Texas A&M’s secondary has been getting plenty of buzz in fall camp, and for good reason. Mike Elko has already suggested this could be the best unit he’s coached since arriving in College Station, and former Georgia transfer Julian Humphrey has been just as direct about the expectations around the group.
But if the Aggies are going to live up to that billing, one spot in particular may end up carrying more weight than the rest: nickel.
It’s the kind of job that can disappear in the noise when people talk about outside corners and safeties, but in Elko’s defense it matters in a big way. The nickel has to do more than cover. At times, he’s asked to help as a pass rusher or step into run support, which makes the role a hybrid one in every sense.
That’s why this battle deserves attention. Tyreek Chappell handled the position last season, but now the competition is between former Washington transfer Jordan Shaw, senior Bravion Rogers and senior Bryce Anderson.
For now, Shaw looks like the favorite.
He arrived in College Station last season and couldn’t quite overtake Chappell for the starting job, but he still played in 11 games. His final outing against Miami in the College Football Playoff turned heads, especially against then-freshman sensation Malachi Toney. Shaw held him to 3 catches for 22 yards on four targets and added a season-high five tackles, including one for a loss.
That kind of work against slot receivers has carried over into camp, and it appears to be a major reason he’s out front in the competition.
Still, this isn’t a race that feels closed. Anderson brings past starting experience at safety, while Rogers has been in the system, and both give Texas A&M alternatives if the job isn’t settled cleanly.
That flexibility matters, because nickel is one of the spots offenses love to hunt. If a defense has a soft outside corner, teams will attack it. If the nickel is vulnerable, they’ll isolate him just the same and make him prove he can hold up.
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Penn State Enters Matt Campbell's First Season With One Clear Perception
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For A&M, the lack of an All-American selection simply adds another layer to a season that will be judged on more than reputation alone. Plenty of ranked teams were overlooked in the APs lists, and the Aggies will spend the fall trying to prove they belong among the sports most complete groups even without much preseason individual spotlight. [Read more 🡒]