This week, Todd McShay released the start of his early NFL Draft Big Board (paid) for the 2022 NFL Draft, and the Texas A&M Football team was well represented. This is obviously not a list that should be taken overly seriously, as there is still an entire season of football to be played.
Still, having multiple Aggies in the top-50 of college football is a big bonus.
Texas A&M Football DL DeMarvin Leal may be destined for great things
Unsurprisingly, the first Aggie listed was DeMarvin Leal, Texas A&M’s defensive lineman who has been receiving more than a handful of preseason recognition in the 2021 offseason. In two years of his career, Leal has accumulated 12.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. He has tacked on an interception, forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and three pass deflections.
In the past, Leal had been playing around a roster of talented players, where he was, relatively speaking, buried on the depth chart. With the departure of Buddy Johnson and, more notably, Bobby Brown III, this defensive line will be in the hands of Leal, who is set to break out onto the scene in 2021-22.
Depending on how McKinnley Jackson’s situation plays out, Leal may still be the most inexperienced player on this team’s defensive line. Still, entering his junior season, he’ll be a huge threat for opposing offensive lines to take care of.
The Texas A&M Football team’s second prospect was Kenyon Green, arguably the best player on the team
If we’re talking about raw, proven talent, Kenyon Green should be considered the best player on this Texas A&M Football team as we approach the 2021-22 season. Green has played guard in the past and in 2021, he’ll be shifting over to the tackle spot.
Already, Green has been named to every preseason All-American team imaginable. This comes off of the back of his All-American and All-SEC selections from a year ago, a season that also saw him make it as a finalist for the Joe Moore Award.
Green is the real deal. If there’s a player to have some confidence in to be drafted in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, look no further. On a Texas A&M offensive line that will be replacing every other lineman, he’ll have to step up as a leader. If you’re into offensive line play, keep your eyes glued to Green all season long.
Texas A&M Football’s tight end Jalen Wydermyer was snubbed from the list
The only player who was seemingly snubbed from this list was Jalen Wydermyer, who seemed to be collecting every other preseason recognition that was available. Wydermyer is widely considered a first or second-round pick, so seeing his name left off of the list came as a bit of a shock.
Wydermyer was the team’s second-leading receiver last season and is set to return as one of the most experienced players on the Aggies’ offense. Perhaps Todd McShay felt that the loss of Kellen Mond, who is being replaced by a first-year starter and a brand-new offensive line, will affect Wydermyer.
Either way, the big-bodied Aggie tight end is a name to watch next season as well.