Tag: R.J. Oben

Texas A&M and new HC Mike Elko must pursue former Duke DL, R.J. Oben, who recently entered the Transfer Portal

Duke defensive lineman R.J. Oben, who played under new Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko, has entered the transfer portal.

In the age of the ever-growing college football transfer portal, which has become the collegiate version of NFL Free Agency, whenever a coach leaves a program due to a promotion or lateral move, players from the previous destination often follow said coach to his new school, providing a vast experience boost.

For Texas A&M, new head coach Mike Elko, who was previously leading the Duke Blue Devils for the past two seasons, helped develop several stars on defense, as the former Aggie defensive coordinator remains one of the elite defensive minds in the game today.

While the Aggies already possess one of the better defensive lines in the SEC, the portal “officially opens” on Dec. 4, meaning several players could enter their name sooner than later. Earlier this week, one of the top pass rushers in the country, Duke defensive lineman R.J. Oben, entered the transfer portal on Friday afternoon.

Standing at 6-4 and just over 260 pounds, Oben has played 38 career games in Durham (NC), recording 14.5 career sacks, including five during the 2023 season. Looking to cement himself as a legit NFL prospect, a year in College Station under Elko to continue his development seems like an intelligent decision; a pass rusher lined up beside what could be an elite interior Aggie D-line, the sky’s the limit for Oben to produce in the backfield.

This looks like a no-brainer on paper, but Oben will have plenty of potential suitors, and Texas A&M needs to be among them.

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Duke statistical leaders through four games

Does anyone on this list worry you?

There are few programs college football fans are buying more stock in right now than Duke. Maybe the only program that has turned more heads is the Deion Sanders-led Colorado. ESPN decided that there’s enough interest in the Blue Devils that the next episode of “College GameDay” will be broadcast from Durham. For once, people on Duke’s campus are excited and not about men’s basketball.

It is there that Notre Dame will play this weekend coming off the toughest of losses to Ohio State. The Irish will be facing a team trying to prove it’s for real and belongs with the best of college football. Plus, a raucous crowd at Wallace Wade Stadium likely will be waiting for them. Only they will be able to put a damper on the celebratory mood.

Here are the players who have gotten it done for the Blue Devils so far and will look to continue to do so against the Irish: