What to expect out of Texas A&M football’s defense in 2022

The Texas A&M football team will undergo a handful of changes between the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Already, we’re seeing some of those changes in action, as some of the Aggies’ early enrollees are already making an impact after Texas A&M’s first spring scrimmage.

One thing that we haven’t been filled in on, however, is how well the Aggies are doing at positions of need; the areas that saw players depart from the team. After all, Texas A&M sent nine players, fourth-most in college football, to the NFL combine.

This leaves more than a handful of positions to replace. Nearly the entire defensive line departed after the conclusion of the 2021 season, while some second and third-level defenders also finished their Texas A&M careers.

The Texas A&M football team’s defense will regress statistically but it could actually improve from 2021

I can almost guarantee that the Texas A&M football team’s defense will regress statistically in 2022. That said, that will be the only area where this defense regresses.

The Aggies bring in eight early enrollee defenders — four of them were ranked in the top-100 of the 2022 class. Six more top-100 defenders will join the team this summer and be ready to play in the fall. In short, there will be some serious raw talent joining this roster soon.

That said, Texas A&M loses a few key pieces defensively. Some names that come to mind are DeMarvin Leal, Aaron Hansford, and Leon O’Neal, arguably the three most important players from Texas A&M’s 2021 season. That season saw the Aggies finish with the third-best scoring defense in the nation, even with a tough schedule.

They won’t likely repeat this.

Before you get too upset, I actually think the defense will be better than last year’s by the end of the season. That said, A&M’s success on the defensive side of the ball will rely heavily on these young players. Young players like Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy, Walter Nolen, Denver Harris, and a handful of others.

The defensive line will likely suffer from four total losses, while the linebacking corps will take an immediate step back with Aaron Hansford’s departure. Again, this isn’t something to worry about.

I can’t see the future but A&M’s early struggles should disappear by the time their schedule really ramps up. Once these young, talented players get in a groove at the college football level, A&M’s defense will be a force to be reckoned with.