Texas A&M 2025 Season Preview: LB
AggieYell.com’s season preview of the 2025 Texas A&M football team by position group continues with the linebackers.
Cast of characters
#21, Taurean York; Jr.; 5-10, 227
#0, Scooby Williams; Sr.-TR.; 6-2, 230
#27, Daymion Sanford; Jr.; 6-2, 222
#54, Jordan Lockhart; So.; 6-1, 229
#32, Tristan Jernigan; So.; 6, 230
#31, Kelvion Riggins; Fr.; 5-11, 210
#23, Noah Mikhail; Fr.; 6-2, 223
2024 stats
York, 82 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery, 4 passes broken up, 2 QB hurries
Williams, 43 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 1 intersection, 1 fumble recovery, 4 PBU, 3 QB hurries
Sanford, 33 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 1 sack, 4 PBU, 3 QB hurries
Lockhart, 11 tackles
Jernigan, 11 tackles, .5 TFL
Overview
After being a major problem for years, Texas A&M finally has a handle on the linebacker position. Or so it appears, at least. They have two veteran starters, capable backups and younger players who have already impressed.
Any conversation about the linebackers starts with York, a preseason second-team All-American according to the Associated Press. The junior is a captain for the second straight year and has led the team in tackles in each of his first two seasons.
Going into 2024, the Aggies were looking for a linebacker to replace Edgerrin Cooper, an All-American who was drafted by the Green Bay Packers. After two decent seasons at Florida, Williams stepped up and had an excellent year — even though he was playing with a torn meniscus suffered on the first drive of the season opener against Notre Dame. Injured or not, Williams improved as the season went on and has looked outstanding all summer.
Sanford was the third linebacker and first player off the bench last year, and will likely remain so this year. The junior took a big step forward in 2024 and has the speed to operate sideline to sideline. He will likely be paired with Lockhart, who showed flashes during his freshman season but wowed his teammates and coaches with his improvement in the offseason.
In recent years, the Aggies would have been grateful for four quality linebackers who can play, but this year they will likely have more. Like Lockhart, Jernigan flashed in limited playing time last season, and Mikhail physically looks like an upperclassmen. The plan was for he and Riggins to be the foundation of the next wave of linebackers, but he may speed up that schedule.
The spotlight’s on…
Williams. If he’s healthy, you know what you’re getting from York — but what can Williams do if he’s healthy? He’s bigger and faster than York, but wasn’t used much as a blitzed last year. If that changes, then he may be able to put up big numbers as well, making the A&M linebacker duo truly elite.
Projected two-deep
MLB:
York
Lockhart
WLB:
Williams
Sanford
