Tag: Nic Scourton

Where does Texas A&M land in CBS Sports’ 2024 134 team rankings?

Texas A&M’s 2024 season is just 30 days away

Texas A&M’s 2024 season is just 30 days away. The Aggies will kick off the season against Notre Dame on Saturday, August 31, inside a packed Kyle Field.

Serving as head coach Mike Elko’s inaugural season, the former A&M defensive coordinator (2018-2021) is back in College Station after a short two-year stint at Duke. He proved his head coaching chops with the Blue Devils by winning an impressive 16 games in his two seasons in Durham.

As we’ve covered throughout the offseason, Elko and his coaching staff have inherited a talented and experienced roster, paired with the nearly 30 transfer portal additions, including former Purdue Edge Nic Scourton, who led the Big Ten with ten sacks last season.

However, redshirt quarterback Conner Weigman’s return to the lineup after his offseason surgery continues to dominate any Texas A&M-related headlines, but the status of the offensive line will likely make or break the Aggie’s chances of consistently moving the ball down the field.

On paper, Texas A&M’s defense with Scourton and several new additions in the secondary looks like the team’s predominant strength, providing Elko’s elite defensive mind plenty to work with. So, what does the national media think of the Aggies’ chances to compete for a playoff spot this season?

On Thursday, CBS Sports released its 134 team rankings, and what may be surprising to some is that Texas A&M is ranked 20th after finishing the 2023 season as the 41st-ranked team in the rankings, as writer Chip Patterson stated that former head coach Jimbo Fisher’s blatant lack of on-field execution shouldn’t be an issue under Elko.

“The struggles that led to Jimbo Fisher’s exit did tailspin the Aggies’ season a bit, and when it comes to ranking all 134 FBS teams, you can’t give a program like Texas A&M a pass just because it’s going through some tough times” Patterson stated.

“Talent was rarely the issue, but execution was, and by boosting the Aggies up nearly two dozen spots, our voters are clearly in on the idea that Mike Elko’s hire will have a positive impact on closing the gap between talent and results.”

Most college football media members voted on by CBS Sports, and 247Sports writers agree that Elko looks like the right fit to finally get the Aggies back to winning key games in October and November.

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Highlights from Texas A&M Football’s first fall practice

Here are the highlights from Texas A&M’s first fall practice

Texas A&M’s 2024 season is underway. The Aggies hit the field on Wednesday night for their first fall training camp practice of the year, providing plenty of highlights that should have every fan excited for what’s to come this month. We’re just four weeks away from A&M’s season opener against Notre Dame on Saturday, August 31.

On Tuesday, head coach Mike Elko took questions from the local Aggie media, leading to Wednesday’s first practice. Alongside quarterback Conner Weigman, wide receiver Noah Thomas, and safety Bryce Anderson, Elko and his star players addressed a couple of injury updates, new OC Collin Klein’s offense, and the status of the Aggies’ offensive line, which will solidify several position battles, including at center.

While A&M’s defense is expected to be the team’s strength, especially along the defensive line, the offense will continue to take center stage as new OC Collin Klein’s offense is expected to vastly differ from what Aggies fans were accustomed to under former head coach Jimbo Fisher. Quoting Conner Weigman, expect a lot more scoring with the scheme change:

“Points. A lot of points. I’m excited about that. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Here are the highlights from Texas A&M’s first practice on Wednesday night. Credit to TexAgs and GigEm247’s Carter Karels for providing the excellent footage.

Texas A&M DL’s Turner and Scourton named to the Nagurski Trophy Watch list

The FWAA have named Shemar Turner and Nic Scourton to the Bronko Nagurski Preseason Watch List

If I had to pick the top strength of the 2024-25 Texas A&M football team it most definitely would be the defensive line.

Leading the way are senior Shemar Turner and junior Nic Scourton, both who are projected starters and expected to wreak havoc on opposing offenses.

On Tuesday the Football Writers Association of America announced that Turner and Scourton have been named to the Bronko Nagurski Preseason Watch List. The award is given to the top national defensive player of the year annually.

The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce finalists for the 2024 trophy on Nov. 20 and the winner will be unveiled Dec. 9 at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet in Charlotte, North Carolina.

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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Three Aggies named to the Preseason Media Days All-SEC Team

One Texas A&M starter was utterly snubbed in the newest preseason All-SEC Team

In its annual summer fashion, SEC Media Days provided more insight into what to expect from the 2024 SEC football season, now just weeks away.

During the four-day event, the national media heard from every head coach of all 16 teams, including 48 player representatives. Speaking on the final day, Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko was as calm and confident as ever, returning to the program after two years away.

Accompanying Elko, defensive lineman Shemar Turner, left tackle Trey Zuhn III and middle linebacker Taurean York were the right choices to represent Texas A&M, with offensive line and defense playing a critical part in the team’s potential success.

With another exciting week in the books, the first official conference standings prediction and the preseason All-SEC team have been revealed, as three Aggies, including Trey Zuhn and Shemar Turner, were named to the team.

  • Third Team OL — Trey Zuhn III
  • Second Team DL — Shemar Turner
  • Second Team DL — Nic Scourton

Trey Zuhn was by far A&M’s most consistent offensive lineman last season while the interior struggled. The 6’8″, 315-pound junior will play a big part in protecting starting quarterback Conner Weigman throughout the season.

Defensively, the D-line looks like the Aggies’ predominant strength on paper, and former Purdue defensive end Nic Scourton recorded a Big Ten-leading 10 sacks last season. In comparison, Turner’s six sacks were second behind current Green Bay linebacker Edgerrin Cooper in 2023 and will now switch to defensive tackle after adding 30 pounds this offseason.

However, linebacker Taurean York, who was second on the team with 74 tackles and three sacks during his freshman season, was obviously snubbed, as the sophomore is set to make a jump in his play after adding healthy mass to his frame this summer.

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Texas A&M’s highest rated player in College Foootball 25 has been revealed

Transfer defensive end Nic Scourton is unsurprisingly the highest rated Aggie in the upcoming College Football 25 game

Ahead of EA’s much-anticipated College Football 25 release date, the game makers have already released the team ratings for every Top 25 program ranked in the game. In contrast, Wednesday’s release of the Top 100 players ratings has already created plenty of online discourse.

For college football fans, as well as NFL Draft fans, the names at the top of the rankings key are the best at their respective postion, as Michigan cornerback Will Johnson, Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon II, Tennessee edge James Pearce Jr., and Ohio State safety Caleb Downs all deserve their high 90+ rating.

Texas A&M’s player who received the highest rating is no surprise, as former Purdue defensive end Nic Scourton received a 90 overall grade and is the only Aggie ranked within the Top 100 player rankings ahead of head coach Mike Elko’s inaugural 2024 season.

Due to his size, strength, and elite athleticism, Scourton could end up being Texas A&M’s best player on the roster. The Bryan, Texas native is back home for what is likely his final collegiate season due to his already high 2025 draft stock.

During his final season with the Boilermakers, Scourton recorded 50 tackles, a Big Ten-leading ten sacks, and three pass deflections on the year.

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ESPN sees Bills taking Von Miller’s replacement in early 2025 mock draft

ESPN sees #Bills taking Von Miller’s replacement in early 2025 mock draft:

It’s never too early to look ahead to next year’s NFL draft.

ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller provided an all-too-early projection of how next year’s draft could play out. Using ESPN’s Football Power Index, the Bills ended up with the 26th pick in the first round.

With that selection, ESPN has the Bills selecting Texas A&M edge rusher Nic Scourton.

Miller justifies the pick by stating:

The Bills’ early top needs for 2025 look a lot like they did in 2024. But after selecting Keon Coleman to pair with Khalil Shakir and Curtis Samuel at receiver, GM Brandon Beane might opt to address the team’s pass rush, Buffalo’s other looming issue, next spring. Greg Rousseau is a talented player, but relying on Von Miller after this season isn’t a given. And Scourton posted 10 sacks at Purdue in 2023 and has the strength at 6-4 and 280 pounds to take over the SEC now that he’s at A&M. Turn on his tape against Michigan from last year, when he tallied two sacks, and you can see the impact he brings to a defense.

Scourton recorded 50 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, three passes defensed, and a forced fumble. Scourton is an elite pass rusher who tied for most sacks in the Big Ten last year.

Scourton entered the transfer portal at the end of the season.

The Bills defensive end position may look very different at this time next year. Buffalo could move on from Von Miller’s contract, which sees the cap hit accelerate up to $32 million by its conclusion in 2027. Buffalo has a potential out at the end of this year, which would put the Bills on the hook for $15.17 million in dead cap considerations.

Depth players Dawuane Smoot, Casey Toohill, and DeShawn Williams contracts all expire at the end of this season.

Scourton could be an interesting piece to go along with Greg Rousseau and AJ Epenesa on the defensive line. General manager Brandon Beane and head coach Sean McDermott have emphasized the defensive line in drafts during their tenure. Ed Oliver, Rousseau, and Epenesa were the Bills first selections in their respective draft years for Buffalo under the Beane-McDermott regime.

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Post game recap: Texas A&M’s Maroon & White spring game ends with a 24-10 Maroon team victory

Texas A&M’s spring game concluded with a 24-10 Maroon team victory

Texas A&M’s annual Maroon & White spring game concluded on what turned out to be a rainy latter half of the afternoon. The Maroon team defeated the White team by a score of 24-10 behind the arm of backup quarterback Marcel Reed and the hands of junior wide receiver Noah Thomas.

As I noted ahead of the game, nearly 20 players, mostly presumed 2024 starters, did not play, including several starters on the offensive line.

Head coach Mike Elko had a plan for all three quarterbacks going into the game. Starter Conner Weigman is still recovering from surgery after a 2023 foot injury sidelined him after four games, but he still made the start for the White team.

Lacking his usual mobility, Weigman only completed 5-14 passes for 47 yards. Still, none of this should be surprising due to the lack of blocking up front and a lack of receiving options compared to the Maroon team.

Quarterbacking the Maroon, sophomore Marcel Reed (10-14, 84 yards, 1 TD) shared reps with senior Jaylen Henderson (8-13, 100 yards, 1 TD) as both found the endzone. Yet, Reed’s mobility and accuracy have made this offseason battle even more intriguing down the stretch.

Making waves offensively, junior wide receiver Noah Thomas has now made his case as the Aggies’ No. 1 wide receiver next season. He led the game with seven receptions, 82 yards, and two touchdowns, including a diving endzone grab for his final score.

Defensively, former Purdue Edge Nic Scourton looks like the team’s best overall player going into the fall, credited with five tackles, 2.5 sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss, and a pass breakup for the Maroon defense. In comparison, junior Shemar Stewart was equally impressive for the White team, with seven tackles, a sack, and a tackle for loss on the afternoon.

From what I saw today, Texas A&M’s transfer portal-heavy cornerback room is filled with length, speed, and, most importantly, experience at a postion group that struggled throughout the 2023 season.

Overall, the offense showed flashes, especially his improvement at running back, as Le’Veon Moss and Rueben Owens both ran for touchdowns. At the same time, the defense looks like the Aggies’ predominant strength heading into the season opener vs. Notre Dame on Saturday, Aug. 31.

Final Stats: 

White Team: 

  • Total yards: 128
  • Rushing yards: 70
  • Passing yards: 58
  • 1st downs: 6
  • Turnovers: 0
  • Time of possession: 20:51

Maroon Team: 

  • Total yards: 364
  • Rushing yards: 180
  • Passing yards: 184
  • 1st downs: 21
  • Turnovers: 1
  • Time of possession: 39.09

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3 Aggies listed in CBS Sports’ ‘Top 100 Players’ of 2024 rankings

Three Texas A&M defenders, including two from the transfer portal, have made CBS Sports’ “Top 100 players of 2024” rankings.

Texas A&M’s Maroon & White spring game is just two days away. Head coach Mike Elko’s inaugural season will get a sneak peek on Saturday afternoon, but as of now, prepare for potential inclement weather.

In terms of the roster, a bevy of new faces on both offense and defense will make their Aggie debut after a mostly successful spring period. Throughout the spring practice period, Elko has praised the play of several transfer portal additions on defense, including former Purdue Edge Nic Scourton.

This week, CBS Sports writer Blake Brockermeyer released his Top 100 players list ahead of the 2024 season, as three Aggie defenders, including Scourton, made the rankings. Here are all three players:

  • No. 31: Cashius Howell (Edge)
  • No. 44: Nic Scourton (Edge)
  • No. 60: Shemar Turner (Defensive line)

Cashius Howell has the length and speed to get the backfield consistently, recording 9.5 sacks for Bowling Green last season. In comparison, Nic Scourton’s postion versatility and brute strength produced a Big Ten-leading 10 sacks for Purdue in 2023.

Shemar Turner is in a league of his own, returning for a final season in Aggieland, bringing the strength and size to play inside if needed. Already a noted run-stopper, Turner’s strong hands and athleticism make him one of the more feared pass rushers in the SEC.

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‘I think there’s a massive disruption opportunity for Texas A&M’ On3’s J.D. PicKell likes the Aggies’ chances in 2024

On3’s J.D. PicKell theorizes what Texas A&M football could become is the star align in 2024

Just two weeks away from Texas A&M’s annual Maroon & White spring game on Saturday, April 20, the buzz surrounding new head coach Mike Elko’s coaching style compared to former head man Jimbo Fisher shows a much-needed change after two consecutive disappointing seasons.

With a clear focus on accountability and structure, including a shake-up in the offensive trenches during spring practices after one of the worst offensive line performances in program history in 2023, Elko and his experienced coaching staff are taking the right approach thus far.

Only losing a handful of last season’s primary starters, Elko attacked the transfer portal with vigor, landing 22 players, including former Big Ten sack leader Nic Scouron and former Kansas State cornerback Will Lee Jr., who already look like immediate starters as soon as fall camp.

However, the most important position, quarterback, has continued to hinder the program since the departure of longtime starter Kellen Mond, as injuries have continued to mount every season since.

After missing the final eight games last season due to a foot injury, blue-chip redshirt sophomore Conner Weigman has continued to heal this spring, participating in practices while recently noting,

“I’m feeling good. We’re almost there.”

Well, the preseason No. 25 Texas A&M Aggies are obviously underrated for a reason, and On3′ J.D. PicKell feels that the “underdog” tag could finally work in the Aggies’ favor with four playoff teams on the schedule and a head coach worthy of respect in his inaugural season:

The thing with A&M is that it’s never been an issue of roster talent” PicKell stated “For me, it’s always been a matter of structure, execution, and putting the right pieces of the puzzle where they’re supposed to go.”

Yes, Jimbo Fisher was an ace recruiter in his own right, but his results on the field never matched his offseason success. Elko, who spent the last two seasons as Duke’s head coach, finished with two winning seasons and consecutive bowl game appearances.

“Mike Elko, who, quite frankly has done more with less with his time at Duke, I think think there’s a massive disruptions oppurtunity fro the folks at Texas A&M. They play four college football contenders this season, the guys they bring back, they’re top 20 in returning production.”

Lastly, after noting what Conner Weigman could bring to the table in a full 12-game season as opposed to simply “flashing” in brief moments, PicKell ended with a message that should resonate with Aggie fans who remember just how disregarded Texas A&M’s memorable 2012 season was just months before the season.

“There’s no College Football Playoff buzz around A&M right now, but I don’t think we should ignore the fact that this could definitely be the year with the talent they have and the structure they could have. I’m Just saying that A&M could be a force this year.”

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Here are the Top 5 incoming defensive transfers to watch out for during spring football

Here are five of the incoming transfer portal members on defense for Texas A&M to watch during the start of spring football next month.

It may be early in the offseason, but Texas A&M’s spring football season is less than a month away, and all eyes will be on how new head coach Mike Elko and his impressive coaching staff will develop the defense, including a bulk of the incoming defensive transfers looking to contribute in 2024 immediately.

Bringing in a wealth of elite defensive knowledge, Elko, combined with new defensive coordinator/ linebackers coach Jay Bateman, see eye to eye scheme-wise, but for consistent success to be had, the newly acquired seasoned veterans paired with key returners such as senior defensive lineman Shemar Turner is the only way towards said production.

With 13 of the program’s 22 portal additions coming on defensive, Aggie’s horrific performance in the secondary last season, specifically a lack of size, depth, and overall talent at cornerback, provided Elko a blueprint on how to attack the portal, landing five corners and two safeties to compete for starting/rotational spots.

Looking ahead to the start of Texas A&M’s spring football season, here are five transfer portal defenders to watch out for next month!