Texas A&M’s defense showed promise in the Aggies’ 47-3 win over UL Monroe

A sore spot in the first two games, Texas A&M’s defense made progress in the Aggies’ 47-3 win over UL Monroe a week before SEC play begins.

Texas A&M (2-1) got back on track this weekend after blowing out the visiting UL Monroe Warhawks on Saturday afternoon behind quarterback Conner Weigman’s 337 yards through the air while completing 86% of his passes, and finishing with an SEC-leading 96.9 QBR.

While Weigman and offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino deserve a ton of praise, Texas A&M’s embattled defense had its best outing on the young season, limiting the Warhawks to 222 total yards, including 95 yards passing.

Leading the way, sophomore linebacker/safety Jared Kerr and safety Jacoby Matthews recorded four tackles. At the same time, junior defensive end Shemar Turner nabbed his third sack in three games, poised for a breakout campaign.

Coming off their brutal showing in the Aggies’ 48-33 loss to Miami last weekend, defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin’s hot seat was quite in flames, but if improvements weren’t seen against an inferior opponent just a week before the start of SEC play, we might have been discussing a change in staff sooner than later.

While missed assignments and poor tackling plagued Texas A&M’s chances against the Hurricanes, veteran defensive lineman Fadil Diggs, who recorded two tackles on the afternoon, emphasized the need to get back to basics in the trenches.

“I thought we did a great job doing our assignments this week. Last week, Miami was a bad taste in our mouth.”

Against the Warhawks, Texas A&M’s secondary, which has struggled mightily in deep coverage, gave up the entirety of UL Monroe’s passing production in the first half, including several explosive plays, but locked up after half-time adjustments were made, recording six PBUs and eliminating the Warhawks passing game in the process.

The defensive line had its moments, allowing 127 yards on the ground. However, it kept the Warhawks from gaining any consistency in the run game, tacking on two sacks and three tackles for loss to gain momentum heading to the Auburn matchup next Saturday. Overall, head coach Jimbo Fisher was pleased with the results.

“I thought they did a really nice job. We tackled well and played well up front.”

Lastly, the group that nearly every fan and media member felt would struggle due to lack of depth and speed, linebacker Edgerren Cooper and freshman Taurean York, who netted two tackles on the afternoon, have a nose for the ball and plugged up running lanes for most the game, adding in Jacksonville state transfer Jurriente Davis, who’s tackling production and pass rush potential led all Aggie linebackers in tackles three.

With Auburn visiting next Saturday, Texas A&M’s defense is still underway. Still, the talent is there, and with an explosive offense that looks to keep the Aggies in every game this season, sticking to the defensive basics may be enough in the wide-open SEC West.

Texas A&M will host the Auburn Tigers at Kyle Field on Saturday, Sept. 23 at 11:00 a.m., where it will air on ESPN.

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Report: Texas A&M defensive lineman Shemar Turner formally charged for reckless driving

Texas A&M DL Shemar Turner was formally charged for reckless driving, which stems from an incident back on Aug. 12.

Texas A&M defensive lineman Shemar Turner was formally charged on Monday for reckless driving, which stems from an incident in which he was stopped back on Aug. 12. Brazos County jail records indicate he was required to post a surety bond of $3,000, and did so, having since been released.

Turner has started both of Texas A&M’s games to start the season, having registered four tackles and two sacks. The junior is entering his third season with the Aggies after being ranked the No. 10 defensive lineman in the 2021 recruiting class, according to 247Sports composite.

Turner’s formal charge marks the second off-field incident in as many weeks within the Aggies football program.

Prior to the 2023 season opener, it was reported that wide receiver Micah Tease had been arrested on a felony drug-related charge. Tease was reportedly suspended indefinitely but was seen warming up prior to Texas A&M’s Week 2 game against Miami.

Aggies head coach Jimbo Fisher is slated to speak later this afternoon for his weekly media press conference. Texas A&M will next face UL Monroe on Saturday, Sep. 16 from Kyle Field in College Station.

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Texas A&M 2023 college football season countdown: No. 5 Shemar Turner

After being named one of two defensive MVPs in the spring game, DL Shemar Turner is equipped to be a key focal point of Texas A&M’s defense in 2023.

Fear not, Aggie fans, meaningful college football is just around the corner, with the start of the 2023 season under a week away! Here at Aggies Wire, we’ll be counting down by looking at each Texas A&M football player that corresponds to the number of days left till the start of the football season.

With five days until kickoff, we’re looking at No. 5 for the Maroon and White: junior defensive lineman Shemar Turner.

The former five-star recruit Shemar Turner is back after having started in 11 games in 2022, tallying 32 tackles, including 4.5 for loss. Through two seasons with the Maroon and White, he’s accumulated 46 tackles, 6.5 tackles for a loss, and two sacks. After starting at three tech on the interior line through the first five games, Turner was moved over to nose tackle in light of McKinnley Jackson missing the first half of the season.

Truth be told, Turner wasn’t able to thrive as much as he could have, given he was now tasked to make everyone else better around him in a role he wasn’t suited for. Constantly being moved around didn’t help as his overall grade per Pro Football Focus was in the bottom half of the SEC as both an end and a tackle.

The encouraging news is that with Jackson now back in the fold, Turner can get back to playing the style of game that suits him best, which should only benefit Texas A&M’s defense as a whole. Though he’s flashed his talent over the last few years, by no means is his development finished, and we’ve seen the improvement through the offseason.

Turner was named as one of two defensive MVPs in the Maroon and White spring game and is equipped to be a key focal point of the defense in the fall.

Texas A&M first and foremost wants players who can set the edge and contain everything in between the tackles so that the gaps are filled even when pressuring the quarterback. Turner is more than up to the task, and allowing him to stay in one position and get ample reps will aid in that goal as well as in his development.

Shemar Turner’s Photo Gallery;

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Texas A&M Football 2023 Position Preview: Defensive line; Talented group ready to take a leap

With a year under their belt, the Texas A&M’s defensive line should be equipped to take a leap following their baptism-by-fire campaign in 2022.

Texas A&M kicks off the 2023 college football season in just under two months, and while the offseason is nearing its conclusion sooner than later, it’s time to preview what Jimbo Fisher and his staff will be working with from a roster perspective.

The Aggies’ defensive line has no shortage of returning four and five-star talent that jumps off the page. But the youth and inexperience proved to be an obstacle last season, and it showed in the numbers. However, with a year under their belt, this assortment of players should be equipped to leap following their baptism-by-fire campaign in 2022.

Returning production: Sophomore Shemar Stewart returns after having played in all 12 games last year while starting in six. He was named to the SEC All-Freshman team. McKinnley Jackson is back at nose tackle after being named defensive MVP for the Aggies in 2022. He appeared in eight games for the Maroon and White.

Former five-star recruit Shemar Turner is back after having started in 11 games in 2022, tallying 32 tackles, including 4.5 for loss. Walter Nolen appears set for a breakout campaign in 2023, having received the Defensive Top Newcomer award in 2022. Fadil Diggs returns after being the Aggies’ best pass rusher last year, tallying three sacks and five tackles for loss before going down eight games into the season.

Rounding out the depth are senior Isaiah Raikes, redshirt junior Albert Regis, sophomores LT Overton, Enai White, and Malick Sylla, redshirt freshman Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy, and five-star true freshman D.J. Hicks.

Departures: Tunmise Adeleye departed after transferring to Michigan State during the offseason. Texas A&M also lost true freshman Anthony Lucas to the transfer portal. Lucas appeared in eight games last season before transferring to USC.

Final Observation: There’s no shortage of talent upfront, but it’s key to acknowledge the struggles of last season. The Aggies gave up 208.8 yards rushing per game and managed just 19 sacks in 2022, which means there’s plenty of work to be done when it comes to translating that level of talent into production on the field.

Still, this is a unit that boasts an ideal combination of talent with strong upside, with a few experienced veterans helping lead the group. This unit is among those that fans should temper their expectations, at least to start the season. But if they begin to translate their potential onto the field, it will only be a matter of time before Jimbo Fisher’s belief, in that the strength of this team lies in the trenches, becomes a reality.

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 Pete on Twitter: @PeteThreee.

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Ranking the 15 best players on Texas A&M’s 2023 football roster

As Texas A&M prepares for a critical 2023 college football season, here are the 15 best players on the roster based on both production and future potential.

Texas A&M is headed toward a crucial 2023 football season in the coming months, which means they’ll be relying on a handful of key impactful players on both sides of the ball.

Much conversation has been made about the Aggies’ underwhelming 5-7 2022 campaign (2-6 SEC), but what is often overlooked is the contributions made by more than a handful of true freshmen. For being thrust into the fire on a moment’s notice, Texas A&M flashed its potential on offense and by all means stood its ground on defense, which figures to be a promising unit this coming season.

As Jimbo Fisher has noted recently, the trials of last season will serve as a lesson learned and fuel for the future, which means a number of players could be set for impactful, and even breakout seasons.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at some names Texas A&M will be counting on this fall.

Here are the eligible Texas A&M Aggies and projected big board for the 2024 NFL Draft

After just three Aggies were selected in this year’s NFL Draft, the number of eligible prospects for Texas A&M could increase exponentially for the 2024 class.

The 2023 NFL Draft has come and gone, and while Texas A&M had only three prospects declare for this year’s draft, it was encouraging to see all three hear their names called last weekend. Fast forward to the 2024 draft, and the volume of Aggies looking to go pro could exponentially increase.

If last year’s performance was any indication, A&M’s underwhelming 5-7 record could have potentially played a role in the likes of Devon Achane, Antonio Johnson, and Jaylon Jones slipping relative to their 2023 projected draft positions. But if the Maroon and White organize a resounding comeback season in the fall, it wouldn’t be surprising to see NFL scouts taking notice of eligible prospects.

With an eye toward the future, the Aggies have a handful of names on the offensive line, in the receiving room, and on the defense that could declare for next year’s draft. And unlike this year’s trio of prospects, there’s a chance for the Maroon and White to boast a potential first-rounder.

Below is the early big board for eligible Texas A&M prospects for the 2024 NFL Draft, including their current projected draft position according to NFL Mock Draft Database.

Shemar Turner reflects on recruiting process, notes coaches and development success as reasons for choosing Texas A&M

Shemar Turner has already impressed through two years with the Aggies, and the defensive leader took the time to shed light on what brought him to Texas A&M.

With Texas A&M‘s spring football program now in the books, all eyes will look ahead to what promises to be a resounding bounce-back 2023 college football season. Success for the Aggies will hinge on their leaders stepping up on the field, including third-year defensive stud Shemar Turner.

The Class of 2021 recruit, who ultimately chose Texas A&M over the likes of Alabama, Georgia, and LSU, reflected on the recruiting process that brought him to Aggieland.

In comments shared with On3, Turner notes that the Aggies coaching staff deserves all the credit for helping him make the decision to come to College Station:

“I chose A&M because the relationship me and the coaches have are like no other. They were always honest with me. They kept it 100 with me the whole recruiting process. And surprisingly, A&M wasn’t even a school I was planning on going to before. Just, being around the coaches, talking to some of the players — it was amazing.”

In addition to the rapport with the coaching staff, Turner was drawn to Texas A&M’s success in developing past defensive talent for the NFL. Examples include Tony Gerod-Eddie and Von Miller, in case you haven’t heard of those two:

“Von and Tony — you already know the DeSoto pipeline to A&M. That did influence it a little bit. Because, I am not going to lie. Tony and Von, everybody from DeSoto that came here has made it to the big leagues. Everybody chased their dreams in the NFL.”

When Turner notes ‘DeSoto,’ it’s in reference to DeSoto (TX) High School, where he, Jerod-Ellie, and Miller all played ball before making the move over to Aggieland. Turner was a five-star prospect and the No. 22 overall recruit in the 247Sports composite rankings.

While his collegiate career isn’t yet finished, Turner has already flashed his talent through his two seasons with A&M, recording 46 tackles, 6.5 tackles for a loss, and 2.0 sacks. He was named as one of two defensive MVPs in the Maroon and White spring game and is equipped to be a key focal point of the defense this coming season.

If Turner’s game takes another leap in 2023, it’s safe to say he could be the next top-tier NFL talent with humble beginnings of out DeSoto. That reality doesn’t seem too far-fetched, given Texas A&M’s track record of developing five-star talent for the NFL.

For now, all eyes will be on Turner and this defense with a pivotal 2023 season on the horizon. The NFL is still at least a year away, but so long as his play continues its upward trend, don’t be surprised if he ends up bringing his skillset to one of 32 professional franchises.

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 Pete on Twitter: @PeteThreee

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Ainias Smith, Bryce Anderson, and Shemar Turner speak after Texas A&M’s Maroon and White Spring Game

Spring Football for Texas A&M has come to a close after the final whistle blew during Saturday’s Maroon and White Spring Game, as the Max Johnson-led White team defeated the Conner Weigman-led Maroon squad 33-19.

It was simply an exhibition game meant to work out the many kinks this team has, as most college football teams in the early offseason possess, the results were noteworthy ahead crucial summer recruiting push, while a bulk of the offensive line, wide receiver core, and defensive back group continue to heal up in preparation for fall camp.

As my Aggies Wire comrade, Pete Hernandez stated after the game, both quarterbacks showed off their arm strength in the first half, as Max Johnson connected with freshman wide receiver Micah Tease on a beautiful go route for the first touchdown of the game, while presumed 2023 starter, Conner Weigman hit star receiver Evan Stewart time and time again in what was a highlight reel game for the ascending sophomore tandem. The bottom line, both signal callers already look comfortable in Bobby Petrino’s offense, and that folks, is a very good sign.

Defensively, injuries at cornerback saw walk-on corner Kent Robinson picked off Weigman, while the vaunted Aggie’s defensive line led by Walter Nolen, Isaiah Raikes, and Shemar Turner impose their will time and time again, as Nolen’s baptism by fire last season has yielded fantastic results heading into 2023.

After the game, senior wide receiver Ainias Smith, safety Bryce Anderson, and defensive lineman Shemar Turner spoke to the media to discuss the offense and defense’s performance on the day. Here’s what they had to say.

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

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Texas A&M Spring Football 2023: Defensive line position breakdown

Texas A&M will return a talented front seven next season, and the position group is shaping up to be an absolute terror for the rest of the SEC.

Spring football for Texas A&M is well underway, which means it’s every fan’s obligation to parse through the depth chart ahead of what will be an important 2023 season. Thankfully, we’ve got you covered by breaking down each positional battle, and up next is taking a look at the front seven for the Maroon and White.

While a large part of the Aggies’ 2022 regular season woes were a result of inconsistency on the offensive side of the ball, the defense managed to hold up its end of the bargain. Texas A&M finished last season with an average of 21.2 points per game surrendered to their opponents, which ranked 25th in the nation.

Even amid a year of injuries, suspensions, and inexperience from younger players, The Aggies’ front seven flashed their potential in 2022 as a dominant force to come in the SEC. That shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone after Jimbo Fisher pulled in a historic recruiting class, but what would make foes worried is that this position group still has so much potential heading into next season.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at how the current defensive line group is shaping up for the Aggies:

Returners (2022 season stats)

DE – Sophomore Shemar Stewart (12 games) / Sophomore LT Overton (11 games)
NT – Senior McKinnley Jackson (8 games) / Senior Isaiah Raikes (12 games) / Redshirt Sophomore Albert Regis (11 games)
DT – Junior Shemar Turner (11 games) / Sophomore Walter Nolen (10 games) / Redshirt Freshman Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy
EDGE – Redshirt Junior Fadil Diggs (8 games) / Sophomore Enai White (7 games) / Sophomore Malick Sylla (12 games)

Key thoughts and predictions:

That historic 2022 recruiting class was headlined by the likes of No. 1 defensive lineman Walter Nolen, Shemar Stewart, L.T. Overton, and Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy. All those aforementioned names flashed their upside a season ago, but now with a year of experience in their back pocket, it sets up this defensive line group to absolutely roll over their opponents next season.

It won’t happen overnight, and there is plenty of work and refinement needed between spring ball and Week 1, but this projected starting lineup should have Aggie fans ecstatic for the fall.

We’ll see how the final depth chart shakes out after spring practices, but a likely starting lineup could be Fadil Diggs on the edge, with McKinnley Jackson, Stewart and either Nolen or Shemar Turner rounding out the front four.

Don’t let the outside noise and talking heads get you too worked up by singling out A&M’s offense. It would be negligent to see what’s brewing on the defensive line for the Maroon and White in 2023. It’s shaping up to be a beautiful sight for the Aggie faithful, and an absolute terror for the rest of the SEC.

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 Pete on Twitter: @PeteThreee

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Texas A&M Football: Five way-too-early breakout players for 2023

The Aggies are equipped to put the rest of the SEC on notice so long as these five key players the next leap and breakout in 2023.

It’s the world’s worst-kept secret that Texas A&M is entering a hugely important 2023 season. The Jimbo Fisher-led Aggies are in need of a turnaround campaign this fall, but the truth is that after going 5-7 last season (2-6 SEC), there really is nowhere to go but up for this program.

Accomplishing that goal should be just a tad bit easier given the promising potential of a few players, who with another year of experience and new additions to the coaching staff, could elevate themselves from key contributors to potential stars in just one season.

Simply put, the Maroon and White have too much talent on the roster to post back-to-back underwhelming seasons. A&M has rarely, if ever, posted back-to-back losing seasons, which means the Aggies should put the rest of the SEC on notice in 2023 so long as their key cornerstones elevate themselves.

Spring football is still well underway for the Aggies, but we’re already looking ahead to which names could be the breakout players for 2023.