Key to Texas A&M preventing six is finding the right front six

If getting six was easy, nobody would kick field goals, and everybody would have a washboard stomach.

Getting the “right” six is even more difficult. Have YOU ever won the lottery?

Maybe Texas A&M coach Mike Elko has — in a football personnel sense, of course.

Earlier this summer, Elko stated that this season’s secondary is the best he’s had in six seasons as head coach or defensive coordinator at A&M.

Therefore, the key to the strength of this season’s defense is in the linebackers and linemen, which comprise the front six.

Last year’s front six was really good. But two-thirds of that group must be replaced. Tackles Albert Regis and Tyler Onyedim were NFL third-round draft choices. Edge rusher Cashius Howell, the 2025 SEC Defensive Player of the Year, was a second-round pick. Linebacker Taurean York was an All-SEC selection.

Strong-side end T.J. Searcy is a returning starter. Starting linebacker Daymion Sanford is expected to come back strong from an injury.

Tackle DJ Hicks played well in a backup role last season and figures to “break out” this year. Transfer Anto Saka projects as a more than adequate replacement for Howell. That is, unless Marco Jones beats him out. The Aggies look fine there.

Will Huffman, TexAgs

In three seasons as an Aggie, DJ Hicks has appeared in 37 games with four starts.

Seemingly, the Aggies only need to worry about finding a linebacker and another defensive tackle.

Elko doesn’t seem worried.

“I think we have a lot of bodies that are capable of going out there and helping us,” Elko said on Tuesday. “I think the competition has been really, really intense. It’s playing out like we hoped it would, which was, you know, we felt like we had to go elevate the whole level of everything.

“We brought in some guys, and you wanted to see them compete. You see (linebackers) Ray Coney and Noah Mikhail and Jordan Lockhart out there competing every day trying to earn opportunities to play this year. I think because of that, all three of them are elevating every day.

“I think we’ve got the same thing at end. You got some of the same thing at D-tackle. It’s been really competitive. I think we’re starting to see it rise and the level rise to where we want it to be.”

Sanford’s imminent return eases tensions at linebacker. However, there may not be too much stress even if he has to sit out a few weeks.

Coney, a transfer from Tulsa, has been a star of fall camp. He’s fast, physical and violent.

Meanwhile, Mikhail is reportedly taking big steps in his development.

“Just footwork-wise has played has really played into how I’ve grown as a linebacker this year,” Mikhail said last week. “Then the physicality piece of it. Coaches got us playing really downhill. That’s helping a lot with my game. I feel like I’m making good strides this fall.

“We’re all getting a lot better. From spring to summer, there’s huge strides in that (linebacker) room.”

The defensive tackle room might be a little more understated.

Hicks could be a star. As Elko mentioned, there’s no shortage of candidates to play beside him.

Transfer CJ Mims had 42 tackles and two sacks last season at North Carolina. Angelo McCullom, a transfer from Illinois, drew praise from Sanford at SEC Media Days in July.

There’s also Colorado transfer Brandon Davis-Swain and sophomores Landon Rink and DJ Sanders.

If any of them emerge, Elko may have compiled another front six that’ll make it extremely difficult for opponents to get six.