Tag: shemar Stewart

USC bowl opponent loses two key defenders to 2025 NFL draft

USC is enduring roster depletion for its bowl game, but its opponent, Texas A&M, is facing the same problem. It creates a very fluid situation in Las Vegas.

We are less than two weeks away from USC football concluding its 2024 season against Texas A&M in the Las Vegas Bowl.

The Aggies finished the season 8-4, including a 5-3 mark in SEC play. However, they will be without two key defenders in the matchup against the Trojans.

Since the conclusion of the regular season, Texas A&M junior defensive linemen Nic Scourton and Shemar Stewart have both declared for the NFL Draft. The expectation is that neither will play against USC in Las Vegas.

Scourton finished the regular season with 37 tackles, five sacks, two passes defended, and a forced fumble. Steward had 31 tackles, two passes defended, 1.5 sacks, and a forced fumble.

Given the Trojans’ makeshift offensive line, USC will certainly not complain about the news. The Trojans have already lost offensive linemen Mason Murphy, Gino Quinones, and Amos Talalele to the transfer portal. It is also not yet known whether NFL-bound seniors Jonah Monheim and Emmanuel Pregnon will play in the game or not.

Even with a relatively mobile quarterback in Jayden Maiava, USC could be in trouble up front in the Sin City. While their opponent being without two of its top defenders certainly won’t fix everything, it should hopefully at least make Maiava’s life a little easier.

5 Texas A&M players named to the 2024 All-SEC Football Team

Five Aggies were named to the 2024 All-SEC Football team

Texas A&M’s 2024 season ended differently than planned. Head coach Mike Elko’s inaugural campaign finished 8-4 and 5-3 in SEC play. While the season-ending loss to rival Texas stung the fan base after a 13-year wait, the future still looks very bright under Elko’s guidance.

Texas A&M will face USC in the Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 27, but before the Aggies take on the Trojans, Elko, and his staff will focus on adding talent and experience from the transfer portal after 17 players from the 2024 roster entered over the last two weeks.

Looking back on the year, star running back Le’Veon Moss’s season-ending injury threw a wrench in the Aggies’ offensive game plan, leading to three consecutive SEC losses. A&M’s pass rush also failed to show consistency during the final stretch of conference play.

However, the quarterback carousel that eventually saw redshirt freshman Marcel Reed take over permanently had mixed results, partially due to OC Collin Klein’s play calling and Reed’s inconsistent passing performances.

On Tuesday, the official 2024 All-SEC Football Team was announced, comprised of the first, second, and third team selections, which saw five Texas A&M players selected for every team. Here is where each Aggie landed:

  • First Team DL: DE Nic Scourton (37 tackles, five sacks, 34 pressures)
  • Second Team RB: RB Le’Veon Moss (764 rushing yards, ten touchdowns)
  • Second Team DB: CB Will Lee III (42 tackles, two interceptions, ten pass deflections)
  • Third Team OL: LT Trey Zuhn III
  • Third Team DL: DE Shemar Stewart (31 tackles, 1.5 sacks)

Texas A&M will face USC in the Las Vegas Bowl on Friday, Dec. 27, at 9:30 p.m. CT. The game will air on ESPN.

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Video: Early names to know for the Lions potential first pick in the 2025 NFL Draft

Video breakdown of some early names to know for the Lions potential first pick in the 2025 NFL Draft

One of the byproducts of the Detroit Lions being a Super Bowl contender is that the NFL Draft has quickly become an in-season afterthought for most fans. The potential prospects and draft options aren’t nearly as pertinent when there’s a realistic chance for Detroit to be picking at No. 32 instead of No. 2.

Brad Holmes and his scouting staff aren’t forgetting about the 2025 NFL Draft. They’ve been hard at work evaluating prospects all over the country.

In conjunction with the Detroit Lions Podcast, here’s an early list of players who seem to fit what the Lions are looking for in a prospect who could wind up being the team’s first pick in the upcoming draft. It’s far from a complete list, but these are players that Detroit fans should at least be familiar with as the college football regular season rapidly approaches its end.

By popular demand, we’re holding off on any mock drafts until after the college regular season ends.

2 Aggies projected as First Round selections in 2025 NFL Mock Draft

Texas A&M star defensive ends Nic Scourton and Shemar Stewart are unsurprisingly projected to land in the First Round of the 2025 NFL Draft

Texas A&M’s defensive line is one of the country’s deepest and most talented units, mainly due to the play of starting defensive ends Nic Scourton and Shemar Stewart. However, no matter how the season ends, they are likely off the NFL after the 2024 season.

While both players are focused on facing the Auburn Tigers on Saturday night before hosting the Texas Longhorns in the regular season finale, ESPN NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller has been analyzing and breaking down film for 100s of 2025 NFL Draft-eligible players, especially those as talented as the aforementioned Aggie defenders.

On Thursday, Miller released his latest 2025 Mock Draft, in which Scourton and Stewart were both selected in the First Round.

Shemar Stewart is surprisingly selected higher than Scourton by the Miami Dolphins with the 13th Overall Pick, as Miller feels that impending free agency losses will make this a no-brainer for an organization looking for more in the pass rush department.

“He has inside-outside versatility, rare quickness for his size, good length and plenty of play power”

Nic Scourton is mocked seven spots lower than the Atlanta Falcons with the 20th Overall Pick, which is highly understandable given the organization’s NFL’s worst sack rating this season. At the same time, Scourton also offers versatility as a run-stopping defensive tackle.

“Though the 285-pounder might lack elite first-step explosion, he always comes with an excellent pass-rush plan and shows pro-grade hand usage, along with a surprising ability to bend the edge at his size.”

Wherever both players end up, two NFL teams are getting highly dependable athletes who are well-coached and well-traveled.

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Texas A&M run defense has drastically improved since the start of the season

Texas A&M’s run defense has steadily improved throughout the year

Texas A&M (5-1, 3-0 SEC) has steadily become one of the best defensive teams in the country over a two-game span. The Aggies showed utter dominance during Saturday’s 41-10 win over Missouri in Week 7 and are now ranked 36th in the country in total defense.

Unsurprisingly, this unit has improved since the Week 1 loss to Notre Dame, as the stars have begun to shine, led by junior defensive end Nic Scourton. At the same time, cornerback Will Lee III has looked like a shutdown defender in the secondary, leading the country in pass deflections (8).

However, one weakness that hindered A&M’s late chances against the Fighting Irish was the run defense, allowing 198 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the season opener. The next week, while the score says otherwise, Texas A&M allowed 180 rushing yards in the 52-10 win over McNeese, but after that result, things changed quickly.

Vowing to improve against the run, sophomore LB Taurean York knew that everyone, including the linebackers, needed to be better up front; whether it was coaching adjustments or simply a better understanding of run fits, the run defense has continued to climb in the rankings as one of the better-performing aspects of the Aggie defense.

After the win against McNeese, Texas A&M’s run defense was ranked 108th. After wins against Florida (52 rushing yards), Bowling Green (89 rushing yards), Arkansas (100 rushing yards), and Missouri (68 rushing yards), the ranking has skyrocketed to 40th, allowing an average of 114 rushing yards per game.

Impressive, to say the least, is the mix of coaching and overall effort from the defensive line to plug holes and set the edge, which has made the Aggie defense a complete unit heading into the second half of the regular season.

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Updated Texas A&M injury report ahead facing the Missouri Tigers

Here is the newest injury report for Texas A&M ahead of Saturday’s showdown vs. Missouri

Texas A&M (4-1, 2-0 SEC) will face the undefeated 9th-ranked Missouri Tigers (4-0, 1-0 SEC) for an early 11:00 a.m. kickoff on Saturday afternoon. Aggies’ head coach Mike Elko continued to play coy regarding who will start at quarterback, with redshirt sophomore Conner Weigman returning to practice this week.

Weigman’s shoulder injury has healed after missing the last three games. Still, outside of Elko’s brief update earlier this week, redshirt freshman quarterback Marcel Reed is expected to start his fourth consecutive game. However, Elko also stated that Weigman will be a game-time decision to suit up.

On Friday, Texas A&M’s latest availability report revealed much of the same, as Weigman continues to be listed as questionable. At the same time, offensive lineman TJ Shanahan will miss his second consecutive game after sustaining a lower-body injury against Bowling Green.

Only two players are listed as out for Missouri, defensive end Darris Smith and quarterback Sam Horn, while wide receiver Marquis Johnson is listed as questionable.

Overall, both teams entered the game with minor health concerns.

Texas A&M will host Missouri on Saturday, Oct. 5, at 11:00 a.m. CT. The game will air on ABC and will be available for streaming on ESPN+.

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How the No. 24 Texas A&M football team defense can stop Arkansas in the Southwest Classic

The Aggies are heading 200 miles north to Arlington for their second SEC matchup of the season on Saturday against Arkansas at AT&T Stadium.

The Texas A&M football team is heading 200 miles north to Arlington this weekend for its second SEC matchup of the season on Saturday afternoon against Arkansas at AT&T Stadium.

The No. 24 Aggies (3-1, 1-0 SEC) will need a strong effort from their defense versus the Razorbacks (3-1, 1-0) to remain unbeaten in conference action. Texas A&M beat Arkansas 34-22 in the 2023 Southwest Classic.

A duo of upperclassmen defensive linemen with the same name, senior Shemar Turner and junior Shemar Stewart, each recorded a sack last week during a 26-20 victory against Bowling Green at Kyle Field. Aggies head coach Mike Elko and defensive coordinator Jay Bateman will be looking for similar production from the Shemar pairing on Saturday at Jerry’s World.

Texas A&M will be facing a familiar foe on the opposing sideline, Razorbacks offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino, who was the OC and quarterbacks coach in College Station under former head coach Jimbo Fisher.

Experienced Aggies like Stewart and Turner should have an advantage versus junior QB Taylen Green after practicing against Petrino’s playbook in 2023.

Texas A&M battles Arkansas at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN.

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Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

Texas A&M Pro Football Focus grades after defeating Bowling Green

Here are some of the Pro Football Focus grades from Texas A&M’s 26-20 win over Bowling Green

Texas A&M (3-1, 1-0 SEC) defeated Bowling Green 26-20 in a game that was way too close for comfort from start to finish, as quarterback Marcel Reed made his second consecutive start amid Conner Weigman’s ongoing shoulder injury.

In a game where the Aggies never trailed, it certainly felt like the home team was playing from behind, as Reed and the offense failed to find consistency through the air, while the run game stalled out on multiple possessions but still produced 235 yards on the ground.

Defensively, the D-line was great against the run, limiting the Falcons to 85 rushing yards, while Shemar Turner and Shemar Stewart recorded their first sacks of the year. While defensive end Nic Scourton finished second on the team in tackles, the junior knows the pass rush must improve.

“I thought the D-line played OK. We are supposed to be a dominant force on that defense… It’s a lot of holes and stuff that we can fix and put less stress on the backend.”

While the score was close compared to the pregame expectations, Pro Football Focus’s newest player ratings show progress from several players on offense and defense.

Along the offensive line, starting left tackle Trey Zuhn III (88.8 pass-blocking grade) and right guard Ar’maj Reed-Adams (86.1 pass-blocking grade) did now allow a pressure in 30-plus pass-pro snaps. At the same time, backup center Koli Faaiu, who came in for the injured TJ Shanahan, finished the game with a team-high 80.8 offensive grade.

Returning to Scourton (6 tackles, one tackle for loss) and Stewart (2 tackles, one sack), both defensive linemen recorded the highest defensive grades on the night. In the secondary, safety Marcus Ratcliffe recorded his third interception in three consecutive games, recording three tackles on the night. Here are the rest of the notable PFF defensive grades.

  • LB Scooby Williams (81.5)
  • LB Taurean York (82.0)
  • LB Daymion Sanford (80.9)
  • CB Will Lee III (81.1)
  • CB Jaydon Hill (80.0)
  • S Marcus Ratcliffe (70.4)

Note: In an earlier article, we examined quarterback Marcel Reed’s PFF grades.

Texas A&M will face Arkansas inside AT&T Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 28, at 2:30 p.m. CT. The game will air on ESPN.

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Texas A&M DE Shemar Stewart is using football to help those in need

Shemar Stewart is continuing to make an impract on an off the field

Texas A&M junior defensive end Shemar Stewart entered the 2024 season with lofty goals, including double-digit sacks after recording just one a year ago. Under the guidance of new head coach Mike Elko and defensive coordinator Jay Bateman, Stewart has begun to ascend in the Aggies’ first three games.

In last weekend’s SEC road win over Florida, Stewart finished second on the team in tackles with five, including two solo tackles, half a sack, and half a tackle for loss. Looking past the stats, Stewart was all over the field, beating his one-on-one matchup more often than not while disrupting nearly every passing set.

While the former 5-star athlete’s future on the field is extremely bright if he continues to improve, Stewart sat down in a recent interview, representing the Aggies as an NCAA athlete in today’s NIL-dominated landscape. While the Miami, Florida native is involved in several NIL initiatives, he focuses on helping those in need with the good fortune he’s received.

“College football has provided me with the recourses to help better myself and to help provide for my family back home” Stewart stated. “My teammates and my coaches, you know, we all like to strive to be the best person we could be in the game of football and what ever we’re doing.”

“And my coaches, they never ease up on me. They always push me to the limit. So I always, always thank them for that. Coming from not the best living situations, you know, my goal is like one day just supply everybody. Like if someone is in need I can help them make sure life is better because I wish I had someone in my life that could do that for me.”

Lastly, Stewart knows that a simple smile can brighten someone’s bad day, especially in the locker room when adversity hits.

“I want people to remember me as the person that’s always laughing becuase I feel that’s how you brighten someone’s day up. I want to be remembered as someone that always brightens peoples days.”

Texas A&M will host Bowling Green on Saturday, Sept. 21. The game will be available to stream on ESPN+ and SEC Network+.

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3 Stars from Texas A&M’s 33-20 win over the Florida Gators

Here are the three players that helped Texas A&M earn a critical win against the Florida Gators

Texas A&M earned what could end up being a season-defining win over the Florida Gators on Saturday afternoon, as backup quarterback Marcel Reed entered one of the most challenging environments in College Football with complete poise in his first career start.

As starting quarterback Conner Weigman watched from the sideline due to his shoulder injury, the redshirt freshman was efficient from the pocket and impressive on the ground, proving that he is the most dynamic signal caller on the roster until Weigman is fully healthy.

Here are the three players that stood out during Saturday’s critical victory:

DE Rylan Kennedy

While the bigger names on Texas A&M’s defensive line received the usual credit, including Shemar Stewart and Nic Scourton, the consistent play of defensive end Rylan Kennedy, one of the rising stars on the Aggie defense, made the most of his snaps.

Recording three tackles on the day, the sophomore earned a 78.0 defensive grade (the highest on the team) and a 73.5 run defense grade from Pro Football Focus. Kennedy’s length, strength, and athleticism make him one of the ascending defensive stars among a stacked defensive line.

QB Marcel Reed

What more can be said about the redshirt freshman? Marcel Reed learned that he would make his first career start during the team’s pre-kickoff warm-ups, coming into the game with the mindset of a seasoned veteran. Reed stuck to the game plan OC Collin Klein provided him from start to finish, making his check-downs when needed while using his legs to move the chains efficiently.

Would a healthy Conner Weigman have won this game? I believe so, but after watching Reed in Klein’s scheme, I realize he looks like a better fit. At the end of the day, that’s up to head coach Mike Elko.

Texas A&M’s offensive line 

It’s not just one player along Texas A&M’s offensive line that deserves single credit, and while I could also single out running backs Le’Veon Moss and Amari Daniels, the O-line paved the way for both backs to lead the Aggie rushing attack.

Ranging from left tackle Trey Zuhn to backup center TJ Shanahan, the offensive line completely controlled the line of scrimmage while pushing Florida’s large defensive line off the ball to open up running lanes. It looked like A&M’s 2020 O-line, which led the team to nine wins.

If this type of play and mindset can keep up heading into the thick of SEC play, Texas A&M’s offense has a chance to live up to its preseason expectations.

Texas A&M will host Bowling Green on Saturday, Sept. 21. The game will be available to stream on ESPN+ and SEC Network+.

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