Texas A&M football 2017: Projected Aggies depth chart

Defense

Notable Losses: Texas A&M will see two elite pass rushers from their program take their games to the professional level. Myles Garrett left school a year early to be the No. 1 overall pick by the Cleveland Browns. Is he their new franchise pass rusher? It should be noted that Daeshon Hall now plays in Charlotte for the Carolina Panthers. He was excellent playing opposite of Garrett for years.

Defensive End: Qualen Cunningham, Senior
Defensive Tackle: Zaycoven Henderson, Senior
Defensive Tackle: Kingsley KeKe, Junior
Defensive End: Jarrett Johnson, Senior

Losing Garrett and Hall to the NFL stinks, but the Aggies have reloaded on the defensive line in 2017. Texas A&M should be starting four upperclassmen, including three seniors, on the defensive line. Qualen Cunningham and Jarrett Johnson should be the defensive ends while Zaycoven Henderson and Kingsley KeKe will likely start at defensive tackle.

Outside Linebacker: Otaro Alaka, Junior
Middle Linebacker: Tyrel Dodson, Sophomore
Outside Linebacker: Anthony Hines III, Freshman

For as seasoned as the front four are down in College Station, it will be interesting how the Aggies adjust at linebacker. They simply don’t have a ton of experience there. Sure, Otaro Alaka is a junior, but Tyrel Dodson and Anthony Hines III are underclassmen. Texas A&M will need their linebacking corps to become stout in run defense or preventing passes in the middle of the field for any chance of this defense being good.

Cornerback: Charles Oliver, Sophomore
Free Safety: Armani Watts, Senior
Strong Safety: Larry Pryor, Redshirt Sophomore
Cornerback: Priest Willis, Redshirt Senior
Nickelback: Donovan Wilson, Senior

While the linebacker group is a bottleneck in this Aggies defense, they should do just fine in the back-end. Though a pair of sophomores will start in the defensive backfield in Charles Oliver and Larry Pryor, the Aggies do plan for their to be three seniors in their nickel package. Donovan Wilson will take the crucial nickelback roll with Armani Watts at free safety and Priest Willis on the outside.

Next: Top 25 NFL players from SEC

Special Teams

Punt Returner: Christian Kirk, Junior
Kick Returner: Trayveon Williams, Sophomore
Punter: Shane Tripucka, Senior
Kicker: Daniel LaCamera, Junior

Another big advantage for the Aggies this fall is that they will be excellent in special teams. Kirk and Williams will be simply electrifying in the return game. Punter Shane Tripucka is a senior. Junior Daniel LaCamera is one of the better place kickers in the SEC. Overall, Texas A&M can win a game or two this fall because of outstanding special teams play. The third phase of the game could do wonders for Sumlin’s job security.