Coach Mike Elko’s No. 20 Texas A&M football team kicks off its 2024 season against an unfamiliar foe: the No. 7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The Aggies and the Fighting Irish last faced off in 2001, with A&M winning 24-3 at Kyle Field.
The victory came on the back of then-coach R.C. Slocum’s “Wrecking Crew” defense, with the front seven wreaking havoc all game.
“I can’t recall being hit that many times in one game,” former Notre Dame freshman quarterback Carlyle Holiday said after the game.
The consistent pressure forced errant throws, leading to A&M’s three interceptions in the contest.
The 2023 Aggie defensive line did nothing less than terrorize opposing quarterbacks, tallying 42 sacks and 99 tackles for loss.
Led by senior defensive lineman Shemar Turner, this season’s group features junior DL Shemar Stewart and Albert Regis taking on bigger roles as well as junior Purdue standout DL Nic Scourton joining the Maroon and White.
Scourton, a Bryan native, has been named to the Nagurski Trophy, Bednarik Award and Lombardi Award Watch Lists, and has earned Preseason All-America nods from The AP, ESPN and Sporting News.
On the second level, the Aggies return standout sophomore linebacker Taurean York. As a freshman, York started all 13 games, recording 74 tackles, including 8.5 tackles for loss, which were the most by an SEC freshman.
Alongside York, junior Florida transfer Scooby Williams, senior Pitt transfer Solomon DeShields and sophomore Daymion Sanford all look to make a difference in the game at linebacker.
In the defensive backfield, junior safety Bryce Anderson returns to lead the room after a 54-tackle season. He is joined by senior cornerback Tyreek Chappell, graduate Florida transfer nickelback Jaydon Hill, freshman Alabama transfer defensive back Dezz Ricks, junior Kansas State transfer CB Will Lee III and graduate Central Michigan transfer DB Trey Jones III.
Elko’s defenses are consistently disruptive, and this year’s crew should be no different. With a lack of experience up front, Notre Dame’s offense is susceptible to the rush.
After losing tackles Joe Alt and Blake Fisher to the NFL Draft, the Irish have 29 combined appearances up front, with 23 of them coming from senior guards Pat Coogan and Rocco Spindler. The group has just six combined starts.
The Aggies, who led the SEC in sacks last season, should be able to live in the backfield against the young bunch, especially in a rowdy Kyle Field.
Notre Dame bolstered its receiving corps this offseason, adding three key transfers in graduate Clemson transfer Beaux Collins, graduate Marshall transfer Jayden Harrison and graduate Florida International transfer Kris Mitchell. Returning sophomore Jaden Greathouse looks to make major contributions in 2024.
In the running back room, sophomore Jeremiyah Love and junior Jadarian Price will lead the charge for the Blue and Gold.
The Fighting Irish regain senior tight end Mitchell Evans, who had his junior campaign cut short by an injury. Before being sidelined, Evans recorded 29 receptions for 422 yards and a touchdown.
Notre Dame senior quarterback Riley Leonard reunites with his former Duke head coach, this time on the other side of the stripes.
“To be able to play against him — it’s awesome,” Leonard said. “People say every game is the same, but this means a lot to me.”
Under Elko in 2023, Leonard completed 57.5% of passes for 1,102 yards and three touchdowns in just seven games. In 2022, he was one of three FBS quarterbacks to throw for north of 2,900 yards and rush for 695 yards, joining LSU’s Jayden Daniels and North Carolina’s Drake Maye.
Having coached him for two seasons, Elko knows Leonard’s strengths and weaknesses like the back of his hand.
However, the same could be said for Leonard.
“He is probably a bit more familiar with this defense than most quarterbacks we play,” Elko said. “Two years going against a version of this defense that is similar to what he will see Saturday night probably gives him a little bit more of an advantage than it does us.”
At the end of the day, fans are in for a hard-fought battle between competitors who have nothing but respect for each other.
