Texas A&M is leaning into a deeper, more vocal defense this season, and TJ Searcy sounds ready to be one of the voices driving it.
The veteran pass rusher said the Aggies should have more bodies to work with in 2026-27 and that his own role is expanding along with the roster. After spending last season trying to lead mostly by example, Searcy said he’s pushing himself to speak up more now that the group includes plenty of young players and portal additions.
“I feel like we might get a little more depth than we did last year with them guys going to the league,” Searcy said. “I definitely been trying to lead a little bit more,” Searcy said.
“I feel like I used to lead much more, so trying to lead by example last year instead of trying to do everything right and just hope people would see me. This season, I am using my voice a little more, speaking to people.
We got a lot of young guys and portal guys that came in. I feel like they’re going to make great contributions to the team.”
That message carried into Saturday, when Searcy spoke with reporters and went through the pieces he believes can help shape this Maroon and White defense. He pointed to the new linebackers, Anto Saka and coach Lyle Hemphill as notable parts of the mix.
“The new linebackers that came in, they communicate really well,” Searcy said. “All the walk-throughs we have, I feel like they got the defense down.”
Hemphill’s approach, according to Searcy, has been straightforward: play hard, play fast and keep the urgency high.
“He preaches effort,” Searcy noted. “Attack and effort.
That’s our main thing and just have urgency. That’s the main thing coach Hemphill does.
If we are out there playing hard, everything else is going to fall into place.”
Searcy also had plenty of praise for Saka, the Northwestern transfer, calling attention to both his football IQ and his commitment.
“He's a real cool dude,” Searcy said. “Super smart.
He loves football. He hasn’t left the facility all camp, so that pretty much shows you what type of dude Anto is.”
The Thomaston, Georgia native believes the pass rush has a chance to take another step if the group builds on what it showed last year and does its job across the board. With more players available, he said, there should be less wear and tear on everyone involved.
“God willing, we’re trying to grow on what we had last year,” Searcy said. “God willing, it should be better than last year if we do everything we are supposed to do. We got more guys out there; it shouldn't be anybody on the field that’s tired.”
Searcy said his own offseason has gone well, and he feels he’s made real gains in the areas that matter most for his game.
“I’ve just got exponentially better,” Searcy expressed. “As far as using my length, getting off the ball, pass rushing, just being more vocal.”
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