Defensive end is one position group where Texas A&M has seen significant turnover during the offseason. Here's a look at how things have changed.
2023 defensive ends
Redshirt junior Fadil Diggs; 36 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 4 sacks; PFF score of 68.8
Junior Shemar Turner; 33 tackles, 10.5 TFL, 6.5 sacks; second team All-SEC; PFF score of 76.6
Sophomore LT Overton; 17 tackles; PFF score of 60.3
Sophomore Malick Sylla; 14 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack; PFF score of 59.1
Sophomore Shemar Stewart; 11 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery, 1 TD; PFF score of 69.5
Sophomore Enai White; 3 tackles, 1 sack; PFF score of 63.9
True freshman Rylan Kennedy; 6 tackles; PFF score of 66.3
True freshman Jadon Scarlett; no stats in 1 game; PFF score of 54.2
What happened
Diggs transferred to Syracuse
Overton transferred to Alabama
Turner moved to defensive tackle (primarily)
A&M signed Nic Scourton from Purdue; 50 tackles, 15 TFL, 10 sacks, 1 forced fumble; second team All-Big Ten; PFF score of 82.8
A&M signed 4-star Solomon Williams
A&M signed 4-star Kendall Jackson
Pre-2024 spring practice defensive ends
Senior Nic Scourton
Junior Shemar Stewart
Junior Malick Sylla
Junior Enai White
Sophomore Rylan Kennedy
Redshirt freshman Jadon Scarlett
True freshman Solomon Williams
True freshman Kendall Jackson
Projected rotation players
DE: Scourton, Sylla OR Williams
DE: Stewart, Kennedy
Key players to being better in 2024
Scourton, Stewart and Kennedy.
The Aggies have a star in Scourton, the man who led the Big Ten in sacks last year. That's great, but opponents know what he did at Purdue and will look to stop him first and foremost. He should still easily outdo Diggs' production, if healthy. If he matches or exceeds last year's work, he'll be the most dynamic end A&M has had since Myles Garrett.
The questions begin at the other end position. Stewart had some moments last year where he was a force, but the results overall were pretty pedestrian. Still, he looked much better late in the year and he's going to be looked for to do a lot this season with all the attention Scourton will get.
Scourton and Stewart are really the only three-down defensive ends A&M has right now, though Jackson and Williams could be in time. What they do have a bunch of are fast, rangy and thin ends who should be able to get after the quarterback. Kennedy, by the end of the season, looked like the best of him. He's only in his third season of organized football, so his upside remains massive. A big step forward from him would give the Aggies another much-needed pass rusher.
