enjoy!

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‘Coach Elko is a genius’ Texas A&M safety Bryce Anderson is ready for the 2024 season

Bryce Anderson’s move back to safety was the smart move

With Texas A&M’s opener vs. Notre Dame looming, fall training camp has officially begun on Wednesday, as new head coach Mike Elko is well equipped with a stacked roster, starting and ending with redshirt sophomore quarterback Conner Weigman.

On Tuesday, Weigman, junior wide receiver Noah Thomas and junior defensive back Bryce Anderson joined Elko at the podium to take questions before the first practice, as Anderson, who was the last to speak, noted that his full time move to safety was the right decision, and Elko is to thank for putting him in the right position to succeed.

“At safety, the game, for me, is slower. I feel like I can eliminate things.”

“I can use my speed to go sideline-to-sideline. I feel like have more attributes at safety.”

Noting the natural feel, Elko, alongside defensive coordinator Jay Bateman’s scheme will put Anderson in the best position to succeed to clog up running lanes and eliminate short passing production. Compared to this time last season, Anderson knows that talk is cheap under Elko’s guidance.

“Last year, coming in, it was a whole lot of talk going on. We were working, but this year, we’re working way harder.”

“Coach Elko is a genius. Coming into the summer, he had it all calculated.”

Texas A&M will kick off the season in exactly one month vs. Notre Dame inside a packed Kyle Field on Saturday, August 31.

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Texas A&M LB Taurean York is bigger, stronger, and ready to dominate in 2024

Year 2 for Taurean York could be his best yet

Before Jimbo Fisher’s dismissal, one of his final recruiting victories during his Texas A&M tenure was landing a commitment from former 2023 3-star linebacker Taurean York, one of the most underrated athletes in the cycle.

After earning the starting middle linebacker job during his freshman season, the Temple (TX) native took full advantage of his opportunity, showing flashes of brilliance while finishing with 74 tackles (38 solo tackles), three sacks, and a forced fumble on the year.

While the 2023 season was a disappointment, the defensive line showed promise, and heading into the 2024 campaign, York, along with former Pitt linebacker Solomon DeSheilds, has a chance to thrive behind what could be the best D-line in the SEC.

No matter how well he performed last season, York continues to fly under the national radar, but not with his team. Recognized as a 2024 team captain, York joined head coach Mike Elko, defensive tackle Shemar Turner, and left tackle Trey Zuhn III during last week’s SEC Media Days, providing insight into what we should expect this fall.

However, it wasn’t so much what York said compared to Turner’s quote regarding his teammate’s development this offseason, noting how York’s love for the game has accelerated his play at such a young age:

“The respect he’s gotten since he was a freshman is crazy. The way he approaches the game… He loves the sport of football.”

“Having a guy like that at that young of an age is crazy. He gained the respect of everyone quick.”

As the saying goes, “Respect is earned, not given,” York’s determined demeanor and intelligence are unmatched. At the same time, his offseason work under new strength & conditioning coach Tommy Moffit will likely produce a bigger and stronger player with the same speed and athleticism to stuff running holes and make his way into the backfield.

Adding five pounds of mass so far, York’s current 6’0″, 235-pound frame looks more than ready to take on the 2024 slate, starting with Notre Dame on Saturday, August 31.

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Texas A&M DL Shemar Stewart is poised to break out this season

Texas A&M junior DL Shemar Stewart has a chance to explode on the scene with a new scheme in place

Texas A&M’s 2024 season is less than two months away, as the season opener vs. Notre Dame looms large ahead of head coach Mike Elko’s inaugural campaign.

As the offseason draws to a close, it’s worth noting the significant changes in the team’s roster. Since his official hiring in late November, Elko has bolstered the team’s strength by securing commitments from key 2024 prospects, including five-star athlete Terry Bussey. Additionally, the team has gained nearly 30 veterans from the transfer portal, led by former Purdue Edge Nic Scourton, who topped the Big Ten in sacks (10) last season.

Returning most of the 2023 roster, redshirt sophomore quarterback Conner Weigman’s return from injury is, and will continue to be, the storyline that dominates the mainstream coverage concerning the program. However, several returning defenders have a chance to dominate the SEC.

If A&M’s offensive line holds up, the Aggie’s offense should improve, but if not, it will be up to the defense to keep games close. In the trenches, Scourton is joined by senior defensive lineman Shemar Turner, who’s as dependable as they come. Still, his name twin, edge/defensive lineman Shemar Stewart, has a chance to put up double-digit sacks after his continued developments over the past two seasons.

While his recent film is filled with “splash plays,” Good Bull Hunting contributor Will Stone referenced Stewart’s potential with tape from Texas A&M’s season finale loss to LSU last season. The incoming junior’s 6’6″, 285-pound frame, paired with his elite athleticism, jumped off the screen after several pass rush reps.

As Stone pointed out, Stewart was just inches away from finishing with a sack against LSU tackles Will Campbell and Emery Jones, who are both slated to end up going in the first round of the NFL Draft.

Without getting too technical, Elko’s use of split fronts in 3rd down situations, which essentially shows a heavier pass rush on one side of the LOS while loading up outside pass rushers against the right or left tackle, was extremely successful during his time as A&M’s defensive coordinator (2018-2021) and will open things up for Stewart to overpower his blocker on a consistent basis easily.

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

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2025 5-star CB out of Mission Viejo (CA) recently visited Texas A&M

Texas A&M recently hosted one of the top ranked cornerback prospects in the 2025 recruiting class

Mike Elko’s recruiting prowess is more than equal to what former Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher brought to the table. The Aggies’ 2025 recruiting class has continued to rise in the rankings, recently landing its 14th commitment after four-star tight end Kiotti Armstrong announced his intentions on Friday night.

Elko’s dominance on the California recruiting trail has been even more impressive, as five-star quarterback Husan Longstreet and four-star cornerback Adonyss Currie, two of the top 3 ranked 2025 prospects in the state, committed to the program over several blue-blood competitors.

Texas A&M’s presence in the state has continued this summer. Four-star linebacker Noah Mikhail has the Aggies as a finalist before announcing his commitment at the end of the month, while five-star cornerback Dijon Lee is coming off his first official visit ahead of his June 28 commitment.

Multiple outlets have ranked Lee as a top-five cornerback prospect. This month, Lee revealed his final program list: Washington, Georgia, Alabama, Texas, and Texas A&M. With his A&M OV now in the books, Elko and his defensive staff did all they could to make an impression 13 days before his announcement.

Standing at 6-4 and 190 pounds, Lee is long, rangy, and instinctual. The elite cornerback prospect looks like a perfect fit in Elko and new defensive coordinator Jay Bateman’s system, possessing all the traits necessary to become a lockdown corner on the boundary.

According to 247Sports Composite, Lee is currently positioned as the 22nd-ranked prospect in the class, the 4th-ranked cornerback, and the No. 1-ranked prospect in California.

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Texas A&M continues to dominate the California 2025 recruiting trail

Texas A&M’s recruiting success in California has been nothing short of elite

What an offseason it has been for Texas A&M on the recruiting trail under first-year head coach Mike Elko. The Aggies 2025 recruiting class has once again risen in the rankings after landing the second-top-ranked prospect out of California, four-star cornerback Adonyss Currie.

Joining five-star quarterback commit Husan Longstreet, the No. 1-ranked player in California, Currie is just two spots below him at No. 3 in 247Sports’ updated recruiting rankings. Five-star cornerback Dijon Lee out of Mission Viejo (CA) is the second-ranked prospect in the state and recently included Texas A&M in his final four program list.

With the high possibility of securing Lee’s commitment as soon as this summer, the Aggies have dominated the California recruiting landscape, and it’s not just Elko who deserves credit.

Throughout the start of the year, Texas A&M cornerback coaches Ishmael Aristide and Jordan Peterson combined with Aggies defensive coordinator Jay Bateman have traveled up and down The Golden State, not only developing relationships with Currie and Lee, as four-star linebacker Noah Mikhail is set to visit College Station on June 7 before announcing his intentions on June 30.

During the 2023 season, the Aggies consistently dealt with a lack of talent and depth in the secondary, leading to Elko adding seven defensive backs through the transfer portal. The addition of Currie is a good sign that under Elko and Bateman’s defensive guidance, Texas A&M’s future pass defense could be one of the best in the SEC.

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