Tag: Nic Scourton

‘The D-line is crazy’ Texas A&M LB Scooby Williams knows Texas A&M’s team strength

Texas A&M’s defensive line has a chance to be special

Accurately grading Texas A&M’s fall practice period is nearly impossible for those of us in the media who only witnessed short portions of each practice. Still, from that bird’s eye view, it’s evident that the team has the potential to excel on offense, defense, and, yes, even special teams, which should fill every Aggie with hope.

Before Sunday’s final fall scrimmage, former Florida linebacker Scooby Williams, who followed new defensive coordinator Jay Bateman to College Station, joined several other players to discuss the progress made on defense this month.

When asked what he believes the Aggies’ strength will be this season, Williams was immediate in his response, and his answer didn’t surprise any of us who have been paying attention:

 “The D-Line is crazy. There is a bunch of NFL potential on it.”

Texas A&M’s defensive line is by far the strongest unit on Texas A&M’s 2024 roster, as Elko’s respected defensive background led to landing former Purdue defensive end Nic Scourton, who led the Big Ten in sacks (10) last season.

Scourton and former Bowling Green Edge Cashius Howell join the likes of junior defensive linemen Shemar Stewart and Shemar Turner across a defensive line littered with blue-chip talent with plenty of pass rush potential.

Dialed into the final week of fall practice, TexAgs Co-Owner Billy Liucci recently noted on the latest episode of the Loochaor Podcast that A&M’s defensive line depth should play a big role in rotations based on each opponent throughout the SEC slate, referencing players such as defensive ends Rylan Kennedy and Malick Sylla who should see the field in some capacity.

Scooby Williams is currently battling for the second linebacker spot next to starting MLB Taurean York with former Pitt LB Solomon DeSheilds and sophomore backer Daymion Sanford. Williams finished with 52 tackles, one sack, and two forced fumbles during his final season with the Gators.

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 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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2 Aggies ranked in ESPN’s 2024 Top 100 CFB Player rankings

Two Aggie Starters have made ESPN preseason Top 100 player rankings

Texas A&M’s 2024 roster is stacked with talent, but getting the best out of each and every player is the biggest challenge for the new coaching staff, as first-year head coach Mike Elko will lead his new squad against Notre Dame to open the season on Saturday, August 31.

For every team, a quarterback, left tackle, and a reliable pass rusher are vital for consistent success, as starting quarterback Conner Weigman joins former Purdue defensive end Nic Scourton as the two Aggie starters who have made ESPN’s Top 100 player rankings ahead of the 2024 college football season, which officially begins next weekend.

Weigman, who missed most of the 2023 regular season due to injury, still finished with 979 passing yards and eight touchdowns in just four starts, while Scourton finished his final sophomore campaign with the Boilermakers with 50 tackles and a Big Ten-leading ten sacks.

Completely healthy, Weigman has all but mastered new OC Collin Klein’s offense, hitting tight windows while his arm strength has steadily increased. In the rankings, the redshirt sophomore came in as the 81st-ranked player, as ESPN writers hit the nail on the head concerning his overall importance to Texas A&M’s success this season:

“Weigman’s sample size in 3½ games last season was small, but he looked like a quarterback who could lift the Aggies out of their doldrums before he went down with a foot injury against Auburn. In a 52-10 rout of New Mexico, he threw five touchdowns, the most in regulation by an A&M passer since Johnny Manziel in 2013. In a 47-3 win against Louisiana-Monroe, Weigman completed 25 of 29 attempts (86.2%), the highest completion percentage (minimum 20 attempts) in school history.”

Scourton, who already looks like a top-5 NFL draft prospect based on size and 2023 production alone, came in much higher at No. 29 after not making last year’s rankings:

“A Purdue transfer, Scourton had 72 tackles, 48 solo tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and 3 passes defended in two seasons with the Boilermakers. Last season, he led the Big Ten in sacks with 10, earning second-team All-Big Ten honors.”

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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Notre Dame’s O-line inexperience should greatly benefit Texas A&M’s pass rush

Texas A&M could have a huge advantage vs. Notre Dame’s young offensive line

In the wake of Notre Dame left tackle Charles Jagusah sustaining a season-ending injury earlier this month, plenty of movement is in the works under head coach Marcus Freeman, who is preparing his team for the season opener vs. Texas A&M inside what could be a sold out Kyle Field.

Knowing that the Irish O-line will face one of the top defensive lines in the country, especially after Aggie’s head coach Mike Elko landed former Purdue defensive end Nic Scourton from the transfer portal, Notre Dame O-line coach Joe Rudolph’s track record speaks for its self, but this will be a tough starting unit to assemble, and feel confident about ahead of the opener.

With Jagusah officially sidelined, it was revealed by The Athletics’ Pete Sampson that freshman Anthonie Knapp was working with the first-team offensive line this week over grad student tackle Tosh Baker at the left tackle spot. In contrast, redshirt freshman Sam Pendelton started at left guard during the team’s final open practice this week.

While the right side of the line consisted of multiple redshirt sophomores with some depth behind them, this provides Elko and defensive coordinator Jay Bateman to strategically move around Scourton, Turner, Stewart, and former Bowling Green Edge Cashius Howell to readily expose the inexperience of the left side of Notre Dame’s line.

A stat to note: All four Aggie pass rushers mentioned (Scourton, Turner, Stewart, Howell) combined for 27 sacks last season. Advantage Texas A&M for now.

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Watch a recap from Texas A&M’s final week of fall football practice

Texas A&M’s final week of fall practice is coming to a close, so here’s a quick video recap!

In just two weeks from now, Texas A&M and head coach Mike Elko will be preparing to kick off the 2024 season against Notre Dame on Saturday, August 31, as the 7th-ranked Fighting Irish will make their way to what could be a sold-out Kyle Field.

This week, the Aggies took the field for the final time before preparing for the 2024 season as the fall practice period can’t be called a success just yet, but progress has certainly been made on both sides of the ball.

Defensively, the biggest riser has consistently been junior defensive end Shemar Stewart, who, after gaining significant weight this offseason, is still looking lean and mean at 290 pounds, while his elite strength and athleticism make him a player to watch. Teaming up with former Purdue DE Nic Scourton and senior DL Shemar Turner, A&M’s pass rush looks borderline elite.

Offensively, redshirt sophomore quarterback Conner Weigman has improved as a passer, increasing the velocity on these throws, while his accuracy and touch remain top-notch.

Concerning who he will be throwing to, Texas A&M’s wide receiver rotation is skilled but relatively unproven. At the same time, several new tight end additions, including former Fresno State TE Tre Watson, whose blocking and receiving skills make him a perfect fit in new OC Collin Klien’s offensive scheme.

As the roster continues to take shape, here’s a quick recap video from this week’s practice. The video also shows sophomore wide receiver Micah Tease making a couple of big-time receptions this week.

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Shemar Turner and Nic Scourton named to the Lombardi Award Preseason Watchlist

Texas A&M defensive linemen Shemar Turner and Nic Scourton to the Lombardi Award Preseason Watchlist

In the words of DJ Kalid, “another one”. Shemar Turner and Nic Scourton continue to rack up preseason award acknowledgments. On Thursday, the Lombardi committee named both defensive linemen to the Lombardi Award Preseason Watchlist. The last Texas A&M football player to earn the award was Texas A&M Hall of Famer Dat Nguyen.

This prestigious accolade continues to honor the Outstanding College Football Lineman, whether on offense or defense, who displays exceptional performance and ability and embodies the character and discipline that Vince Lombardi championed throughout his life.

Turner tallied 33 tackles, 6.0 sacks, 10.5 TFLs, and a blocked pair of kicks. He also finished the season with an All-SEC Second Team selection. Scourton recorded 50 tackles, 10.0 sacks, 15 TFLs, and finished the season with an All-Big Ten Second Team selection after his final season with Purdue.

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Highlights from Texas A&M’s 12th fall football practice

Texas A&M’s defense continues to shine during the final week of fall practice

We’re oh so close to the start of the 2024 college football season, as Texas A&M finished its 12th fall practice on Wednesday.

This comes just days after the devastating news that sophomore running back Rueben Owens couldn’t potentially miss the 2024 season after sustaining a lower-body injury during last weekend’s scrimmage.

While every position group receives equal focus, every practice provides an opportunity to stick out of the crowd, as the Aggie defense, especially the pass rush duo of Nic Scourton and Shemar Stewart, continues to impress the coaching staff and media alike due to their NFL strength and elite athletic traits.

However, the secondary, especially the cornerback rotation, continues to develop before our eyes. New additions paired with returners such as Bravion Rogers and Jayvon Thomas provide Elko and defensive backs coaches Ishmael Aristide and Jordan Peterson plenty to work with before unveiling the Week 1 depth chart.

Offensively, quarterback Conner Weigman has continued to look sharp, while the wide receivers and running backs continue to adjust to new offensive coordinator Collin Klein’s new scheme.

Here are the various highlights from Texas A&M’s 12th fall practice.

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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Shemar Turner and Nic Scourton named to the Bednarik Award Preseason Watchlist

The Maxwell Club have named Shemar Turner and Nic Scourton to the Bednarik Award Preseason Watchlist

This might sound like a broken record, but Texas A&M defenders Shemar Turner and Nic Scourton have been named another defensive preseason award watchlist. On Monday, the Maxwell Football Club named both defensive linemen to the Bednarik Award Preseason Watchlist.

The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1994 and is named in honor of Chuck “Concrete Charlie” Bednarik who was an All-American player at the University of Pennsylvania and later a multiple year All Pro linebacker and center for the Philadelphia Eagles. He is a member of both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame and was the last NFL player to be a full-time player on both offense and defense.

Turner tallied 33 tackles, 6.0 sacks, 10.5 TFLs, and a blocked pair of kicks. He also finished the season with an All-SEC Second Team selection. Scourton recorded 50 tackles, 10.0 sacks, 15 TFLs, and finished the season with an All-Big Ten Second Team selection after his final season with Purdue.

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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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