Week Two's Overnight Sensation: Tunmise Adeleye, Defensive Lineman

Each Monday during the 2022 Texas A&M football season, we’ll identify a first or second-year Aggie player who delivered an exceptional performance over the weekend and earned the distinction of being the week’s ‘Overnight Sensation.’ 

When your defense basically doesn't leave the field, you are glad to have a guy like Tunmise Adeleye on your side. 

In Saturday’s inexcusable loss against Appalachian State, Texas A&M displayed very few bright spots, but one comforting player was the defensive tackle Adeleye.

Adeleye redshirted his true freshman year, but just two years ago, he was one of the top 50 recruits in the country. In the loss, the starter totaled five tackles, three quarterback hurries and was credited with half of a tackle for loss. The rest of the defense only pressured the quarterback once.

Jamie Maury, TexAgs

Adeleye earned the start vs. App State.

In a tough game, the Katy native showed flashes of his impact at the line of scrimmage. Adeleye came up big on a fourth down play in the second quarter, crushing Appalachian State quarterback Chase Brice and making the pass uncatchable. Throughout the game, the defense remained on the field for what felt like an eternity, and at 6-foot-4, 290 pounds, that is no easy task.

In the third quarter, Adeleye made his fourth tackle of the game but was shaken up and helped off the field — out for roughly eight minutes of the 41 that A&M’s defense played. He returned in the fourth quarter when Isaiah Raikes went down. 

The Mountaineers’ management of the clock kept the Aggies’ underachieving offense on the sideline, causing Adeleye and A&M’s defense to play way more snaps than anticipated. 

After this 2022 season, Adeleye still has three remaining years of eligibility and is primed for more promising performances during his time in Aggieland.

Adeleye’s stats vs. Appalachian State
Tackles: 5
Solo Tackles: 4
QB Hurries: 3
Sacks: 0
TFLs: 0.5

Adeleye’s 2022 stats
Tackles: 6
Solo Tackles: 4
QB Hurries: 3
Sacks: 0
TFLs: 0.5