Talking the interior of the defensive line for Texas A&M
As we inch ever closer to the first kickoff of 2025, the position preview series rolls on. We’re sticking with the defensive line this week as we move from the ends to the tackles.
Who did we lose?
- Shemar Turner marks the biggest loss for the interior of the Texas A&M defensive line. Turner split time between end and tackle while in College Station, but his final season saw him find a real home in the interior. Turner was taken by the Bears in the second round of the NFL Draft.
- Texas A&M also had some attrition through the transfer portal. Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy was a former five-star who showed flashes – he stayed within the SEC and will be at South Carolina this season. Samu Taumanupepe also transferred and will be at Baylor this season.
Who do we bring back?
- Albert Regis was one of the leaders of the defensive line last season and will return as a senior this year. Regis will be a key piece of the middle of the Texas A&M defense.
- DJ Hicks also returns in 2025. Hicks is another player who came to College Station as a five-star recruit but hasn’t quite hit the expected production levels yet. He’ll be one to watch this season.
What other names should we know?
- Iowa State transfer Tyler Onyedim was one of the most crucial additions for the Aggies in the portal. Onyedim should be an immediate impact player on the interior of the defensive line for the Aggies.
- The depth for the Aggies at defensive tackle isn’t quite to the level we’ve come to expect for this position group. You expect at least four contributors to factor into the rotation, and in an ideal world, you have more fresh legs. The Aggies will need quality depth from elsewhere on the roster – Dealyn Evans seems like the most likely player. Fans should also keep an eye on new additions from the high school ranks like Chace Sims and DJ Sanders.
Overall Grade: C+
The pieces are there for this position group to be good, but the Aggies don’t have a bona fide, guaranteed playmaker on the interior. Onyedim might fill that role, but Hicks and Regis will need to make a step forward to move from quality players to stars. Additionally, I worry about the lack of experienced depth at the position. I’m less optimistic here than I am for the edge defenders, but potential still exists.