Updated injury reports following Texas A&M’s loss to Notre Dame on Saturday

Here is the latest injury report after Texas A&M’s 23-13 loss to Notre Dame

Texas A&M’s season-opening matchup vs. Notre Dame started and ended in a low-scoring contest. Tied 13-13 heading into the fourth quarter, Notre Dame pulled away late after several clutch throws from quarterback Riley Leonard, as the Irish escaped with a 23-13 win to open the season.

Throughout the night, defense reigned supreme, but minor injuries occurred throughout the game, mainly on Texas A&M’s side across the offensive and defensive lines. Being that this was the first game of the 2024 season for both squads, bumps, and bruises, especially concerning the lower body, happened early and often.

Texas A&M injury report:

In the first half of the game, Texas A&M center Mark Nabou, who started the game, went out briefly before returning but continued to sub in and out with backup center Kolinu’u Faaiu.

Staying on the O-line, starting right guard Ar’maj Reed-Adams also went out of the game early with a lower-body injury. It did not return, as head coach Mike Elko and O-line coach Adam Cushing went with sophomore TJ Shanahan as his replacement.

On the defensive line, junior defensive end Nic Scourton was down in the first half after sustaining a lower-body injury and left for the injury tent to take a movement test, and was deemed healthy enough to return but looked slower throughout the night.

Notre Dame injury report:

Coming into the game, two freshmen safeties, Taebron Bennie Powell (our for the season) and Tae Johnson (who will miss half the season), were announced, while freshman offensive lineman Styles Prescod will miss the rest of the season.

During the game, Notre Dame stayed relatively healthy outside of cramps, as both teams continued to deal with the heat and humidity all night.

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Is Texas A&M DE Nic Scourton the ‘best kept secret’ in college football this season?

Nic Scourton is a superstar in the making

Texas A&M will kick off the 2024 season by hosting 7th-ranked Notre Dame in a Saturday night prime-time showdown. This has become the most widely covered Aggie opener in over a decade.

This offseason, new head coach Mike Elko utilized the transfer portal to fill several holes on the roster, adding one of the top 2023 defensive playmakers in former Purdue defensive end Nic Scourton. Scourton led the Big Ten in sacks (10) while amassing 50-plus tackles during his final year with the Boilermakers.

Every pre-game show agreed on Saturday morning that this would likely be a low-scoring game, as both program’s defenses should keep both offenses at bay for most of the night.

However, The Athletic writer Bruce Feldman appeared on Fox Sports to point out that Scourton has continued to be undervalued by the national media, as NFL scouts reportedly view him as the top defender in the 2025 draft cycle. Speaking with Fox Sports and Big Noon Kickoff analyst Chris Fallica, Feldman feels that Scourton will break out as soon as the Aggies hit the field.

“The breakout star tonight will be Nic Scourton. A&M coaches believe that he will be the breakout guy. He was the best-kept secret in college football last season. At 19 years old, he was a team captain. Standing at 6-4 and 285 pounds, NFL scouts have told me that he is an incredibly fluid athlete for being a really big dude.”

Against Notre Dame, I fully expect Elko and defensive coordinator Jay Bateman to move him around the line of scrimmage while taking advantage of matching up with freshman left tackle Anthonie Knapp.

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

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Texas A&M DL Shemar Turner is determined to fulfil his high expectation this season

Shemar Turner is ready to dominate at his new position

Texas A&M’s 2024 season opener vs. No. 7 Notre Dame has arrived, as the 20th-ranked Aggies will lead new head coach Mike Elko out of the tunnel inside what could be a sold-out Kyle Field on Saturday night.

While most sportsbooks favor the Aggies by a slim 3-point margin, Notre Dame’s talented and experienced defense might pose a serious challenge for Texas A&M’s offense as new OC Collin Klein looks to find the slim holes the defense presents early and often.

On the other hand, Notre Dame’s young and inexperienced offensive line could be a gift to A&M’s D-line, which includes senior Shemar Turner. Turner, who moved inside to defensive tackle full-time this season, is entering what some would coin as a redemption tour after facing numerous injuries last season.

Despite dealing with an upper and lower body injury last season, Turner was one of the program’s most productive defenders, recording 33 tackles, 10.5 tackles for a loss, and six sacks on the year. With those injury-riddled numbers, think about what he can do in full health.

This offseason, Turner’s “Chipolte diet” included plenty of protein and the calories needed to add 30 pounds of solid mass to his current 6-4 300-pound frame. After missing most of the spring football period to continue healing from his 2023 injuries, Turner’s work with new S&C Tommy Moffitt exhibited the veteran coach’s successful process in pushing players to the limit to achieve results.

“It hurts with Moffitt, I am not going to lie,” Turner stated this offseason. “Moffitt is going to make it hurt, but he is not going to (overextend) you. He is not going to make you do too much more than what you need to do. He is going to make it hurt just right. He is going to push you to that limit.”

As a Mike Elko recruit during the Aggie head coach’s defensive coordinator days, Turner played most of his snaps at defensive tackle, as the former coaching staff opted to move him to the outside during his last two seasons. However, Elko knows that Turner’s toughness, strength, and high motor will easily translate to success in the middle of the defense.

“It is a natural progression for him. He is a big, physical kid. He has got tremendous athleticism. He is a plus pass rusher. He is a tremendous run stopper. So I think he is going to have a phenomenal year for us there.”

Turner was named to the Bednarik and Lombardi watch list this offseason alongside teammate and defensive end Nic Scourton.

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

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Defensive end Nic Scourton featured in our Texas A&M Countdown to Kickoff

Nic Scourton is No. 1 on our countdown to the 2024 season opener vs. Notre Dame

The countdown to Texas A&M’s 2024 season opener against Notre Dame is just two days away.

Ten days remain before the 7th-ranked Fighting Irish head to College Station for a primetime showdown. New Aggies head coach Mike Elko has completed the long journey to accepting the position, going through his first offseason, and finishing his first fall practice period with the team this month.

Aggies Wire will focus on one player daily for the next ten days, ranking the Top 10 players on the 2024 roster and coming in as our No. 1-ranked player, former Purdue defensive end Nic Scourton looks like the best player on the team; outside of starting quarterback Conner Weigman.

After leading the Big Ten in sacks (10) during his final season with the Boilermakers, Scourton’s elite plays in the trenches are a combination of natural talent and hard work, as the junior pass rusher added more muscle to his 290-pound frame after working with new Aggies’ S&C coach Tommy Moffitt.

Scourton joins a defensive line that featured a former litter of 4- and 5-star prospects in their second and third year, including senior defensive lineman Shemar Turner, who recorded 10.5 tackles for loss and six sacks at defensive end last season before moving back inside.

Purdue Boilermakers linebacker Nic Scourton (5) tackles Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Tanner Mordecai (8) during the NCAA football game, Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind. Wisconsin Badgers won 38-17.

What makes Texas A&M’s defensive line so dangerous on paper is the duo of Scourton and former 5-star defensive end Shemar Stewart, who has equally impressed this fall after adding more muscle, adding to his natural power and strong hands.

For the Aggies to accomplish their goals this season, Scourton will need to consistently wreak havoc in the backfield, starting with taking on a Notre Dame offensive line with just six combined starts between all five starters.

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

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Will Texas A&M’s D-line take advantage of Notre Dame’s young O-line?

Notre Dame will start freshman Anthonie Knapp vs. Texas A&M

Ahead of Texas A&M’s 2024 season opener vs. Notre Dame on Saturday night, Aggies’ head coach Mike Elko talked to the local media on Monday afternoon, where he was asked about facing a Notre Dame offensive line that will feature three sophomores and two freshman starters, which just six total starts between the five starters.

After dealing with several injuries this offseason, including the season-ending loss to the program’s starting left tackle Charles Jagusah, Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman knows that the “next man up” mentality is mandatory. However, Elko knows that despite the youth, he knows that talent across the Irish O-line won’t be lacking.

“Notre Dame has recruited the offensive line really, really well for a really, really long time.”

“The six starts maybe is a concern for them to some degree, maybe in the opener, but I’m sure these young kids that they’re putting out there are really talented.”

On paper, this looks like a huge advantage for Texas A&M’s defensive line, which will likely rotate throughout the night to preserve starting defensive ends Nic Scourton and Shemar Stewart while starting defensive tackle Shemar Turner will also face a favorable one-on-one matchup.

Another name to watch is former Bowling Green pass rusher Cashius Howell, who will start at the Jack position, a hybrid defensive end/linebacker based on the defense being called.

During his final season with the Falcons, Howell racked up 9.5 sacks. Together with Scourton, Turner, and Stewart, he accounted for 27 sacks last season.

Set to face Nic Scourton on the left side, Freeman announced that freshman Anthonie Knapp will start at left tackle for the Irish.

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

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Texas A&M releases its depth chart ahead of Notre Dame contest with injury notes

The Aggies appear to be fairly healthy heading into the opener against the Irish

If you didn’t know, Notre Dame has battled more than a few injuries during its fall camp.

They lost projected starting left tackle Charles Jagusah early, then recently safety Chance Tucker was lost to an ACL injury. The depth chart reflected that with multiple young players in the two-deep.

As for the Irish’s Week 1 opponent Texas A&M, it looks like they have a pretty good bill of health heading into the opener.

The Aggies released their depth chart on Monday as well, with seemingly only the already known injury to running back Rueben Owens a big concern. What’s interesting about this release is that it’s labeled tentative, which means some battles still be going on for TAMU.

Quarterback [autotag]Conner Weigman[/autotag] will lead the offense, while former Purdue defensive lineman [autotag]Nic Scourton[/autotag] heads the defense as they are set to host the Irish in a primetime matchup.

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‘He will play alot’ DL Cashius Howell looks like Texas A&M’s secret weapon

Junior DL Cashius Howell quietly recorded 9.5 sacks during his final season with Bowling Green

Reliable pass rushers are in high demand at every level of football.

As college football offenses become more pass-dominant, being able to deploy athletes off the edge or in twists/stunts provides a huge advantage, especially in the SEC.

As Texas A&M’s 2024 season begins next Saturday, the Aggies will host No. 7 Notre Dame inside what could be a sold-out Kyle Field, which will also serve as Mike Elko’s inaugural season head coach after serving in the same capacity with the Duke Blue Devils are the past two seasons.

Inheriting a talented roster, including a loaded defensive line, Elko utilized the transfer portal this offseason, landing commitments from former Purdue defensive end Nic Scourton, who led the Big Ten in sacks (10) last season, and former Bowling Green defensive lineman Cashius Howell, who recorded 9.5 sacks in 2023.

While Scourton certainly brings immediate NFL-level strength and production to the line, first-year defensive coordinator Jay Bateman spoke about Howell’s potential impact this season due to his versatility in the trenches after an impressive fall camp.

“He is tremendous. He is a unique player and can do a lot of different things… He is a really important part of the defense, and he will play a ton. Glad to have him.”

Adding more weight to his frame this offseason, Howell now stands at 6-4 and 245 pounds. During his three seasons at Bowling Green, Howell recorded 56 tackles, 27 solo tackles, 13.0 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks.

Right now, Howell will likely rotate in as a backup defensive end behind Nic Scourton, with the ability to move inside if needed.

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20 Aggies named to the 2024 Senior Bowl watchlist

20 Texas A&M football players were recently named to the 2024 Senior Bowl watchlist

Texas A&M’s 2024 season opener vs. Notre Dame is just a week away. The Mike Elko era will officially begin after an eventful offseason of building his coaching staff and roster.

Unlike most new head coaches, the former Aggie defensive coordinator isn’t starting from scratch. He helped recruit a handful of the current veterans on the 2024 roster before departing for his two-year head coaching stint at Duke.

Equipped with plenty of talent and experience, led by redshirt sophomore starting quarterback Conner Weigman, it has revealed that 20 current offensive and defensive starters/reserves have been named to the 2024 Senior Bowl watchlist.

Held in Mobile, Alabama, on an annual basis, the Senior Bowl provides another opportunity for veteran collegiate players to prove their worth to NFL scouts ahead of each NFL draft. For Texas A&M, the player list is composed of original recruits and transfer portal players:

  • WR Jabre Barber
  • K Randy Bond
  • DL Josh Celiscar
  • CB Tyreek Chappell
  • LB Solomon DeSheilds
  • CB Jaydon Hill
  • CB BJ Mayes
  • TE Garrett Miller
  • WR Moose Muhammad III
  • OL Ar’maj Reed-Adams
  • DL Albert Regis
  • DL Nic Scourton
  • RB E.J. Smith
  • DL Shemar Stewart
  • WR Noah Thomas
  • DL Shemar Turner
  • TE Tre Watson
  • QB Conner Weigman
  • LB Scooby Williams
  • LT Trey Zuhn III

Texas A&M will host Notre Dame on Saturday, August 31. The game will be at 6:30 p.m. CT and will air on ABC.

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Watch Texas A&M’s recent practice hype video as the 2024 season opener nears

It’s time to get excited as Texas A&M is just seven days away from kicking off the 2024 season vs. Notre Dame

Over the past twenty-plus Texas A&M football seasons, ‘hope’ has been the program’s nemesis. The disappointment of October, with its consistently middling finishes, has left the fan base yearning for change and improvement.

However, after six underwhelming seasons under former head coach Jimbo Fisher, the Mike Elko era has come to College Station. The former A&M defensive coordinator has returned to the program after a successful two-year stint as Duke’s head coach.

Inheriting a talented roster chock-full of experience at every position, the No. 20-ranked Aggies will kick off the 2024 season with a prime-time showdown vs. No. 7 Notre Dame inside what could be a sold-out Kyle Field. After a successful fall practice slate, the offensive and defensive depth charts are set outside several position battles on the O-line secondary.

Looking to set the tone on the ground, new offensive coordinator Collin Klein brings in a tight end-centric, motion-heavy scheme that is poised to revolutionize the team’s play.

This innovative strategy should readily open up holes in the run game, allowing starting quarterback Conner Weigman to showcase his accuracy and quick release and move the ball down the field with a balanced attack. This is a promising start for the upcoming season.

Defensively, A&M’s D-line is littered with future NFL starting talent, led by former Purdue defensive end Nic Scourton, junior DE Shemar Stewart, and senior defensive lineman Shemar Turner. Texas A&M’s revamped secondary is built to improve significantly from last season.

After last week’s practice, Texas A&M’s talented media team released another fun “hype” video played to the song “O Fortuna” from Carmina Burana, which is fitting, to say the least.

Texas A&M will host Notre Dame on Saturday, August 31. The game will be at 6:30 p.m. CT and will air on ABC.

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Junior DE Shemar Stewart featured in our Texas A&M Countdown to Kickoff

Junior DE Shemar Stewart comes in at No. 8 in our countdown to the 2024 season opener

The countdown to Texas A&M’s 2024 season opener against Notre Dame is nearing single digits.

Ten days remain before the 7th-ranked Fighting Irish head to College Station for a primetime showdown. New Aggies head coach Mike Elko has completed the long journey to accepting the position, going through his first offseason, and finishing his first fall practice period with the team this month.

Aggies Wire will focus on one player daily for the next ten days, ranking the Top 10 players on the 2024 roster. Coming in at No. 8 on the list, junior defensive end Shemar Stewart is primed to finally break out after two seasons with the program, especially under the guidance of Elko and new defensive coordinator Jay Bateman.

During his final year under former D-coordinator D.J. Durkin, Stewart, who was misused as a pass rusher, only recorded 11 tackles, five solo tackles, and 1.5 sacks. However, Stewart is determined to finish the job once he reaches the backfield, as the junior added more mass this offseason to his now intimidating 6-6, 290-pound frame.

Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports

With the addition of former Purdue defensive end Nic Scourton, who led the Big Ten in sacks (10) last season, Stewart’s lofty goal of double-digit sacks isn’t far-fetched when accounting for his supporting cast. During the start of fall practice, Jay Bateman had this to say regarding Stewart’s immense potential:

“I told a scout, ‘If you gave me and you two hours in the lab creating a player, it would look like Shemar Stewart.'”

“I think you will see a problem. If I am an OC, I want to know where that guy is.”

How Elko and Bateman will deploy Stewart along the defensive line will be answered once SEC play begins. The A&M’s D-line will likely rotate throughout the season to keep Stewart and Scourton fresh for third-down pass rush opportunities.

Ranked as the No. 1 prospect in Florida out of the 2022 recruiting class, Stewart’s strong hands and impressive athleticism at his size make him a tough matchup for any offensive lineman that crosses his path in 2024.

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 Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.