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Texas A&M Football: 3 storylines to follow in spring 2021

By Connor Muldowney

JACKSONVILLE, FL - DECEMBER 31: Leon O'Neal Jr. #9 of the Texas A&M Aggies reacts against the North Carolina State Wolfpack during the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl at TIAA Bank Field on December 31, 2018 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FL - DECEMBER 31: Leon O'Neal Jr. #9 of the Texas A&M Aggies reacts against the North Carolina State Wolfpack during the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl at TIAA Bank Field on December 31, 2018 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS – OCTOBER 31: Leon O’Neal Jr. #9 of the Texas A&M Aggies reacts in the second half against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Kyle Field on October 31, 2020 in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS – OCTOBER 31: Leon O’Neal Jr. #9 of the Texas A&M Aggies reacts in the second half against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Kyle Field on October 31, 2020 in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

2. Will Texas A&M still have a top SEC defense?

One of the main reasons Texas A&M was a serious playoff contender in 2020 was because of the defense. Mike Elko pieced together one of the better defenses in the SEC which allowed just over 21 points and 317 yards per game which were impressive numbers considering the types of offenses the SEC produced.

But the leading tackler and leader in the middle of that defense from a year ago Buddy Johnson is gone now and it’s going to be next man up for the Aggies.

Elko still returns plenty of talent to that side of the ball and he has a top recruiting class coming in with some early enrollees to work with, but will the Aggies still resemble one of the top defenses in the SEC?

We’ll know during the spring game at least given how much success the new-look offense with a new QB1 under center has against the defense.