Texas A&M Football: Transfer Portal Giveth and Taketh Away

The Texas A&M Football program picked up a huge commitment at a position of need yesterday evening, as transfer cornerback Josh DeBerry pledged to the Aggies. DeBerry is coming off a weekend visit for the Texas A&M spring game which, by all accounts, was a smash hit with he and the other visitors—including fellow transfer candidates WR Shemar Kirk from JUCO Reedley College and graduate transfer LB Jurriente Davis from Jackson State. DeBerry is a 3-time All-ACC selection at corner, displaying his quality at a position that the Aggies desperately needed depth.

That the Aggies hosted a CB, LB, and WR last weekend and have already picked up a commitment is great news. Texas A&M football fans have been antsy for greater portal involvement by the program at these rather thin positions and it seems like the coaching staff is moving with purpose as this window opens.

DeBerry is the third defensive back transfer the Aggies have picked up this offseason—and, interestingly enough, not only the third defensive back transfer, but the third defensive back transfer from the ACC, joining former Florida State Seminole Sam McCall and North Carolina Tar Heel Tony Grimes. He brings a veteran presence to the locker room and a high level of skill at the position. New secondary coach Bryan Gross-Armiento has really shown his quality on the trail here in his first few months on the job.

Just before DeBerry’s commitment post dropped, however, the Aggies were hit with a bit of bad news. Defensive back Bobby Taylor, beloved by Texas A&M football fans for his role in building the legendary 2022 class, announced on his Twitter that he would be entering the transfer portal.

Taylor missed last season with injury and didn’t see any playing time during the spring game. According to David Sandhop of Texags, Taylor had been working more at safety than his high school position of corner during the spring, and, with safety being a position of strength for this Texas A&M football program, it’s entirely possible he decided it was best for him to seek more playing time elsewhere.

Whatever his reasons, Taylor will be missed by Aggie fans. It was unlikely he would see the field this season, but his off-field presence was certainly appreciated by every fan of the program.

As far as on-field production goes, however, Aggie fans have to consider this a good day, transfer-portal wise. DeBerry is as close to a plug-and-play starter as you can get at a position that grows more and more valuable every passing season, helping to shore up the back end of the defense. Here’s hoping this transfer portal luck continues soon!