Mike Elko emphasizes importance of replacing ‘NFL talent’ on defensive line in 2025
By Luke Greco
Published:
Texas A&M lost three of its top defensive line players to the 2025 NFL draft, and Mike Elko realizes the importance of replacing that talent if Texas A&M wants to have a shot at making the College Football Playoff.
The Aggies finished the 2024-25 season with an 8-4 record and a loss to USC in the Las Vegas Bowl. They lost 3 of their top 6 sack leaders from the past year, all to the NFL draft. Nic Scourton, Shermar Turner, and Shemar Stewart held down the Aggies’ front four, and with their departure to the NFL, Texas A&M will look to replace their production.
“If we want to be the program we want to be, we have to make sure the talent doesn’t drop off,” Elko told reporters this week. “We’ve had more NFL Draft picks than any other team in this league on the defensive line over the last six years. We have to replace NFL players.”
The Aggies have had 8 players from their defensive line selected in the NFL draft in the past 6 years. That includes 3 from this past year’s draft in Stewart, Turner and Scourton.
Texas A&M will have its chance to see its new defensive line talent in action on Aug. 30 at 7 p.m. ET when it takes on the University of Texas at San Antonio Road Runners.
