Following a stellar outing against one of college football’s premier offenses in LSU, the No. 10 Texas A&M defense has its sights set on dominating South Carolina’s offense to keep both hands on the wheel of the driver’s seat towards an SEC title.
The task of maintaining the Aggies’ SEC conquest starts in the trenches and the opposing run game, which was nearly perfectly corralled by the A&M defensive line on Saturday. A maroon and white brick wall was cemented in the Kyle Field grass, allowing only 35 rushing yards on 22 attempts. The 1.6 yards-per-carry average is the lowest the Tigers have mustered all season.
Defensive coordinator Jay Bateman’s crew has also made a living getting to the quarterback, racking up 19 sacks this season. No one has been as effective in this category as junior defensive end Nic Scourton, who holds responsibility for five sacks. Scourton’s mere presence is enough to keep opposing offenses away from his side of the line, as he is fifth in FBS in tackles for loss with 12.5.
With the Aggies’ line seemingly improving each week, senior running back Raheim “Rocket” Sanders will have his work cut out, averaging 4.4 yards per carry on the season. With only 33 rushing yards in USC’s previous contest against Oklahoma, Sanders will need a breakout game to stand a chance against a deep A&M rotation.
“I mean, look what we are able to do rotating people around, being able to bring in guys fresh later in the game,” coach Mike Elko said. “There is quality in our depth that allows us to rotate and continue to allow us to improve as the season goes on.”
South Carolina’s offensive line could be in for a rough outing with little to no margin for error. The Gamecocks’ front five has conceded 32 sacks through seven games and is set to face one of the top defensive lines in the country.
Senior defensive tackle Shemar Turner and junior DE Shemar Stewart represent elite pass-rushing ability and will be hungry to add to their sack totals on the road. The Aggies will not hesitate to jump on the opportunity to impose their will on their competition — beware the Brothers Shemar.
In the backfield, senior cornerback BJ Mayes will look to replicate his superb performance against LSU, having hauled in two critical interceptions that would guide the Aggies to a victory. If Mayes and A&M interception leader sophomore safety Marcus Ratcliffe can stay stingy in the backfield, the Aggies will have a chance to win the turnover battle.
The X-factor for the Gamecocks comes in the form of redshirt freshman quarterback LaNorris Sellers, who has been South Carolina’s man all season — apart from senior QB Robby Ashford’s Sept. 21 victory over Akron. Sellers has kept his squad in contention with top-20 opponents in games versus No. 16 LSU and No. 7 Alabama, only losing by a combined five points.
“He’s the starting quarterback for a reason,” junior defensive tackle Albert Regis said. “I respect him for that. I commend him for that. Whether he’s a better runner or thrower doesn’t concern us. We treat every quarterback the same.”
Sellers’ running ability sets him apart from the Maroon and White’s more recent opponents, as he has tallied 247 rushing yards and three touchdowns on the ground this season. The Aggies’ defense must be prepared to face a two-way foe in the Gamecock quarterback, a responsibility that will be tasked to star sophomore linebacker Taurean York.
But the 2024 team captain is no stranger to the big moments. Leading the Aggies in tackles with 47 to go with 1.5 sacks and an interception, York provides a safety blanket for the A&M D-line if Sellers escapes containment, whether it be back in coverage, on the line or on a blitz.
Perhaps the biggest story of this game will be if A&M can minimize the chunk plays through the air, which seemingly plague the team at least once a week. Freshman wide receiver Mazeo Bennett Jr. poses the greatest vertical threat for the Gamecocks, producing a team-leading 270 yards and three touchdowns. If there’s anyone who can take advantage of A&M’s occasional soft coverage, it’s Bennett.
With that in mind, Bennett will most likely be the primary focus of junior CB Will Lee III. Lee has been playing at the All-conference level for the majority of the season, sporting a team-best nine pass breakups and an interception.
If Bennett is unable to break free from “The Blanket,” South Carolina has a reliable target in sixth-year tight end Joshua Simon. Far from a stand-alone blocker, Simon leads the Gamecocks in catches with 20 to go with two touchdowns and 185 receiving yards.
A&M’s defense can not afford to underestimate the capabilities of South Carolina’s offense if it has any chance of escaping what could easily be a trap game for the only undefeated team in conference play.
On that note, if the Aggies stick to their fundamentals, lock down the run game and force yet another team to be one-dimensional, there will be further hope that A&M can win out for the rest of the season and cruise its way to Atlanta with a spot in the SEC Championship.
