Texas A&M Football: 3 Reasons Shemar Turner Staying is a Great Decision

Shemar Turner's Return to Texas A&M Football Means He Will Rack Up Stats in Elko's Scheme

For however impressive the play was and however gaudy the statistics were for the Aggie defensive front this past year, things stand to be even better this year. That may be hard to believe, but I truly believe it. Let me explain.

Durkin was not a terrible DC. There were questionable moments, like the Miami game, but he did a decent job of building a unit that was the strength of the team in his two years in College Station. That said, though, his multiple scheme did not unleash defensive linemen to rush the quarterback in the same way that Elko's does.

The type of defense that Elko runs is a defensive lineman's dream. The way he gets them lined up presnap and brings pressures from unexpected places helps maximize the effectiveness of each player along the front. The linebackers are less emphasized compared to Durkin's scheme, but the strength of this Aggie team is on the line; it became that way due to the desirability of this scheme for that position group, along with the recruiting ability of Elijah Robinson and company.

In 2021, the Aggies averaged 3.25 sacks per game. They had no true edge rusher or stud linebacker in that year. In 2023, when A&M had significantly more talent up front, they averaged 3.23 sacks per game.

Those are two pretty similar numbers, yes, but the talent disparity as well as the number of subpar offensive lines that the Aggies faced in 2023 shows that the relative effectiveness of Elko's scheme is much greater than that of Durkin's. Shemar Turner will doubtless be a centerpiece of Elko's defensive scheme up front this year, and the stats will come rolling in. Especially playing alongside guys like Scourton, Howell, and Stewart, I feel confident that Turner could achieve double-digit sack numbers before the year ends.