Jones aspires to join A&M's lineage of great defensive ends

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Sophomore defensive end Marco Jones doesn’t just want to be a part of the Texas A&M defensive line. He aspires to be part of the Texas A&M defensive lineage.

Over the last 15 years, A&M defensive end has become a glamour position. In that span, the Aggies have produced All-American defensive ends Von Miller (2009-10), Damontre Moore (2012), Myles Garrett (2015-16), DeMarvin Leal (2021) and Cashius Howell (2025).

Several more defensive ends have been selected in the NFL Draft, including first-round pick Shemar Stewart and second-round selection Nic Scourton last year.

Jones wants to continue that lineage so much that he gave up playing baseball, a sport in which he also excels.

“My goal has always been to go to the NFL, and I think that’s probably more of my future than going to MLB, to be quite honest,” Jones said on Saturday. “I’ll be missing a lot of reps if I do play baseball in the spring. It was a hard decision. I love baseball. I want to play it, but at the end of the day, I gotta do what’s best for me and my family.”

His mother and father watched proudly as Jones spoke in a press conference after spring football practice.

They have a lot of reasons to be proud. They’ve raised an intelligent, athletic man-child who has grown to a muscular 6-feet-5 and 258 pounds.

And he’s still growing in ways that are even more important than his physique.

Jones said in the last year he’s gained seven pounds, gotten faster and is working on getting more flexible.

He’s also learned a lot of what it takes to be a successful defensive end in the ultra-competitive Southeastern Conference.

“I think what I learned the most is just every game is a dogfight, no matter if (the opponents) is at the top of the SEC or the bottom of the SEC,” Jones said. “Every team has good players. There’s not going to be a game that you can breeze through.

“I think that’s something people don’t realize. Even if a team is 0-8, there’s still going to be a dogfight.”

Will Huffman, TexAgs

Appearing in all 13 games last year, Marco Jones had 21 total tackles, 3.5 TFLs and 2.5 sacks as a true freshman in 2025.

Jones got that education during a reasonably productive freshman season. Last year, he posted 21 tackles, including sacks vs. Utah State and Arkansas. He also assisted on a sack vs. LSU.

That’s not bad for a freshman, especially one playing behind the SEC Defensive Player of the Year. Howell earned that honor for leading the SEC with 11.5 sacks in the regular season.

Howell led a pass rush that produced the fourth-most sacks (43) in the nation.

It’s not fair to expect Jones in his second collegiate season to produce at the level Howell did.

Yet, he is eager to take on the difficult task of replacing a great player.

“I’ll welcome it with open arms,” he said. “That’s all I wanted since I came here. You know, nobody comes here wanting to ride the bench or anything like that. You want to come here and really do the right thing and be able to step up and fill big shoes.”

Will Huffman, TexAgs

A four-star prospect out of San Ramon Valley HS in Danville, Calif., Jones signed with A&M’s 2025 class over offers from Alabama, Miami, Michigan, Oklahoma, Penn State, Texas, USC and others.

However, Jones also said he doesn’t necessarily have to fill those shoes by himself. He’s confident the pass rush won’t have to rely heavily on him or any individual. There’s apparently no shortage of players at various positions that can get to the quarterback.

“Everybody's been working super hard getting their pass rush,” he said. “You’ve got to expect it from the whole D-line. Between all the D-ends, all the D-tackles, linebackers … the whole defense is going to be involved and really getting home.”

Still, Jones is big, fast, athletic and smart. He only lacks starting experience. That figures to come this season. He appears to have all the necessary tools to be a great defensive end.

Maybe someday he will join the list of A&M's great defensive ends.

“Those are great names,” he said. “Hall of Famers and first-round picks. But at the end of the day, I've just got to be the best version of me.”