Texas A&M football players who will battle for their starting spot in spring: CB Tyreek Chappell
It was announced without much fanfare, but after entering the portal initially, it looks like Chappell, a two-and-a-half year starter for the Aggies, will be back in College Station for the spring. In the timeframe that he has been a starter for the Ags, he's been a great player; his most successful year, importantly, came under Mike Elko in 2021, when he looked like the next big thing.
Chappell has great cover skills, and I'm sure that Elko will have him playing well when he does see the field. But with the talent coming in at the corner spot, it's not a sure thing that he'll be starting.
UAB transfer BJ Mayes brings physicality, an outstanding skill set at the position, and a wealth of experience. Alabama transfer Dezz Ricks has maybe the highest ceiling of anyone on the team who plays in the defensive backfield. Young KSU transfer Will Lee has a long, lanky build that could provide some things that Chappell can't offer. And, provided they can land the plane, Terry Bussey has the athletic gifts to lock down an entire side of the field.
Still, though, Chappell will be hard to unseat. He obviously has previous experience with Elko's system, and the new head man for Texas A&M football apparently liked him enough in his first year to start him. The level of competition now, though, is much higher, and the room is much more skilled. Will Chappell prevail? We'll know soon enough.