Dec. 24, 2025, 7:51 p.m. CT
Texas A&M’s 2025 defensive line room took another hit on Christmas Eve, and just hours after redshirt sophomore defensive end Rylan Kennedy entered the transfer portal, it was announced that freshman edge Solomon Williams will follow Kennedy in the portal after two seasons as a backup.
Heading into an offseason where the Aggies were guaranteed to lose unanimous All-American edge Cashius Howell and defensive linemen Tyler Onyedim and Albert Regis, both Kennedy and Williams had a chance to earn a starting or rotational spot along the defensive line, but given the depth of the 2025 signing class, led by incoming sophomore edge Marco Jones, Kennedy’s decision made some sense.
Still, Williams, who is a pure pass rusher with plenty of potential, looked the part during last season’s Las Vegas Bowl loss to USC, producing several pressures and showing off his pass rush moves that will continue to develop.
On paper, this isn’t incredibly impactful. Still, another year in Mike Elko and Lyle Hemphill’s system, especially working with the new co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach, Elijah Williams, would have helped him get on the field.
Nearly every program that isn’t still participating in the College Football Playoff is dealing with transfer portal losses, so none of this is new. However, Williams likely isn’t the last defensive player to enter his name, and the Aggies really can’t afford to lose depth pieces in the trenches anymore.
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