25-05-2025
Is Texas A&M's linebacker depth chart a strength in 2025?
Is Texas A&M's linebacker depth chart a strength in 2025?
Texas A&M's 2025 football roster isn't lacking talent, and, more importantly, depth at nearly every position, but after last season's 1-4 finish, it took the national media time to warm up to the fact that coach Mike Elko's second season could be one of the program's best given the roster's veteran presence, especially on defense.
This offseason, Elko added 14 players from the transfer portal, including six defenders at edge (3) defensive line (1), and cornerback (2), but did add another linebacker to a corps that could use another veteran but should be a strength in 2025. Why should Aggie fans feel good about Texas A&M's linebacker rotation? Junior Taurean York and senior Scooby Williams are as good as it get atop the depth chart.
However, in the SEC, speed, vision, and the ability to stop the run and cover the middle of the field are highly important, and outside of York and Williams, who thrive in those areas, the players behind both starters are key to providing adequate depth late in games. So, who are those players filling out the depth chart? Here is Texas A&M's up-to-date linebacker depth chart heading into fall camp.
MLB 1: (middle linebacker) Junior Taurean York
2024 stats: 82 tackles, 35 solo tackles, 2.5 sacks, one interception
Taurean York is the cream of the crop at linebacker, and after showing stark improvement in coverage during the latter half of the 2024 season, the junior is set for his best season yet before likely departing for the 2025 NFL draft.
MLB 2: Sophomore Jordan Lockhart
2024 stats: 11 tackles, four solo tackles
Jordan Lockhart showed off his physical skillset in limited play time last season and should see more time at middle linebacker in third-down situations due to his speed and athleticism in coverage.
MLB 3: Sophomore Tristan Jernigan
2024 stats: 11 tackles, four solo tackles
In three games last season, Jernigan matched Lockhart with 11 tackles, including five against McNeese, showing, and like his 2024 recruiting class counterpart, Jernigan's size and vision should yield him more playing time in 2025.
WLB 1: (weakside linebacker) Senior Scooby Williams
2024 stats: 43 tackles, 23 solo tackles, one interception
Scooby Williams was by far the most improved player after transferring from Florida last offseason, quickly ascending the depth chart, earning a 70 defensive grade, and an impressive 82-run defense mark per Pro Football Focus. While Williams could play either linebacker spot, his size in coverage against tight ends will be crucial next season.
WLB 2: Junior Daymion Sanford
2024 stats: 33 tackles, 24 solo tackles, one sack
One of the more intriguing players on the roster, Daymion Sanford enters the 2025 season as a highly important rotational linebacker who could be a valuable weapon in the pass rush due to his elite closing speed, which was seen in several games last season, including his impressive sack against Missouri, and career-high seven tackles against Mississippi State.
Freshmen Noah Mikhail and Kelvion Riggins are the two final names on the depth chart, and after a solid performance this spring, especially during the Maroon & White spring game, Mikhail is a young player to watch barring any in-season injuries atop the depth chart.
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
