Tag: Taurean York

Kirk Herbstreit ranks Texas A&M LB Edgerrin Cooper as one of his top performers from Week 4

After an impressive performance in the win against Auburn, Aggies LB Edgerrin Cooper made Kirk Herbstreit’s top performer list from Week 4.

Caught in the chaos that was Texas A&M starting quarterback Conner Weigman’s devastating ankle injury, several impressive performances on the Aggie’s resurgent defense, including the linebacker duo of Edgerrin Cooper and freshman standout Taurean York, who both combined for 20 tackles, three sacks, and five tackles for loss in the 27-10 victory over Auburn.

While the Tigers’ offensive woes weren’t the biggest surprise due to the lack of quarterback continuity in head coach Hugh Freezes’ first season, Aggies defensive coordinator D.J Durkin apparently heard the screams from the fan base to utilize the immense talent in the trenches, resulting in a flurry of blitzes that resulted in a season-high seven sacks, the most the Aggies have produced in a game since 2017.

Leading the game with two sacks, Edgerrin Cooper’s may have taken a back seat to York’s various accolades, but don’t tell that to ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit, who included Cooper in his Top 7 performers from Week 4, with a complete stat line of 8 tackles, two sacks, and one tackle for loss, coming in a No. 6 on his respective list.

Cooper’s 6-3 230-pound frame, with his proven speed and zone coverage ability, makes him a nightmare to prepare for, primarily if he’s used in twists and stunts or as an edge rusher in specific packages. This Saturday, Cooper and York may be the x-factors against Arkansas’s high-scoring offenses against the run and in pass coverage to limit the quarterback K.J Jefferson’s production through the air.

Texas A&M will now travel to AT&T Stadium to face the Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday, Sept. 23 at 11:00 a.m. CT., and air on the SEC Network.

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Texas A&M freshman LB Taurean York named SEC Freshman of the Week

Logging a career high in tackles in Texas A&M’s 27-10 win over Auburn, freshman LB Taurean York has been named SEC Freshman of the Week.

Texas A&M freshman linebacker Taurean York has not only become a fan favorite among Aggie fans, but if we’re being honest, the Aggies’ 3-1 start is primarily due to the elite defensive performance against the Auburn Tigers last Saturday, defeating the visitors 27-10 behind York’s career-high 11 tackles, two tackles for loss and netting his first career sack while calling nearly every defensive play in the process.

Limiting the Tigers to 54 yards passing on the day, York’s defensive instincts, speed, and impressive ability in coverage after just three collegiate games is nothing short of remarkable, especially due to his underrated recruiting grade that led to multiple blue-blood programs failing to see his potential in the 2023 cycle.

The credit goes to head coach Jimbo Fisher for not just landing York but instilling the belief that he could run one of the more talented defenses in the SEC in Year one.

“He’s only going to get better with what he does, the reads he makes, and the assignments. The kid is a heck of a player and he’s a very mature kid. Happy for him.”

Against Arkansas Razorbacks in the annual Southwest classic this weekend, York will again be called upon to stop the run consistently and likely cover star freshman tight end Luke Hasz for most of the afternoon.

Texas A&M will now travel to AT&T Stadium to face the Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday, Sept. 23 at 11:00 a.m. CT., and air on the SEC Network.

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Texas A&M LB Taurean York has been named 247Sports ‘True Freshman of the Week’

After leading the Aggies in tackles in Texas A&M’s 27-10 win over Auburn, freshman LB Tauren York is 247Sports’ True Freshman of the Week.

Texas A&M freshman linebacker Taurean York has been a revelation for a team that may have found the missing link in the middle of the defense. Coming in a three-star player in the 2023 recruiting class, York’s ascendence as a first-year starter may have surprised the Aggie fan base, but for head coach Jimbo Fisher, he is wise beyond his years.

“Very mature. He’s a kid that is 18 going on 30, and I say that from a standpoint of how he learned and how he act. He’s a very intelligent guy and a very well-rounded guy that has had a very good cam. A true freshman that can make calls for you.”

So far, so good, as York, starting at the MIKE linebacker spot, is second on the team in tackles with 22, making nearly every defensive call. During the Aggies 27-10 SEC opening win against Auburn on Saturday, the Temple, Texas native had himself a day, recording a game-high 11 tackles with half a sack and two tackles for loss while perfectly positioning the defensive line to record seven sacks on the afternoon, their most in six seasons.

With one of the best defensive performances on the college football weekend, York was named 247Sports‘ “True Freshman of the Week,” notably quarterback a defense that held the Tigers to only 10 points, 3.1 yards per play, and only 54 yards through the air.

Not only was Taurean York making the defensive calls that led to consistent pressure in the pocket, but his playmaking ability and impressive speed and tackling in space are something I expect to see every week. In contrast, his sneaky ability to rush the passer is very intriguing moving forward. Again, give Jimbo Fisher a ton of credit for finding York and luring him away from Baylor, where he was previously committed for most of his recruiting process.

“He’s only going to get better with what he does, the reads he makes, and the assignments. The kid is a heck of a player and he’s a very mature kid. Happy for him.”

Congratulations on the honor, Taurean! Gig ’em.

Texas A&M will now travel to AT&T Stadium to face the Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday, Sept. 23 at 11:00 a.m. CT., and air on the SEC Network.

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.

Texas A&M’s ferocious pass rush against the Auburn Tigers can, and needs to be sustained

Texas A&M’s defense completed dominated the visiting Auburn Tigers on Saturday, while their notable pass rush finally found life.

Texas A&M defensive coordinator D.J Durkin has rightfully been under fire through the first three games this season after the Aggie’s 48-33 loss to Miami in Week 2, plagued by one of the worst defensive efforts witnessed from the program in quite some time.

However, minor improvements were made after defeating UL Monroe 47-3 in Week 3, leading to Saturday’s defensive explosion that none of us saw coming in Texas A&M’s rousing 27-10 victory over the visiting Auburn Tigers to open SEC play.

While starting quarterback Conner Weigman’s ankle injury (X-rays were negative) has taken most of the attention away from the big win, the Aggies suffocating pass rush and “bend but don’t break” defensive approach yielded seven sacks (most since 2017), 15 tackles for loss, while allowing only 54 yards through the air from three Auburn quarterbacks, while wreaking absolute havoc on veteran signal-caller Peyton Thorne on every possession.

Texas A&M’s sudden surge on the defensive line isn’t a mystery, as Durkin’s willingness to change up his scheme and blitz at a high rate paid off, utilizing the incredible athletes in the trenches. At the same time, the linebacker duo of Edgerrin Cooper and freshman Taurean York led the team in tackles and set the defensive tone from start to finish, according to star defensive back Byce Anderson.

“We have a crazy defensive line. (Taurean) York and (Edgerrin) Cooper played great… Today was a collective effort.”

Cooper, who recorded eight tackles and led the team with two sacks, was second to York’s game-high 11 tackles, and two tackles for loss have vaulted him in the discussion for one of the top freshmen in the country. They will only continue to develop throughout the SEC slate.

“Auburn is not the main goal. The main goal is to run through the SEC… This is a step along the way.”

With nine players recording three or more tackles on the afternoon, this was definitely a collective effort, but asking, “Is this sustainable?” may keep Aggie fans on their toes, especially with the high-scoring Arkansas Razorbacks coming to Arlington, Texas next Saturday.

Simple answer? Maybe, but the results against the Tigers are certainly encouraging, and to keep Razorbacks QB K.J Jefferson from developing a passing rhythm early, Durkin should keep a similar game plan and continue to emphasize pressure through a variety of creative blitz packages while keeping the secondary from being exposed.

However, as Anderon alluded, consistent effort was the primary factor in the Aggies’ defensive ascendence, and to reach their lofty goals with eight games remaining, replicating Saturday’s performance is the first step.

Texas A&M will now travel to AT&T Stadium to face the Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday, Sept. 23 at 11:00 a.m. CT., and air on the SEC Network.

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.

Five takeaways from Texas A&M’s 27-10 win over Auburn in Week 4

Texas A&M has the best QB room in the country, while their pass rush finally woke up. Here are the five takeaways from the Aggies’ Week 4 win over Auburn.

Texas A&M (3-1, 1-0 SEC) kicked off conference play with a 27-10 win over Auburn (3-1, 0-1 SEC), despite an untimely injury and a sluggish first half hindering the Maroon and White early.

It was truly a tale of two halves as Texas A&M mustered just a 6-3 lead over the Tigers heading into halftime. Despite a dominant defense effort through two quarters, the Aggies’ offense couldn’t oblige by putting points on the board. Their struggles were only exacerbated by losing their starting quarterback before the second half.

And then, the Maroon and White finally woke up in the third quarter. Led by the impressive play of backup quarterback Max Johnson, A&M’s offense finally began to hum en route to a 21-7 scoring run. Aside from an untimely Auburn defensive touchdown, the Aggies dominated the final two quarters to put them up 1-0 in conference play.

Saturday’s win is huge as the conference slate moves forward, and players such as Ainias Smith and Layden Robinson advocated the same in their postgame press conference. There are many positives to take away from the Week 4 victory, but of course, there remain key areas to address in order for this team to reach its fullest potential.

Here are the five takeaways from Texas A&M’s win over Auburn, which moves them to 1-0 in SEC play.

Here are the five keys to victory as Texas A&M faces Auburn in Week 4

From bottling up the Tigers’ run game to letting Conner Weigman cook, keys to victory as Texas A&M welcomes Auburn in Week 4.

Three weeks of college football is in the books, but Texas A&M’s (2-1) season truly gets underway on Saturday. The Aggies welcome Auburn (3-0) to Kyle Field in Week 4, in what will mark the start of SEC play.

Both teams are much improved from the last time they met late in the 2022 season. The Hugh Freeze era for the Tigers is off to a 3-0 start, while Bobby Petrino has the Aggies’ offense humming with a top-three ranking in the conference.

Those factors set up what should be a highly competitive game between two programs eager to steer their season on the right trajectory. A&M, of course, is in the midst of a pivotal 2023 campaign that may very well determine the future of Jimbo Fisher in Aggieland.

A win on Saturday would only lend more truth to the foundation being built in College Station, highlighted by a talented offense that can stake its claim as one of the best in the SEC.

Here are the five keys to victory as Texas A&M welcomes Auburn to Kyle Field for their first SEC matchup of the season.

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.

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.

Five players to watch in Texas A&M’s Week 3 home matchup vs. UL Monroe

More Ainias Smith, Moose Muhammad? Who needs to step up the most on defense? Here are five players to watch ahead to Texas A&M vs. UL Monroe

Texas A&M’s (1-1) road trip to Miami last weekend took a turn for the worst after initially leading 17-7 in the second quarter before Hurricanes quarterback Tyler Van Dyke took control of the game, hitting WR Isaiah Horton on a 52-yard bomb to bring the game within three points and ended up outscoring the Aggies 41-17 in the second half behind five touchdowns from Van Dyke.

Sophomore quarterback Conner Weigman wasn’t the problem by any means, throwing for 336 yards and two touchdowns while playing with old-school toughness and grit, all while being blitzed on 33 of his 57 dropback attempts. In comparison, WR Evan Stewart led the team in receiving with 11 receptions for 142 yards.

Defensively, second-year defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin is under fire after one of the worst performances in the last five years, as the Hurricanes averaged 17.8 yards a completion and 8.4 yards per play behind Van Dyke’s 374 yards through the air, mostly due to poor coverage and a ton of missed tackles.

While most of these issues can be fixed, Texas A&M’s defense has not improved under Durkin compared to current Duke head coach Mike Elko, who served as the Aggies defensive coordinator for four seasons (2018-2021).

Nevertheless, Texas A&M will now take on the visiting UL Monroe Warhawks, who look to “ground and pound” their way to an upset victory. Still, I expect this Aggie team to not only take out their frustrations after last weekend’s lapse but finally show some discipline on defense and continue to gel on the offensive line ahead of SEC play. However, for any of this to happen, the players and coaching staff need to instill a sense of urgency to accomplish their still attainable goals.

Ahead of Week 3, here are the five Texas A&M players to watch before Texas A&M vs. UL Monroe.

Five players to watch in Texas A&M’s Week 2 road matchup vs. Miami

Here are five players to watch out for ahead of Texas A&M’s road clash with the Miami Hurricanes on Saturday afternoon.

Texas A&M’s 2023 rebound season is off to the races after Jimbo Fisher’s rejuvenated roster dismantled the visiting New Mexico Lobos 52-10 behind starting quarterback Conner Weigman’s five touchdowns, including three to breakout sophomore wide receiver Noah Thomas.

This Saturday, the Aggies’ revamped offense will now take their high-octane passing attack to South Beach as they face the Miami Hurricanes in the highly coveted Week 2.

Throughout the week, we have done our absolute best at Aggies Wire to provide you with top-notch previews of the matchup this week, ranging from the top storylines, Florida native Shemar Stewart’s return to Miami, and, of course, the key to keeping the Weigman upright in the pocket; Texas A&M’s offensive line, or the “Maroon Goons” as we call them.

But talk is cheap, and the players who take the field this weekend will determine the final results. And even though the Aggies remain a slim four-point favorite as of Thursday, the Hurricanes and second-year HC Mario Cristobal are looking for revenge after falling 17-9 in Kyle Field last fall.

Ahead of Week 2, here are the five Texas A&M players to watch before the Aggies face Miami.

Jimbo Fisher is pleased with how Freshman Linebacker Taurean York has progressed through training camp

Wise beyond his years, Freshman linebacker Taurean York is making strides, and Jimbo has taken notice

One position that Jimbo Fisher has issues recruiting and keeping has been linebacker over the past few years. So, after losing the two five-star recruits in back-to-back years with Harold Perkins Jr and Anthony Hill Jr switching to close rivals, it left Aggie fans feeling a little jaded. While the two-starting starting spots are solidified, the depth behind Cooper and Russell is still being worked out. JSU transfer Jurriente Davis is also an option for some playing time.

But a freshman linebacker has been catching everyone’s eye, including Jimbo. Here is what he had to say about Taurean York

“Very mature. He’s a kid that is 18 going on 30, and I say that from a standpoint of how he learns and how he acts.”

“He’s a very intelligent guy and a very well-rounded guy that has had a very good camp. A true freshman that can make calls for you.”

The Temple native may not come in as a highly touted five-star recruit, but he is a very productive high school athlete that was named the 12-6A Defensive MVP three years in a row. Standing at 6-0 feet, 220lbs, there is some worry about how he might hold up in SEC play; however, he makes up any perceived physical hindrances with his knowledge of the game.

Jimbo is not the only coach that praises the maturity and intelligence of the game. All you have to do is talk to any of his high school coaches or teammates.

“There’s so many things to talk about with Taurean. It’s pretty special, to be honest,” Temple defensive coordinator Dexter Knox said. “He’s so intelligent and studies the game so much. You don’t see a high school kid care as much as he does. He’s got two parents at home who love him and you can see how he’s been raised.

“He’s never satisfied. When we get done with a game, he expects to have the game film (available to watch) within an hour. He knows the ins and outs of this defense. When we need to make checks at halftime or during the game, he can handle it. That makes it fun for a defensive coordinator, because it’s like having another coach on the field. He’s always on.”

After the reports of possible locker room turmoil that saw multiple former top recruits transfer out, York is the type of player you need in this team. His leadership qualities will pay dividends, and if he continues to impress, the Mike linebacker position will be well taken care of for the next few years.

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 Jarrett Johnson on Twitter: @whosnextsports1.

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