Batty said:

---

Patrick Payton has a CB from Matt Zenitz to LSU. Bah

---

Man LSU is crushing the portal. I saw they got the top ranked IOL in the portal yesterday too. I think they have like 4 of the top 12 players in the portal.

I like the kid we got from Colorado though and maybe we can land the edge from Georgia

Duce Robinson to FSU. WR is less of a need now but still would have been a great pick up. Emmanuel or KC or a big ugly. Lit's Go Bagman!!!

This seems positove but...

Just added an update on a pair of A&M’s key transfer portal interests on each side of the football in our running thread on @TexAgs (Premium).

🔗 https://t.co/A2b9juk1kF pic.twitter.com/jWCcFJOftn

— Ryan Brauninger (@R_Brauninger) December 23, 2024

vander54 said:

---

This seems positove but...

Just added an update on a pair of A&M’s key transfer portal interests on each side of the football in our running thread on @TexAgs (Premium).

🔗 https://t.co/A2b9juk1kF pic.twitter.com/jWCcFJOftn

— Ryan Brauninger (@R_Brauninger) December 23, 2024

---

I've seen some good signs from the O-lineman from Rice

soleta27 said:

---

vander54 said:

---

This seems positove but...

Just added an update on a pair of A&M’s key transfer portal interests on each side of the football in our running thread on @TexAgs (Premium).

🔗 https://t.co/A2b9juk1kF pic.twitter.com/jWCcFJOftn

— Ryan Brauninger (@R_Brauninger) December 23, 2024

---

I've seen some good signs from to the O-lineman from Rice

---

Hopefully we can snag him. Florida state wants him badly too

Rumors on a WR pick up soon as well.

We havent picked up a single difference maker.

Kozmozag said:

---

We havent picked up a single difference maker.

---

Mario Craver was pretty impressive moving the chains against us before getting hurt. Was pacing for around 700 yards as a freshman on very limited touches. Had 5 receptions of 35+ yards. Add that to a run game centered around Moss and you have the potential to smoke safeties cheating up over the top.

Micah Hudson was generating Garrett Wilson comparisons throughout high school. I'm willing to chalk up the unproductive freshman year to a kid recovering from an injury struggling to adapt to big time football in a receiver room stacked with upperclassmen production. Hopefully we get the 5 star version of him.

24601 said:

---

Kozmozag said:

---

We havent picked up a single difference maker.

---

I mean, we only have the #6 transfer class with monster pickups at key positions of need. What are we doing here???

---

Scourton was a monster pick last year. He's had all the stats (from college) and highlights to prove he could make plays at this level. Our only "monster" outta the portal. Several others had their moments but nothing spectacular.

Who do you feel is a "monster pickup," and why?

Not to mention Searcy had 34 tackles and 3 sacks as a true sophmore at the Edge.

Then there is Hayes who had good numbers at Pitt and was looking good at Colorado before his injury

Aggie Dad 26 said:

---

24601 said:

---

Kozmozag said:

---

We havent picked up a single difference maker.

---

I mean, we only have the #6 transfer class with monster pickups at key positions of need. What are we doing here???

---

Scourton was a monster pick last year. He's had all the stats (from college) and highlights to prove he could make plays at this level. Our only "monster" outta the portal. Several others had their moments but nothing spectacular.

Who do you feel is a "monster pickup," and why?

---

Hudson and Craver because are more physically talented than any WR we ran out there last season, so they are both huge upgrades in my book.

I honestly don't think there are many "monster" guys in the portal in general this year so far.

Aggie Dad 26 said:

---

24601 said:

---

Kozmozag said:

---

We havent picked up a single difference maker.

---

I mean, we only have the #6 transfer class with monster pickups at key positions of need. What are we doing here???

---

Scourton was a monster pick last year. He's had all the stats (from college) and highlights to prove he could make plays at this level. Our only "monster" outta the portal. Several others had their moments but nothing spectacular.

Who do you feel is a "monster pickup," and why?

---

So grabing 3 star guys is bad and grabbing guys that have produced at other schools is not great. What is a great pickup by your standards?

Couple of big-bodied DTs and the DL will be in good shape...

24601 said:

---

Aggie Dad 26 said:

---

24601 said:

---

Kozmozag said:

---

We havent picked up a single difference maker.

---

I mean, we only have the #6 transfer class with monster pickups at key positions of need. What are we doing here???

---

Scourton was a monster pick last year. He's had all the stats (from college) and highlights to prove he could make plays at this level. Our only "monster" outta the portal. Several others had their moments but nothing spectacular.

Who do you feel is a "monster pickup," and why?

---

3 commits in the top 50, and 1 in the top 100 all at very significant positions of need. That is a great base of this transfer class, and it isn't done yet.

I feel like some people are expecting the transfer portal to be loaded with heisman frontrunners and that just isn't reality. The portal is how you fill gaps, and we are doing that very well with the recruiting news from today.

So yes, the word monster is relative... but relative to the talent out there at the positions we need help at, we have pulled a good class thus far.

---

100% agree. We still have positions of need but so far we've done very good at who we've picked up.

24601 said:

---

Aggie Dad 26 said:

---

24601 said:

---

Kozmozag said:

---

We havent picked up a single difference maker.

---

I mean, we only have the #6 transfer class with monster pickups at key positions of need. What are we doing here???

---

Scourton was a monster pick last year. He's had all the stats (from college) and highlights to prove he could make plays at this level. Our only "monster" outta the portal. Several others had their moments but nothing spectacular.

Who do you feel is a "monster pickup," and why?

---

3 commits in the top 50, and 1 in the top 100 all at very significant positions of need. That is a great base of this transfer class, and it isn't done yet.

I feel like some people are expecting the transfer portal to be loaded with heisman frontrunners and that just isn't reality. The portal is how you fill gaps, and we are doing that very well with the recruiting news from today.

So yes, the word monster is relative... but relative to the talent out there at the positions we need help at, we have pulled a good class thus far.

---

Do you think we're gonna be better or worse defensively next season? I'm asking because the portal and who we've taken is being discussed

Would bet money on better.

• Elko has been better in year 2 at literally every stop of his career.
• Our back 7 has a chance to be FAR better. Much more athleticism and depth overall and again, year 2 of the system can make a huge difference for guys.
• Front 4 is still a concern, but looking better recently. Last years front 4 was simply put, not productive at all. Elko's worst front here at A&M out of 5 DLs. Hope it's not a Bateman issue. But for all the talent we talk about, Elko produced 4 better DLs from 2018-2021 than this one.

Aggie Dad 26 said:

---

24601 said:

---

Kozmozag said:

---

We havent picked up a single difference maker.

---

I mean, we only have the #6 transfer class with monster pickups at key positions of need. What are we doing here???

---

Scourton was a monster pick last year. He's had all the stats (from college) and highlights to prove he could make plays at this level. Our only "monster" outta the portal. Several others had their moments but nothing spectacular.

Who do you feel is a "monster pickup," and why?

---

If it makes you feel any better, there is not a single player in the portal with an obvious 1st round grade. Plenty of good players, but even 247 doesn't have a single 5 star grade yet in the portal. That will likely change when the playoffs end.

Eric Singleton, the #1 portal WR, doesn't have a 1000 yard season. Patrick Payton, the #1 portal EDGE was basically a no show outside of 1 game last year. The USC WRs are clearly talented, but limited production.

We're gonna add multiple at the spots we need because none of these guys are surefire plug and play. Be happy we have landed 3 pass rushers with P5 experience, 2 and likely 3 receivers with multiple years of eligibility remaining that add a mix of production, speed, and projection. 2 TEs with experience to hopefully allow us to maul in goal line/3rd/4th down packages.

After that, still probably need some jumbo DL, an OT to provide competition/depth, and a S/LB hybrid fit for Elko's defense.

FWIW, during his recruiting, texags staff made it clear we weren't even really going after Payton very hard and in general, his recruitment wasn't what some thought on the surface. Meaning he wasn't in the demand fans think.

Portal rankings are a joke. At best, they can be used as a starting point, but they are far worse than HS rankings. They simply do not have the infrastructure to keep up with this.

Also, just FYI, I'm pretty sure Elko is going with more a cover guy as the 5th DB moving forward. Chappell as your starter, with maybe a guy like Humphrey as a swing corner / nickel backs up both spots.

IMO the production we've gained is equal to or greater than the production we've lost and there's still more to come. We're doing fine

beerad12man said:

---

Would bet money on better.

• Elko has been better in year 2 at literally every stop of his career.
• Our back 7 has a chance to be FAR better. Much more athleticism and depth overall and again, year 2 of the system can make a huge difference for guys.
• Front 4 is still a concern, but looking better recently. Last years front 4 was simply put, not productive at all. Elko's worst front here at A&M out of 5 DLs. Hope it's not a Bateman issue. But for all the talent we talk about, Elko produced 4 better DLs from 2018-2021 than this one.

---

What a lot of people also are missing is the fact we basically added 2 DBs to next years team. Chappel was out for the season and he should be back and then the UGA pick up Humphrey. Add the DT and our DL will be in good shape.

We technically have a more productive unit going into 2025 than we did 2024. Does that mean they are better? I don't know. but more overall production going into the season in our top 4.

2025 projected top 4:

Searcy 60 / 7.5 / 2.5
Howell 91 / 22 / 14.5
Kennedy 25 / 2 / 1.5
Hayes 54 / 31 / 14

230 tackles
62.5 TFLs
32.5 sacks

2024 Two deep:

Scourton 72 / 17 / 12
Stewart 34 / 6 / 3
Howell 56 / 14 / 11.5
Kennedy 6 / 0 / 0

168 tackles
37 TFLs
26.5 sacks

I know there are people seeing LSU's portal class and feeling some FOMO, but the truth is, the fact that Brian Kelly is likely taking 20 transfers after going 8-4 in his 3rd year at a place like LSU that recruits at a top 10 level easily speaks volumes. Dead man walking attempting to salvage what's left of a sinking ship.

What Kiffin is doing at Ole Miss makes sense. They are not going to outrecruit UGA/Bama/Texas/A&M for high school recruits, so he is banking on winning the portal. Get good players out of the portal, send them to the NFL, show those portal players that you are getting them a payday so they continue to filter towards your program. Their team this year absolutely should have been playoff contenders. Choking to 3 unranked teams shows that relying on portal players may not be the way to win big.

beerad12man said:

---

We technically have a more productive unit going into 2025 than we did 2024. Does that mean they are better? I don't know. but more overall production going into the season in our top 4.

2025 projected top 4:

Searcy 60 / 7.5 / 2.5
Howell 91 / 22 / 14.5
Kennedy 25 / 2 / 1.5
Hayes 54 / 31 / 14

230 tackles
62.5 TFLs
32.5 sacks

2024 Two deep:

Scourton 72 / 17 / 12
Stewart 34 / 6 / 3
Howell 56 / 14 / 11.5
Kennedy 6 / 0 / 0

168 tackles
37 TFLs
26.5 sacks

---

Wait... how many sacks are you implying that Hayes had?

Aggie Dad 26 said:

---

beerad12man said:

---

We technically have a more productive unit going into 2025 than we did 2024. Does that mean they are better? I don't know. but more overall production going into the season in our top 4.

2025 projected top 4:

Searcy 60 / 7.5 / 2.5
Howell 91 / 22 / 14.5
Kennedy 25 / 2 / 1.5
Hayes 54 / 31 / 14

230 tackles
62.5 TFLs
32.5 sacks

2024 Two deep:

Scourton 72 / 17 / 12
Stewart 34 / 6 / 3
Howell 56 / 14 / 11.5
Kennedy 6 / 0 / 0

168 tackles
37 TFLs
26.5 sacks

---

Wait... how many sacks are you implying that Hayes had?

---

No implying but he did miss one. Hayes has had 15 sacks over his career.

Do we have any of the top 20 portal difference makers? I know the portal is new and every team has their strategy.

What is a top 20 difference maker?

vander54 said:

---

Aggie Dad 26 said:

---

beerad12man said:

---

We technically have a more productive unit going into 2025 than we did 2024. Does that mean they are better? I don't know. but more overall production going into the season in our top 4.

2025 projected top 4:

Searcy 60 / 7.5 / 2.5
Howell 91 / 22 / 14.5
Kennedy 25 / 2 / 1.5
Hayes 54 / 31 / 14

230 tackles
62.5 TFLs
32.5 sacks

2024 Two deep:

Scourton 72 / 17 / 12
Stewart 34 / 6 / 3
Howell 56 / 14 / 11.5
Kennedy 6 / 0 / 0

168 tackles
37 TFLs
26.5 sacks

---

Wait... how many sacks are you implying that Hayes had?

---

No implying but he did miss one. Hayes has had 15 sacks over his career.

---

This is why pumpers can't be taken seriously. Hayes has played 5 seasons of college football.

Nic Scourton played 3 seasons and still had more sacks.

Don't spin in it, these two aren't the same

Aggie Dad 26 said:

---

vander54 said:

---

Aggie Dad 26 said:

---

beerad12man said:

---

We technically have a more productive unit going into 2025 than we did 2024. Does that mean they are better? I don't know. but more overall production going into the season in our top 4.

2025 projected top 4:

Searcy 60 / 7.5 / 2.5
Howell 91 / 22 / 14.5
Kennedy 25 / 2 / 1.5
Hayes 54 / 31 / 14

230 tackles
62.5 TFLs
32.5 sacks

2024 Two deep:

Scourton 72 / 17 / 12
Stewart 34 / 6 / 3
Howell 56 / 14 / 11.5
Kennedy 6 / 0 / 0

168 tackles
37 TFLs
26.5 sacks

---

Wait... how many sacks are you implying that Hayes had?

---

No implying but he did miss one. Hayes has had 15 sacks over his career.

---

This is why pumpers can't be taken seriously. Hayes has played 5 seasons of college football.

Nic Scourton played 3 seasons and still had more sacks.

Don't spin in it, these two aren't the same

---

They also played a different role

Scourton was our pass rush specialist. Hayes will probably be our 5 technique.

vander54 said:

---

Aggie Dad 26 said:

---

vander54 said:

---

Aggie Dad 26 said:

---

beerad12man said:

---

We technically have a more productive unit going into 2025 than we did 2024. Does that mean they are better? I don't know. but more overall production going into the season in our top 4.

2025 projected top 4:

Searcy 60 / 7.5 / 2.5
Howell 91 / 22 / 14.5
Kennedy 25 / 2 / 1.5
Hayes 54 / 31 / 14

230 tackles
62.5 TFLs
32.5 sacks

2024 Two deep:

Scourton 72 / 17 / 12
Stewart 34 / 6 / 3
Howell 56 / 14 / 11.5
Kennedy 6 / 0 / 0

168 tackles
37 TFLs
26.5 sacks

---

Wait... how many sacks are you implying that Hayes had?

---

No implying but he did miss one. Hayes has had 15 sacks over his career.

---

This is why pumpers can't be taken seriously. Hayes has played 5 seasons of college football.

Nic Scourton played 3 seasons and still had more sacks.

Don't spin in it, these two aren't the same

---

They also played a different role

---

And there it is folks...

Ok, what about total tackles? What metric would you like to use since these two were being compared in 2 seperate groups?