4. Texas A&M Aggies College Football Preview 2021: Defense
– Defensive coordinator Mike Elko has another loaded D. Last year’s group was No. 1 in the SEC, allowed 317 yards and 22 points per game, and it was second in the nation behind only Georgia against the run.
Expect the same, only better with nine starters expected back to go with lots and lots and lots of solid backups.
– There weren’t a ton of sacks, but the 6.4 tackles for loss per game were good enough to lead the SEC. Leading sacker Bobby Brown is gone, but 335-pound McKinnley Jackson is an active option on the nose to go along with veteran Jayden Peevy, an NFL-sized tackle who made 34 stops.
The ends are deep with Tyree Johnson, DeMarvin Leal, and Micheal Clemsons all very big and next-level talented. All three can get into the backfield.
– Leading tackler Buddy Johnson is gone, but Aaron Hansford was second with 49 stops from his job on the weakside. The 6-3, 245-pounder has the upside to do even more to get behind the line, and the combination of Andre White and Chris Russell can handle the inside, even if neither one is as strong as Johnson.
A&M likes large, physical corners. Jaylon Jones is a 6-2, 205-pounder who made 30 stops, and Myles Jones is a rangy 6-4 veteran who was fourth on the team with 39 stops in just eight games.
The outside is fine, and the inside is better with Leon O’Neal a stat-sheet filler with a team-high two interceptions and 48 tackles. He’s got the range to get all over the field, and Demani Richardson is another big-hitting veteran who came up with 36 tackles.