The deepest position for Texas A&M football on defense could very well be linebacker in 2018, with younger guys like Anthony Hines III in waiting.
Texas A&M football has one of the most underrated linebacking corps in the SEC entering the 2018 regular season. A good portion of the attention for that position group for the Aggies would also fall on some of the wrong players. While Tyrel Dodson and Otaro Alaka are very skilled linebackers, and who should be huge for the Aggies’ defense in 2018, more attentions should be paid to overshadowed guys like rising sophomore Anthony Hines III.
Dodson led the Aggies in total tackles last season with 104, and Alaka finished third in that category with 78. The player sandwiched between Dodson and Alaka is former Aggies’ star safety Armani Watts, who was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2018 NFL Draft. Yet, Dodson was also a versatile standout that nabbed three interceptions and had eight pass deflections.
The area that Hines III will bring value to this skilled group is more in the pass rush and run stopping. Hines III has the ability to plug gaps in run defense better than most other linebackers in the SEC, which says a lot. In limited playing time last season, he racked up 33 total tackles and six tackles for loss.
Hines III will also be a force to be reckoned with in the pass rush for the Aggies. He racked up three sacks last season, good for fifth best on the team. Considering he didn’t really start last season, that’s huge to see from a freshman like Hines III. He’ll be potent in that part of the defense for the next few years too.
To begin the regular season, Hines III should be the backup to Dodson in the SAM linebacker spot. The other starters at linebacker for the Aggies will be Alaka and Buddy Johnson. Texas A&M has some solid depth to backup all three linebacker spots with Santino Marchiol and Ikenna Okeke.
Next: 3 must-win games for Jimbo Fisher with the Aggies in 2018
This is somewhat of a rarity for Texas A&M to have so much depth at this level of the defense. Considering Dodson, Hines III, and Johnson could all be back in 2019, this group also has longevity going for them. Watch out for Hines III to work his way up among the most highly regarded linebackers in the SEC West this season.