2020 Texas A&M Football Position Breakdown: Defensive Line
Apr 09, 2020 | Football
With fans counting down to the 2020 Texas A&M Football season, we are breaking down each position group for the highly anticipated season.
Returning Starters: Bobby Brown III, Micheal Clemons, Tyree Johnson
Starters Lost: Justin Madubuike
Lettermen Returning: Derick Hunter, Adarious Jones, Jeremiah Martin, DeMarvin Leal, R.J. Orebo, Jayden Peevy, Josh Rogers
Newcomers: Fadil Diggs, Donell Harris, Jr., McKinnley Jackson, Braedon Mowry, Isaiah Raikes, Dallas Walker IV
The defensive line returns three starters from the 2019 season, as well as a pair of experienced reserves. Bobby Brown III, Micheal Clemons and Tyree Johnson each earned a starting job last season, as Clemons and Johnson book-ended the defensive line and Brown was a mainstay at tackle. Brown started 11 of the team’s 13 games in 2019, finishing the season with 21 takedowns and three quarterback hurries. Clemons made the start in each of the first six games before battling injury, but he eventually returned on the opposite side of the line. He finished the season making 28 tackles and was fourth on the squad with four QB hurries. Johnson made 10 starts during his sophomore season, tallying 32 tackles and finishing fourth on the team with 6.5 tackles for loss.
The Aggies lost great experience and talent with the early departure of junior defensive tackle Justin Madubuike who elected not to play in the Academy Sports & Outdoors Texas Bowl to begin preparing for the NFL Draft. Jayden Peevy saw a lot of action at the tackle position, starting three games on the year, playing in 12. Peevy finished his junior season top eight on the team in tackles (34), with 5.0 for loss. DeMarvin Leal leads the unit’s returners after tallying 38 tackles in his debut season. He ranked second overall on the team with five QB hurries, working his way into a starting spot midway through the year.
A&M added six defensive linemen in its 2020 signing class, two early enrollees. Fadil Diggs was named the 2019 New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year. The four-star recruit tallied 99 tackles, 19 sacks and forced five fumbles in his final season at Woodrow Wilson High School. Isaiah Raikes also hails from New Jersey, and in his final season at St. Augustine Prep he had 53 tackles, 11 for loss, and 16 QB hurries. Four-star recruits Donell Harris, Jr., McKinnley Jackson, Braedon Mowry and Dallas Walker IV will arrive in College Station after the conclusion of the academic year.
