Predicting Texas A&M football's starting lineup - LB: Taurean York, Solomon DeShields
One of these was a very easy pick and the other was very difficult. York was as easy a decision as Weigman or Scourton, but the other spot is a big question mark right now for the Aggies.
DeShields is a portal ‘backer from Pitt; a fifth-year player who was one of the most experienced and talented on the Panthers’ defense. His addition was big for Elko and company to help shore up the position, and it’s his seniority and game experience that led to me giving him the nod here.
This was a tough decision because it was the emergence of Daymion Sanford at linebacker that reportedly was the driving factor behind short-time Aggie Alex Howard to leave in the spring window. #27 made some plays in the spring game, and projects well to be an impact player soon.
Sanford is a guy with extremely impressive athletic gifts and an imposing frame, but he’s only a redshirt freshman. It could be tough for him to outplay DeShields in fall camp, but no matter what I think we see both of these guys make plays this fall.
I’d love to see something out of Martrell Harris as well. The redshirt sophomore intrigued me as a freshman, and I feel like his breakout is a matter of when, not if.