While several of Texas A&M’s transfer portal members pose as a surprise, senior defensive lineman Isaiah Raikes, who has spent the last four seasons as a rotational nose guard for the program, is looking to spend his final year of eligibility elsewhere.
After serving as the primary backup to senior defensive lineman McKinnley Jackson, who recently announced his intentions to enter the 2024 NFL Draft, Raikes’ size and experience, including 17 tackles and a sack while appearing in all 12 games during the 2023 season, is certainly intriguing to every team in need of a potential starting nose tackle, or rotations defensive lineman.
Under new head coach Mike Elko, the Aggies were deemed to lose players during the coaching transition. While former five-star DL Walter Nolen’s exit certainly stings the most, losing Raikes, along with noted pass rusher Fadil Diggs, who recently committed to Syracuse, makes more sense in the long run, as both have graduated and earned their Aggie rings.
Also, both players are New Jersey natives. Hence, the New York area is more likely than not, while former A&M D-line coach Elijah Robinson was recently hired as the program’s new defensive coordinator.
Texas A&M DT Isaiah Raikes has entered the transfer portal as a grad transfer, @mzenitz and I have learned for @247Sports.
Raikes posted 17 tackles and a sack this season in 12 games, including one start. https://t.co/e9mvnkoW6P pic.twitter.com/1a5U5fHJ0P
— Chris Hummer (@chris_hummer) December 21, 2023
Will Isaiah Raikes follow Diggs to the east coast? Who knows, but it would be interesting to see what both players could do in the ACC.
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