Fans knew that this would happen, but it's still a bummer to see him go. Captain and linebacker Taurean York has declared for the 2026 NFL Draft.
York was a captain and the leader of the defense for the past two seasons. It's not often to have a sophomore as the leading voice, but he was that great, as Mike Elko, in his first head coaching season, saw the potential to put all his cards on York.
The captain leaves behind a legacy that Texas A&M fans won't forget for a while, and he has the potential to be an incredible linebacker for a team that needs one. This also leaves a massive hole behind that will sting more than fans may think.
Texas A&M star LB Taurean York declaring for draft leaves a massive hole behind
In his time with the Aggies, York totaled 229 tackles, 25.5 tackles for loss, seven pass breakups, and 6.5 sacks. He filled up his stat sheet tremendously, but fans will miss his leadership more than anything else. York was also consistently present in his A&M career, and people could depend on him showing up.
He was the leader— the captain. Although the Tulsa transfer Ray Coney has a great body at 6-foot-2, 240 pounds to help out, the presence of York was unmatched. It's not every day you see a two-time captain starting as a sophomore, leading the defense the way he did.
Veteran LB Scooby Williams also declared for the 2026 NFL Draft, leaving Elko to come up with one more answer at linebacker.
Fans knew York was going to be a huge part of Elko's defense when he was named to PFF's All-Freshman team in the 2023 season, in which he earned an 81.5 PFF run-defense grade while playing more than 500 snaps.
Just like Chase Bisontis, York is someone who could easily get drafted at least by the end of the third round. The only thing hindering him is his size. At 5-foot-10, 227 pounds, York doesn't have the ideal size of a linebacker, but his high IQ, speed and mobility are more than enough for any NFL GM to call his name.
NFL Draft Buzz ranks York as the sixth-best linebacker on their list. The Raiders, Panthers and Cowboys are teams likely to fill positions at linebacker. Expect York to get drafted on Day 2.