San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
A&M is sure it can hold the line
Newcomers expected to provide depth at DT and DE despite loss of 3 starters to the NFL
COLLEGE STATION — Texas A&M junior defensive tackle Justin Madubuike offered a quick history lesson for anyone who believes the Aggies’ defensive line is in its heyday.
“I came here when Myles and ‘Dae Dae’ were here,” Madubuike said.
That’s Myles Garrett, who became the Aggies’ first and only No. 1 overall selection in the 2017 NFL draft, and Daeshon Hall, a thirdround draft selection the same year. The defensive ends combined for 48½ sacks from 2014 to 2016 at A&M.
Madubuike redshirted the sackhappy duo’s last season three years ago, and now the upperclassman is in charge of a defensive line again loaded with expectations, minus the depth it possessed earlier this summer.
Asked what Southeastern Conference foes should know about A&M’s line, Madubuike rapidly replied, “Best D-linemen in the SEC, for sure. Our standards are set high.”
It’s quite a claim considering the Aggies lost three senior starters to the NFL — Kingsley Keke, Daylon
Mack and Landis Durham — from last year’s starting line, and more recently three backups expected to provide depth in case of injury.
Defensive tackles Mohamed Diallo and T.D. Moton and end Ondario Robinson have left the program, with at least Diallo intending to play elsewhere. He arrived at A&M a year ago as the nation’s No. 27 junior-college prospect, and played in just one game last season.
Moton, a former four-star prospect, had fought to gain eligibility to A&M after first signing with Mississippi State in February 2015 but failing to enroll. He joined A&M in the summer of 2016, redshirted that fall, and did not play in 2017.
Last season Moton finally made his way onto the field for the Aggies, but he only played in two games, and his lone tackle was a sack. Robinson redshirted in 2017, then-coach Kevin Sumlin’s final season, then did not play last year in coach Jimbo Fisher’s first season.
Fisher said after the opening of camp Thursday that he’s not concerned about defensive line depth, because he has talented newcomers ready to compete for playing time.
Madubuike, the Aggies’ defensive most valuable player last season, has one of the inside slots locked down. The other is expected to go to Bobby Brown, who played in all 13 games last season as a true freshman and earned the team defensive newcomer of the year nod.
Junior Jayden Peevy, too, is a veteran who should earn plenty of playing time on the inside, along with Madubuike and Brown. Peevy played in all 13 games last season and collected nine tackles, including a sack.
Defensive end is as intriguing as it’s been since Garrett and Hall roamed Kyle Field. The long-touted Micheal Clemons, one of the nation’s top junior-college prospects two years ago, redshirted last season after a foot injury in camp.
Fisher, Madubuike and others have vowed Clemons is primed for a breakout season as a junior. Freshman DeMarvin Leal from Judson, one of the nation’s top overall prospects in the class of 2019, enrolled at A&M in January but missed spring drills with a minor cartilage tear in his knee.
He’s back at full speed to start camp and turning heads at end, although
Fisher said Leal (6-4, 290) can play outside and inside.
“He’s got that ability,” Fisher said. “He’ll stay outside (for now), but there will be some pass-rush things and mismatches. We’ll get him situated at one position, and then we’ll let him grow from there. He will have the ability, in the future, to do everything.”
Freshmen Derick Hunter and Ardarious Jones and sophomores Jeremiah Martin, Tyree Johnson, Tyree Wilson, Camron Horry, Max Wright and Josh Rogers are eight more examples of why Fisher said he’s not concerned about losing three starters and three backups from last year’s squad.
The Aggies finished third nationally in rush defense last season under first-year defensive coordinator Mike Elko, allowing 95.2 yards per game. They were 98th nationally against the pass, however, giving up 253 yards per game through the air.
“You still stop the run, then you learn to play the pass,” Fisher said of what A&M is emphasizing in August. “That’s always your goal — you have to be able to run the ball on offense and stop the run on defense. We’ve got to get better. If you’re not stopping the run and you’re in a bad down and distance, then it really becomes miserable in the passing game.”