Tag: Taurean York

Two standout Aggies named to On3’s True Freshman All-American Team

After impressive 2023 debuts, Texas A&M freshmen Taurean York (LB) and Chase Bisontis (OL) were named to the On3 Freshman All-American team.

Texas A&M’s 2023 season will mostly be remembered for the firing of longtime head football coach Jimbo Fisher and the subsequent hiring of new head coach Mike Elko, who was the Aggie’s defensive coordinator from 2018-2021.

Ending the regular season at 7-5 with an impending bowl game to be announced on Sunday, this has been an average season at best, but that doesn’t discount the play of several young players on the Aggies roster, including freshman linebacker Taurean York, and freshman offensive lineman Chase Bisontis.

This week, On3 released their final Freshman All-American Team, as York joined Texas linebacker Anthony Hill (previously committed to Texas A&M) and Virginia linebacker Kam Robinson. Bisontis, who started at right tackle for a majority of the season, joined Francis Mauigoa (Miami), Kayden Proctor (Alabama), Spencer Fano (Utah), and Ethan Mackenny (Georgia Tech).

York, who recorded 66 Total Tackles, eight tackles for loss, three sacks, and one forced fumble, was second on the team behind standout junior linebacker Edgerrin Cooper, who led the team with 83 tackles, eight sacks, and 17 tackles for loss on the year. Coming into the year, after losing Anthony Hill to the Longhorns, York’s average recruiting ranking was quickly disputed as soon as he hit the field, possessing the speed, vision, strength, and intelligence to man the Aggie D for years to come.

For Bisontis, it was an up-and-down season built on slow but steady progress, leading to grading out as the highest-rated offensive player in A&M’s road loss to Ole Miss, per Pro Football Focus. Bisontis is on the right track, barring whoever Mike Elko selects as A&M’s new offensive line coach.

Congratulations to both young men on their achievements during the 2023 season.

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Aggies starting linebacker is named to the 2023 Shaun Alexander Freshman Player of the Year List

Texas A&M freshman linebacker Taurean York was named to the 2023 Shaun Alexander Freshman Player of the Year List.

It was announced Wednesday morning that Texas A&M standout freshman Taurean York made the 2023 Shaun Alexander Freshman Player of the Year List.

Coming into the year, there were major questions at the linebacker position, especially after losing the top linebacker in the 11th hour in back-to-back cycles. York has stepped up in a significant way, not only with his play on the field, but he is a natural leader. Routinely being called wise beyond his years has led to him being the signal caller on the field.

York has been an outstanding addition to the team and is just scratching the surface of his potential. Outlets across the country have taken notice of his play as he has become a well-known name.

York stats through eight games:

  • 47 Total Tackles
  • 6.5 TFLs
  • 1 Sack
  • 1 Forced Fumble

Below is how the official website describes the spirit of the award.

“In 2019, the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) announced that there would be a new nationally recognized college football award – The Freshman Player of The Year. In honor of his tremendous freshman season for the Alabama Crimson Tide, they named this award after Shaun Alexander.”

Congrats to York, and we look forward to seeing him grow during his time in Aggieland.

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Texas A&M DC D.J. Durkin deserves credit for the Aggies’ defensive dominance in 2023

Texas A&M defensive coordinator D.J Durkin has finally utilized the Aggies immense defensive talent, and deserves credit for their success this season.

Second-year Texas A&M defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin, a man who needs no introduction for most, quickly became the villain for the fan base after the Aggies’ 48-33 Week 2 loss to Miami. This game saw the Hurricanes quarterback pass for 374 yards and five touchdowns against what looked to be a porus A&M secondary.

I’ll admit, as someone who has covered the program for quite some time, I initially joined the vocal denouncement of Durkin not only because of the struggles in pass coverage but the blatant lack of pass rush or pressure of any kind among on the most talented defensive lines in the country if recruiting grades meant anything.

Well, credit to head coach Jimbo Fisher for sticking with his guy just days after the debacle because ever since that trip to the Sunshine State, Texas A&M’s defense under Durkin’s tutelage has been on an absolute tear.

“D.J. (Durkin) is a very good coach that does a good job and knows what he’s doing.”

Yes, sitting at 4-3 and 2-2 in the SEC is not ideal, especially for Fisher’s future, but you can’t blame Durkin or the defense, currently ranked 10th overall while leading the country in sacks with 29 through the Aggies Week 8 bye week. A criticism in 2022, Durkin’s lack of consistent four-man defensive fronts placed the Aggies at a constant disadvantage compared to the amount of blue-chip talent who can beat their man-on-one.

With a year of added experience mixed with Durkin’s new scheme, sophomore DL Walter Nolen has lived up to his lofty expectations, currently 5th on the team in tackles (26) and second in sacks with 6, as he has thrived in run defense while utilizing leverage as a much-improved pass rusher.

The Aggies secondary has continued to have its up-and-down games, but currently ranked 13th in passing yards allowed, this group limited Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton to just 100 yards and an interception through the air last week. Progress!

Furthermore, Durkin’s additional duties include being the linebacker coach, a position he has made a career out of for the past 20-plus years.

Coming into the season, Texas A&M’s linebacker depth outside of star junior Edgerrin Cooper was problematic, as freshman LB Taurean York would likely need time to develop. Well, fast forward to mid-October, as Cooper, who has played like the best linebacker in the country, leads the team in tackles (45) and sacks (6), while York’s fall camp buzz based on his advanced maturity and intelligence has come to fruition as the starting MIKE LB, calling nearly every defensive play, and second on the team in tackles with 41.

Credit to GigEm247’s Carter Karels for noting how elite A&M’s defense has been historically this season, as the Aggies have only allowed 277.9 yards per game, their lowest average since 1995 (257.7). Also, A&M’s sack record stands at 56 during the 1991 season, so with 29 through seven games in 2023, they’ll need 29 more to break the record, which is very doable based on their consistent production, even in their last two losses.

While Texas A&M’s offense has plenty of issues to iron out this week, It’s time to give credit is due: D.J. Durkin has done one heck of a job.

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Texas A&M LB Taurean York named to The Athletic’s Midseason Freshman All-American team

Texas A&M freshman linebacker Taurean York has been honored one again, making The Athletics Midseason Freshman All-America team.

As we near the end of Texas A&M’s (4-3, 2-2 SEC) bye week, the focus has, of course, shifted to head coach Jimbo Fisher’s shaky future with the program, as the same tired side-by-side Aggie records of Fisher (43-24) and former Aggie head coach Kevin Sumlin’s (45-22) after 77 games is notable, but not important from a contextual standpoint.

However, despite the Aggie’s disappointing 2023 record, Texas A&M’s 10th-ranked defense, also leading the country in sacks (29), is led by the productive linebacker duo of junior Edgerrin Cooper and freshman Taurean York.

York, who is second on the team in tackles with 41, has surprised all of us who cover the program due to his youth and collegiate inexperience. He has played like the top freshman defender every week thus far, leading to his selection to The Athletic’s Midseason Freshman All-American team.

Coming off of his team-leading nine-tackle performance in the loss to Tennessee, his second-highest output of the season. York’s in-game responsibility as the defensive playcaller at the MIKE position is even more impressive, with less than an entire collegiate season under his belt.

Already earning multiple accolades this season, including 247Sports Freshman of the Week and SEC Player of the Week, York was also named to FWAA’s (Football Writers Association of America) Freshman All-America Watch List earlier this week.

Five games remain on A&M’s schedule, and York must continue playing at a high level to produce stops in the run game while providing adequate pass rush when needed. Congratulations again, Taurean!

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Texas A&M freshman linebacker makes FWAA’s Freshman All-America Watch List

Standout Aggies linebacker Taurean York’s productive first season earned him a spot on FWAA’s Mi-Season Freshman All-America Watch List.

Texas A&M’s (4-3, 2-2 SEC) 2023 college football season is off to an underwhelming start as we enter the midway point of the once-promising campaign.

However, outside of the offense’s identity issues coupled with poor play in the trenches, the Aggies’ elite 10th-ranked defense, which leads the country in sacks (29), has been one of the lone bright spots during the recent two-game losing streak, led by the impactful play of freshman linebacker, Taurean York.

Coming out of the 2023 recruiting class as a highly underrated three-star prospect, York, a native of Temple, Texas, Chose the Aggies after previously being committed to Baylor, knowing that his athletic gifts and noted intelligence could lead him to immediate success on an off the field with the Maroon & White.

On Wednesday, The Football Writers Association of America released their Mid-Season Freshman All-America Watch List, joining five fellow freshman linebackers; York earned a spot among each outstanding first-year backer. The rising star has already earned multiple accolades this season, including 247Sports Freshman of the Week and SEC Player of the Week.

Second on the team in tackles with 41, york is less than a week removed from his team-leading nine-tackle performance in the loss to Tennessee, his second-highest output of the season. York’s in-game responsibility as the defensive playcaller at the MIKE position is even more impressive, with less than an entire collegiate season under his belt.

With five games remaining on the Aggies schedule, York’s production will likely take another giant leap, as he could become the first freshman to end the year as the team’s leader in tackles in quite some time. Congratulations, Taurean!

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Top 10 highest graded Aggies through Week 6 according to Pro Football Focus

Six weeks into the college football season, these Aggies have graded the highest according to Pro Football Focus.

Before Texas A&M (4-2, 2-1 SEC) heads to Neyland Stadium for a pivotal road matchup against No. 19 Tennessee (4-1, 1-1 SEC), it’s worth checking how the roster has stacked up so far.

While the Maroon and White look to rebound from last week’s loss to No. 11 Alabama, the sky is not falling halfway through the season. Rather, Texas A&M has put together a significant leap regarding offensive and defensive efficiency from a season ago.

That leap resulted from both younger players piecing their skills together on the field, alongside the guidance of the veterans who returned to College Station for the 2023 campaign. There’s been no better example than that of the defense, where junior linebacker Edgerrin Cooper and true freshman linebacker Taurean York have been a force to be reckoned with.

Meanwhile, on the offensive side of the ball, it’s been a juxtaposition of talented wideouts such as Evan Stewart and Ainias Smith doing damage through the air. Alongside them are the likes of Trey Zuhn III and Le’Veon Moss holding it down in the running game.

Roughly halfway through the regular season, here are the ten highest-graded Aggies according to Pro Football Focus. For reference, we excluded those who will remain out for the rest of the season (e.g., Conner Weigman) and those with fewer than 100 total logged snaps through six games.

Two Texas A&M freshmen made On3’s Midseason True Freshman All-American list

Texas A&M’s freshmen duo of linebacker Taurean York and OL Chase Bisontis have made On3’s Midseason True Freshman All-American list.

Texas A&M (4-2, 2-1 SEC) has work to do to get back on track in the SEC West. The biggest test awaits this Saturday against Tennessee (4-1, 1-1 SEC) in front of 100,000 plus inside Neyland Stadium.

Outside of the two losses so far this season, the Aggies roster is chock-full of talent on offense and defense, which includes two freshman standouts who have earned starting positions at two key positions, as linebacker Taurean York and offensive tackle Chase Bisontis have made On3’s Midseason True Freshman All-American list after impressive performances through six games.

Opening the SEC schedule hosting Auburn, the Aggies defeated the Tigers behind a seven-sack, 15-tackle-for-loss defensive performance, aided by a career day from Taurean York, who recorded 11 tackles, two tackles for loss, and netted his first career sack while calling nearly every defensive play in the process. So far this season, York is second on the team with 32 tackles, including 15 solo tackles, one sack, and 2.5 tackles for loss.

Starting every game this season at right tackle due to Reuben Fatheree’s elongated recovery time from a previous injury, Chase Bisontis (6-4, 320 pounds) has shown flashes of his tremendously high ceiling, allowing only one sack in the Week 2 loss to Miami while aiding the Aggies’ ground game to gain over 200 rushing yards against ULM and Auburn.

Receiving a 17.4 pass protection grade from PFF in the loss to Alabama, Bisontis has a lot of room to grow concerning his footwork and use of leverage, but let’s remember that he’s still a teenager with plenty of time to develop into a future full-time starter.

Congratulations to both young men on the honor!

Texas A&M will travel to face the Tennessee Volunteers on Saturday, Oct. 14, at 2:30 p.m. CT, inside Neyland Stadium (TV: CBS).

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Five players to watch in Texas A&M’s Week 6 matchup vs. Alabama

Will the Aggie D dominate in the trenches? Is Max Johnson ready for Alabama’s secondary? here are five players ahead of Texas A&M vs. Alabama.

Texas A&M (4-1, 2-0 SEC) is just two days away from hosting Alabama (4-1, 2-0 SEC) in the biggest game of the Week 6 slate, as both programs remain the only unbeaten teams in the SEC West. At the same time, Aggies head coach Jimbo Fisher is looking for revenge against his former boss, Tide head coach Nick Saban, after falling 24-20 in Tuscaloosa in 2022.

In 2024, the now bitter rival will take a brief hiatus as the division-less SEC will shake things up schedule-wise, including the first matchup between Texas A&M and Texas in more than a decade.

Focusing on Saturday’s showdown, both teams sustained losses in Week 2 to non-conference opponents due to poor defense showings, but since then, things have seemingly turned around, specifically the Aggies’ elite pass rush, only behind the Crimson Tide for total sacks so far this season (20), but ranked first in sack percentage.

However, I personally believe this game will be determined in the trenches, pitting Alabama’s shaky offensive line vs. the Aggies’ ascending D-line, focusing on quarterback Jalen Milroe’s processing and quick decision-making in the pocket.

This week, we have provided several storylines while going behind the scenes with Roll Tide Wire to get the full scoop on what to expect on Saturday afternoon.

Focusing on the players that need to make this weekend, here are the five players to watch ahead of Texas A&M vs. Alabama.

Texas A&M’s emerging defense currently ranks atop multiple defensive categories

After defeating Arkansas 34-22, Texas A&M elite defense is ranked atop several defensive categories in five games this season.

After drubbing the Arkansas Razorbacks 34-22 behind one of the best defensive performances in recent memory, or, at least since last weekend’s 27-10 win over Auburn, Texas A&M’s ascending defense has been the surprise of the 2023 season less than a month after failing to stop the Miami Hurricanes on the road in Week 2.

Second-year defensive coordinator D.J Durkin deserves credit for turning things around, finally utilizing the abundance of talent on the roster, specifically the loaded defensive line that features some of the highest-ranking members of their respective recruiting classes. On Saturday, the Aggies controlled the game with a brand of relentless physicality, as Durkin continued implementing multiple blitz packages through the matchup, virtually harassing Razorbacks quarterback K.J Jefferson to the tune of seven sacks and 15 tackles for loss.

While nearly every Aggie defender produced, junior linebacker Edgerrin Cooper’s leading six tackles, two sacks, and three tackles for loss were only rivaled to stud sophomore defensive tackle Walter Nolen’s five tackles, one sack, and three tackles for loss on the afternoon.

Team sack leader Shemar Turner showed up as usual with four tackles and half a sack, while freshman linebacker Taurean York, who makes nearly every defensive call, once again made his impact with five tackles and half a sack, being in on almost every pressure and sack.

Limiting Arkansas to 174 total yards, one of the more impressive second-half stats compared to last year’s matchup with Jefferson was in the quarterback ground game, as the Aggies limited the senior to -3 yards on 18 carries after surrendering 105 rushing yards in 2022.

After the win, Texas A&M’s borderline elite defense, at least through five games (minus Miami), is ranked in the upper echelon in multiple national rankings, including:

  • 2nd in Total sacks
  • 1st in Tackles for loss
  • 1st in Sack percentage
  • 3rd in Third-down defense
  • 5th in Total defense
  • 8th in Yards per play allowed
  • 12th in Yards per carry allowed
  • 20th in Run defense
  • 32nd in Scoring defense
  • 50th in Pass defense efficiency

So far, it’s excellent, but the schedule only gets tougher from here. Alabama is coming to College Station this weekend, followed by a road trip to Tennessee before entering their long-awaited bye week.

Texas A&M will host No.10 Alabama on Saturday, Oct. 7, at 2:30 p.m. CT, inside Kyle Field (TV: CBS).

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Five players to watch in Texas A&M’s Week 5 matchup vs. Arkansas

Will Max Johnson shine? Is the Aggie D ready for K.J Jefferson? here are five players to watch ahead of Texas A&M vs. Arkansas.

Texas A&M (3-1, 1-0 SEC) is headed back to Arlington, Texas, to face the visiting Arkansas Razorbacks (2-2, 0-1 SEC) at 11:00 a.m. CT. in the annual Southwest Classic as the Max Johnson era has begun in Aggieland after starting quarterback Conner Weigman’s season-ending injury.

Arkansas’s high-flying offense has been impressive behind the arm of senior quarterback K.J Jefferson but already incurred two losses early in the year due to a susceptible secondary, allowing 8.4 yards per pass attempt this season.

For Texas A&M, last week’s 27-10 win over Auburn may have been slightly overshadowed by Weigman’s injury news this week. Still, after Max Johnson’s second-half heroic paired with the Aggies’ resurgent defense, accounting for seven sacks and 15 tackles for loss (both season highs), momentum may be on Texas A&M’s side for the first time this season.

However, this rivalry is one of the most difficult to predict every year, and even though the Aggies have dominated the series since entering the SEC in 2012, no betting line can accurately predict just how things will shake out. This week, we have provided several storylines while going behind the scenes with Razorbacks Wire to get the full scoop on what to expect on Saturday afternoon.

Focusing on the players that need to make this weekend, here are the five players to watch ahead of Texas A&M vs. Arkansas.