Texas A&M Aggies Defensive Coordinator Loves Star LB

The Texas A&M Aggies have always brought in tons of four and five-star recruits, especially on the defensive side of the ball.

Taurean York was a special case in that he came in as a largely unheralded prospect and would wind up starting every game as a freshman and be named as an SEC All-Freshman and ESPN Freshman All-American . York was graded by 247 as the No. 83 linebacker in the country and just the No. 156 overall player in the state of Texas in the class of 2023. But he did not let those numbers impact him.

York came in, did his job, and proved that he belonged on the field, instantly becoming a fan-favorite and now already being named a team captain as just a sophomore. New defensive coordinator Jay Bateman was asked about York this week in his fall camp media availability, and he heaped praise on his young linebacker.

"I think he's a testament to what hard work produces. In every facet, he is ate up with becoming the best football player he can be," Bateman said . "So it's the weight room, it's his diet, it's everything. I think he's moving better than at any point last year, and I think he's stronger than he's ever been. He's changed his body. But the amount of time he puts in, the single-minded focus he has with football, I think is rare, and it's elite. So that's why. I think sometimes when you have a kid like him, you shortchange the fact that he is a really good player, athletically. But it's the other stuff that makes him special."

If York takes the next step and gets even better, it could be an absolutely massive season for the Aggies' defensive captain.