Why Cashius Howell could be the most impactful pass-rusher for Texas A&M football in 2024
I don't think there's much deviation from the consensus that, coming into the 2024 season, Nic Scourton is likely the best overall defensive player for Texas A&M football. After leading the Big 10 in sacks last year and notching unbelievable stats otherwise, Scourton's impact will be tough to overstate on this Aggie team.
Not far behind him is senior DL Shemar Turner. A five-star from the 2021 recruiting class, Turner is looking to make a consistent, down-to-down impact with a healthy season this fall. His impact as well, when he isn't dealing with injury, has already been massive for Texas A&M football.
Those two guys have been getting a lot of the publicity when people discuss the pass rush for this Texas A&M football team, and rightly so. They're both high-level players that will no doubt form one of the most fearsome tandems in the SEC—and, therefore, the nation.
However, there's another guy who will figure in prominently to the Aggie pass rush. A transfer like Scourton, this is a guy who also led his conference in sacks before transferring to Texas A&M football—and though he and Nic have that in common, their archetypes are different enough that they can complement each other quite well.
I'm speaking, of course, of Cashius Howell. The former Bowling Green star, now in Aggieland, cuts the exact figure of the type of long, explosive pass-rushing threat that the Ags have been missing over the past few years. Texas A&M football has had power rushers aplenty, but have been missing guys like Howell, thus hamstringing the team when it comes to versatility.
One of the most underrated portal additions for Elko and Bateman. Howell led the MAC in sacks last fall. https://t.co/SCZBNak5B0
— Billy Liucci (@billyliucci) August 17, 2024
That's why I think Howell will be a big part of this Aggie pass-rush attack this fall. His uniqueness, like Coach Bateman mentions in the above tweet, will aid his effectiveness for the Ags. Though Scourton will see more snaps, I think Howell will be an absolute monster on third down this year for Texas A&M football.