Texas A&M junior named to ESPN’s list of college football ‘sleepers’ for 2025
By Mark Kern
Published:
Texas A&M lost some really talented defensive ends from last year’s team in Shemar Stewart and Nic Scourton, both who were drafted in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Having new players step up into that role and be ready to contribute is a must if the Aggies are going to be successful in the 2025 season.
ESPN released a list of 43 players who it says are breakout candidates or “sleepers” for the 2025 season on Wednesday morning, and ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg put Aggies defensive end Cashius Howell on that list.
Here’s some of Rittenberg’s analysis on Howell:
Texas A&M returns a lot but must replace several standouts along the defensive line, including NFL first-round draft pick Shemar Stewart. The team has high hopes for Howell, a transfer from Bowling Green who had a very strong finish to last season. Howell had 5.5 tackles for loss and two sacks in his final three games. He recorded 2.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble against Texas, and then started the Las Vegas Bowl against USC and notched a sack and an interception. Howell also had three pass breakups and a sack against Mississippi State, as he was very active against the pass.
Howell entered college as the perfect example of a ‘sleeper’. He was the No. 2162 player in the class, and was a 3-star recruit in the 2021 class. He began his college career at Bowling Green, and it was in 2023 when he really took off. He finished that year with 27 tackles and 9.5 sacks.
Did you know Underdog Fantasy is legal in Texas? Don’t miss out on the action this fall!
Last season for the Aggies, he had 40 tackles and 5.5 sacks in a limited role. Texas A&M has a chance to be one of the highest scoring teams in the country. However, for the Aggies to get over the 7 or 8 win hump is going to be dependent on how the defense plays. If Howell is able to take his game to another level, then he has a chance to be the next Aggies defensive end drafted in the NFL.
