Taurean York – Syndication Server

‘Repeat offenders,’ are cause of Texas A&M football team’s penalties problem per Mike Elko

“I’m running out of ways to tell them. My frustration became a little bit evident on Saturday. It’s repeat offenders. It’s the same things.”

The Texas A&M football team has a penalties problem, racking up 77 through 10 games thus far.

“I’m running out of ways to tell them,” coach Mike Elko proclaimed Monday afternoon. “My frustration became a little bit evident on Saturday night with it. It’s repeat offenders. It’s the same things.

“I have to find creative ways to get it done because it’s not working.”

As pointed out by Tony Catalina of the Austin American-Statesman, there hasn’t been a college football program in the last four years who committed more than 78 penalties in a season that went on to win the national championship.

“We talk about it every Monday,” said sophomore linebacker Taurean York. “It’s like shooting yourself in the foot. We had penalties at South Carolina. They can be the difference between a win and a loss.”

Senior wide receiver Jabre Barber, who transferred in the offseason from Troy, appears to be more optimistic about the issue than his teammate.

“Going from the first bye week to now, I feel like we’ve progressed a lot as a team on both sides of the ball,” Barber said. “We still have some room to grow.”

No. 14 Texas A&M (8-2, 5-1 SEC) plays Auburn (4-6, 1-5) in its penultimate regular season contest at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday night. The matchup at Jordan-Hare Stadium will be broadcast on ESPN.

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Notable Pro Football Focus grades after Texas A&M’s 38-23 win over LSU

Several Texas A&M players earned high PFF scores, including quarterback Marcel Reed and cornerback BJ Mayes

Texas A&M (7-1, 5-0 SEC) is now the 10th-ranked team in the country after defeating LSU (6-2, 3-1 SEC) 38-23 behind a 31-6 second-half run, as Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed entered the game, immediately utilizing his legs and scoring three rushing touchdowns.

While the Aggies certainly have plenty to clean up after falling behind 17-7, most of the focus has been on head coach Mike Elko, and defensive coordinator Jay Bateman’s second-half adjustments have been a sight for sore eyes for every Aggie fan scarred by former head coach Jimbo Fisher’s lack of changes when in-game issues occurred.

However, the spotlight will be on quarterback Conner Weigman, who was benched for Marcel Reed after completing just six passes in the first half. The redshirt sophomore is expected to rebound in practice, leading to another interesting decision for Mike Elko ahead of Texas A&M’s Week 10 road game vs. South Carolina.

After the game, Pro Football Focus released the latest grades from the matchup. Here are the most notable grades on both sides of the ball for every Texas A&M contributor:

Offense:

Redshirt freshman quarterback Marcel Reed unsurprisingly earned the highest offensive grade (91.5) in just 25 snaps. Despite completing just two snaps, Reed earned the 10th-highest passing grade (88.3) on the weekend.

Conner Weigman, who attempted just 18 pass attempts, was pressured on 54.2% of his dropbacks while receiving a 45.7 offensive grade and 47.0 passing grade.

Across the offensive line, as you can see from Weigman’s pressure percentage, was anemic at best. However, the run-blocking scores were much better, as seven O-linemen earned a grade above 50, and the Aggies racked up 246 rushing yards. Starting left guard Chase Bisontis’s replacement, sophomore TJ Shanahan, earned the lowest offensive grade (44.2), including a 17.7 pass-blocking mark.

Defense:

Starting MLB Taurean York (85.5) and cornerback BJ Mayes (88.6) earned the highest defensive grades, while defensive end Nic Scourton (73.1) led the team with six hurries and one of two Aggies sacks, earning the highest pass-rush grade (71.3). Sophomore defensive lineman DJ Hicks earned the third-highest defensive grade (82.0) and the highest run defense grade (79.9).

York (80.9) and Mayes (89.7) were elite in coverage, allowing just 32 yards through the air. Overall, the defense played one of its best games despite the secondary’s poor performance in the first half.

Texas A&M will travel to Columbia to face South Carolina on Saturday, Nov. 2nd, at 6:30 p.m. CT. The game will air on either ABC or ESPN+

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HC Mike Elko discusses Texas A&M’s culture change during Wednesday’s SEC Telconference

One of the biggest reason’s for Texas A&M’s success this season has been the culture change under head coach Mike Elko

On Wednesday, during the weekly SEC Teleconference, Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko took questions from the media ahead of the Aggies’ critical primetime Week 9 showdown against 8th-ranked LSU while reflecting on what led the program a 6-1 start and 4-0 record in SEC play.

The changing culture under Elko’s leadership has been more than apparent amid A&M’s six-game winning streak, as the team’s consistent weekly improvement on offense and defense has resulted in the program going 2-0 on the road in conference play after failing to win a road game in nearly three seasons.

Built around physicality, consistent effort, and the ability to adjust when needed, Elko discussed the program’s culture change and gave full credit to the roster’s buy-in this offseason.

“The credit goes to the kids. They didn’t have to listen. They didn’t have to buy in. They chose to buy in and change things. … I’m proud of them and happy that they’re getting the results on the field.”

Texas A&M’s 2024 captains, sophomore linebacker Taurean York and junior left tackle Trey Zuhn III, deserve credit for leading the team on the field and helping keep the culture intact.

Texas A&M will host LSU at home on Saturday, Oct. 26th, at 6:30 p.m. CT. The game will air on ABC.

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Texas A&M’s acsending linebacker corps is one of the keys to defeating LSU

Texas A&M’s linebacker corps will need to play at a high level against LSU offensive attack

Texas A&M (6-1, 4-0 SEC) heads back to Kyle Field for a Week 9 primetime showdown against 8th-ranked LSU after defeating Mississippi State 34-24 on Saturday night.

Behind an improved second-half defense, the Aggies held off the Bulldog’s passing attack and improved to 4-0 in SEC play and 2-0 on the road in the conference.

This week, Texas A&M’s defense will now prepare for the LSU Tigers‘ 25th-ranked offense and junior quarterback Garrett Nussmeier. Still, freshman running back Caden Durham could be a bigger problem if the Aggie run defense is up to snuff early in the game.

One of Texas A&M’s position groups that looked like a weakness coming into the season was at linebacker. Against LSU, plugging the running gaps and preventing missed tackles is one of the many keys to victory.

Sophomore LB Taurean York was the only returning backer with any experience until head coach Mike Elko utilized the transfer portal, landing former Florida LB Scooby Williams and former Pitt LB Solomon DeSheilds.

Williams, who is coming off a career game against Mississippi State after recording six tackles, two tackles for loss, and his first career interception, described how the linebacker rotation has improved due to constant competition.

“Each and every day, whether it’s an off day or Coach is drilling us in practice, we’re always in competition with each other and trying to get better.”

“We were overly prepared, and that starts during the week in practice. … All of that adds up over time, and y’all get to see the results on Saturdays.”

After Williams’ career day, all you can do is be proud of your accomplishment and move on to the next game. But, hey, it was pretty cool to see the junior linebacker continue making an impact.

“It meant a lot to me. It was crazy.” “At the crib, I was like, ‘What am I going to do if I get a pick?’ … Coach Elko was yelling about ball security, so I was just making sure I didn’t give it back to the offense.”

Another Texas A&M linebacker to watch against the Tigers is sophomore Daymion Sanford, whose closing speed, tackling, and pass-rush prowess have made him a secret weapon for Elko and DC Jay Bateman.

Texas A&M will host LSU at home on Saturday, Oct. 26th, at 6:30 p.m. CT. The game will air on ABC.

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Texas A&M HC Mike Elko and his team aren’t taking Mississippi State lightly

Mississippi State’s 1-5 record is meaningless when the Aggies head to Starkville this weekend

Texas A&M (5-1, 3-0 SEC) enters Week 8 rested and ready to get back to game prep, as the Aggies will travel to Starkville to face Mississippi State (1-5, 0-3 SEC) on Saturday afternoon, as the Bulldogs are coming off a close 41-31 loss to Georgia in Week 7.

On Monday, Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko, starting quarterback Conner Weigman, and linebacker Taurean York spoke to the media to preview the impending matchup. Before any reporter could discuss the program’s struggles against Mississippi State over the last decade, Elko was well aware of the history.

“Full expectation is we’re going to have our hands full going into Starkville. We always do. We’re not very good going down to Starkville as a program.”

Despite A&M’s blowout win last season, which coincidentally was Jimbo Fisher’s final game as the program’s head coach, the 2022 loss in Starkville, combined with the home loss to the Bulldogs during the 2021 season, still haunts Aggie fans to this day.

Knowing the damage a loss on Saturday could do to the Aggies’ playoff hopes, Elko has stressed to his team this week that looking past Mississippi State’s 1-5 record could lead to a lack of focus and the dreaded “looking ahead to next week” mistake that has resulted in lesser competition upsetting top-ranked teams.

Taurean York, one of A&M’s captains and leaders on defense, noted that Elko had reminded the team of the poor record the Aggies hold against the Bulldogs, knowing that no matter the talent discrepancy, this is still an SEC road game.

“Coach Elko has reminded us about our record in Starkville. It’s 2-4. … We’re excited for it. We’re looking forward to the challenge come Saturday.”

Lastly, Elko, who likely watched at least some college football on Saturday during A&M’s bye week, noted the play of Mississippi State quarterback Michael Van Buren. Van Buren was recently named SEC Newcomer of the Week after completing 20/37 for 306 yards and 3 touchdowns in Saturday’s loss to Georgia.

“He has a really big arm. He showed that. Their ability to stretch the field is probably the most impressive thing.” “This explosive passing game is really, really scary.”

While Texas A&M’s secondary will need to prepare to cover go and post routes, the Aggies pass rush, led by defensive ends Nic Scourton and Shemar Stewart, will need to apply pressure early to keep Van Buren out of rhythm.

Texas A&M will face Mississippi State on the road on Saturday, Oct. 19, at 3:15 p.m. CT. The game will air on the SEC Network.

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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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Texas A&M’s run defense must improve ahead of SEC play

Texas A&M’s run defense has quietly been one of the worst in the country

Texas A&M (1-1) head coach Mike Elko earned his first win with the program after the Aggies blew out the visiting McNeese State Cowboys 52-10 on Saturday afternoon.

Behind an impressive performance on the ground, junior running backs Le’Veon Moss and Amari Daniels, who helped pave the way for 333 yards and five rushing touchdowns, might be a good sign ahead of SEC play, combined with improved run blocking from the offensive line.

However, covered up by the blowout, the Aggie run defense has been highly suspect over the past two games. It has allowed 378 rushing yards for an 189-yard average per game, ranking 109th in the country.

Coming into the season, Texas A&M’s lack of depth in the interior defensive line looked like a potential issue, as defensive tackles Albert Regis, DJ Hicks, and Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy join senior Stemar Turner as the only reliable options. However, this group is talented and strong enough to fix their run-fit issues.

This also lies at the feet of starting linebacker Taurean York; after the season-opening loss to Notre Dame, when they surrendered 198 rushing yards, they took full responsibility for the defense’s lack of consistency against the run.

“The breakdown was me. I missed a tackle on the long touchdown.”

“They ran 200 yards, and most of that was in the second half. It’s on me at the end of the day.”

Florida’s offense presents a challenge through the air next weekend, especially if freshman QB DJ Lagway earns the start. However, the rushing offense, ranked 75th in the country with 152.5 yards per game, doesn’t look like a huge threat on paper.

Regardless, this unit must be ready to stop the run early and often to prevent the Gators from establishing momentum.

Texas A&M will travel to Gainsville to take on the Florida Gators on Saturday, Sept. 14 at 2:30 p.m. CT. The game will air on ABC.

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Pro Football Focus grades from Texas A&M’s 23-13 loss to Notre Dame in Week 1

Texas A&M’s offense was very, very bad, and PFF proved that point

Texas A&M’s 2024 season opener vs. No. 7 Notre Dame ended in a 23-13 loss. The 107,000-plus fans in Kyle Field weren’t enough to help the Aggie offense find consistency. Starting quarterback Conner Weigman had the worst game of his collegiate career, throwing for 100 yards and two interceptions on the night.

Entering a new era, head coach Mike Elko’s introduction wasn’t what fans hoped to see, outside of impressive debuts from multiple defenders, including former Purdue defensive end Nic Scourton.

However, Texas A&M, despite the poor offensive performance, had chances to win the game, as the Aggie run defense allowed 198 rushing yards, including the game-sealing touchdown from Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love.

Looking at the numbers through Pro Football Focus, Texas A&M’s overall team grade was 54.8, the sixth worst in the country during the opening weekend. Under center, Conner Weigman had the worst offensive grade (29.0) and passing grade (28.0). PFF also noted that both of Weigman’s interceptions were with a clean pocket, so pressure cannot be blamed.

Texas A&M’s offensive grade (47.4) is second to last in the country as a team. Overall, it was a bad day in the office.

Texas A&M will look to rebound next weekend. On Saturday, Sept. 7, the Aggies will host McNeese. The game will air on the SEC Network at 11:45 a.m.

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Linebacker Taurean York featured in our Texas A&M Countdown to Kickoff

Taurean York is entering a new leadership position this season

The countdown to Texas A&M’s 2024 season opener against Notre Dame is just two days away.

Ten days remain before the 7th-ranked Fighting Irish head to College Station for a primetime showdown. New Aggies head coach Mike Elko has completed the long journey to accepting the position, going through his first offseason, and finishing his first fall practice period with the team this month.

Aggies Wire will focus on one player daily for the next ten days, ranking the Top 10 players on the 2024 roster. Coming in at No. 2 on our list, sophomore linebacker Taurean York is coming off his brilliant 2023 season, starting every game during his freshman campaign.

A favorite of new head coach Mike Elko, York was previously committed to Duke during Elko’s first season in Durham before ultimately signing with Texas A&M, so it’s fair to say reuniting felt pretty darn good.

York was second on the team in tackles (74) last season while recording three sacks and a forced fumble. His closing speed and defensive instincts made him one of the most dependable players on the roster, knowing that the defense was always in good hands, no matter the situation.

Heading into the first season, where helmet communication will be utilized, York will continue to relay the defensive calls as the starting middle linebacker, playing in front of one of the most talented defensive lines in the country.

In just his second season, York has taken on a leadership position within the program, as his recent appearance during SEC Media Days showed a player with maturity well beyond his years.

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Coach Mike Elko names Texas A&M linebacker candidates that may start next to Taurean York

It’s abundantly clear who the best linebacker is at Texas A&M. However, who starts next to sophomore Taurean York is a giant question mark.

For anyone who watched Texas A&M football last year, it’s abundantly clear who the best linebacker on the team is. However, who starts next to sophomore Taurean York is a giant question mark.

On Saturday afternoon, Aggies head coach Mike Elko named three candidates who could start alongside York this season: sophomore Daymion Sanford, junior Scooby Williams and senior Solomon DeShields.

Considering that Sanford is the only member of that trio who played in College Station last year, he may be the frontrunner. Although, the two transfers do come to Aggieland with more collegiate experience.

Sanford played in all 13 games as a true freshman. He was a four-star recruit coming out of Paetow High School in Katy, Texas.

Williams is well acquainted with the SEC after spending three years with the Florida Gators. In 25 total contests, he racked up 70 tackles, with 35 of the solo variety.

DeShields played at Pitt for four years. He took a redshirt season in 2020 after competing in four games as a true freshman. Afterwards, DeShields displayed his durability by suiting up in 38 total games for the Panthers.

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