Transfer Portal Newcomer to Texas A&M Football Projected as Preseason All American

Texas A&M Football DE Nic Scourton Projected as Preseason All American by 247Sports

Mike Elko has performed a herculean task in how he has made over the Texas A&M football roster via the portal. This was no accept-all-comers endeavor on his part, like Deion with Colorado last season, either; the additions that Elko made were judicious, aimed at holes in the roster, and increasing competition at key spots.

Without a doubt, the premier name to end up with Texas A&M football via the transfer portal was that of Purdue DE and Bryan, Texas, native Nic Scourton. Though Scourton didn’t get a long look from the Aggies coming out of high school—this was, after all, in the class where the Ags signed a whopping four five-star defensive linemen—and ended up in West Lafayette, he has chosen to finish his career closer to home.

And what a career it has been thus far for the young man. As only a sophomore, on a 4-8 Boilermaker team that was far from the national spotlight (apart from his play, that is), he led the entire conference in sacks—not an easy feat in a league like the Big 10. He added 15 total TFLs en route to a stellar season, and was one of the most coveted players in the entire portal.

That proven production in tandem with Mike Elko’s scheme, as well as an elevated national presence down in College Station, is starting to generate some buzz. 247Sports today released an article projecting preseason All Americans, and Scourton made the cut at DE.

I mentioned when writing a profile article for Scourton just how high his ceiling is in this Mike Elko defense. Though Durkin was deploying far more ferocious pass rushers in this past season (and faced some really poor pass-blocking offensive lines), Elko’s 2021 defense still generated more sacks per game. It’s a scary thought that a guy with Scourton’s talent level is now being added to that mix, alongside a mature Shemar Turner, budding Shemar Stewart, and rising stars like Hicks and Dindy.

Without a doubt, this is only the first of many accolades heralding Scourton in particular and the expectations for the defense as a whole as the season draws nearer. I foresee the Aggies being a popular “dark horse” pick as spring turns into summer, and wouldn’t be surprised to see them ranked when they kick off against Notre Dame on August 31. The presence of players like Scourton will have a lot to do with that.