Tyler Onyedim
Iowa State fans (the many who read this blog) are probably fuming right now, as Onyedim has been a productive player for them for quite some time. I get that, but Onyedim is new on the scene in College Station, and is going to step into a position of need, so he makes this list.
He technically played a defensive end position while in Ames, but in Heacock's 3-3-5 scheme, this more aligns with what Elko needs out of a defensive tackle in a 4-2-5 scheme. The only tackle in the 3-3-5 is a true nose, which Onyedim is not, but the "ends" more so correspond to Elko's tackles (broadly speaking, of course— there's still room for a nose tackle situationally), and the linebackers are what we would consider edge defenders.
All that to say, Onyedim is moving into a position where the Aggies need some juice, and he's shown the ability to provide that. He was a TFL machine up in Ames, and the Aggies need more of that kind of play on their line without a doubt.
Shemar Turner was a huge piece for A&M, but he sometimes cost the team with penalties. Onyedim doesn't have the raw talent that Turner does, but a guy that plays with discipline, shooting some gaps and making some tackles in the backfield, is sorely needed— and he could be doing that from game one.