Texas A&M football lands two standout DL on Nagurski Trophy preseason watchlist

Texas A&M football DL Shemar Turner and Nic Scourton both land on Nagurski Trophy preseason watchlist

Even though things may have been difficult on the other line of scrimmage for Texas A&M football over the last few years, the defensive line play has been a point of pride for the Aggies. 2021 and 2023 especially saw some extremely deadly defensive fronts come through College Station, and it’s looking like 2024 could have the potential to top even those years.

Returning Shemar Turner for a fourth year is a big deal for this Aggie D, as was landing the Big 10 sacks leader from last year in Nic Scourton. The combination of those two, along with guys like Shemar Stewart, David Hicks, and Cashius Howell, look to make the Aggies an offensive lineman’s nightmare in the season yet to come.

The Ags have put up big numbers on the D-line to illustrate their impact on the game. A&M was one of the top teams in both sack rate and TFL rate last year, wreaking absolute havoc on opponents up front.

Scourton and Turner, in particular, are getting a lot of flowers before things get going this fall. Both made preseason All-SEC teams, and they’re looking to justify those honors with a big fall. Even more honors are now rolling in, as both were named to the Nagurski Trophy watchlist for the nation’s best defensive player. 

If Scourton can do what he did in the Big 10 and lead his conference in sacks, he’ll have quite the case to be the recipient of the Nagurski. Turner certainly has the talent to be the pick as well.

These are signs for a huge year to come defensively for the Aggies. Here’s hoping they are able to put together a defense that wows fans just as much as they did in 2021 and 2023.