FRISCO — Texas A&M linebacker Taurean York only has about 10 minutes on this busy afternoon at the East-West Shrine Bowl, so, unfortunately, he can’t tell us too much about his process. He promises it works, however, and points to the results.
York was a four-year starter at Temple High School — a rare feat for a 6A Texas high school football program. He was a three-star recruit and the 17th-ranked player in Texas A&M’s 20-person high school class in 2023, according to 247Sports. He then went on to be an immediate starter for the Aggies — a role he didn’t relinquish until the two-time captain declared for the NFL Draft after this season ended. He was a captain in five of those seven years between Temple and Texas A&M. He adds that he never missed a game due to injury.
“I have a process and it works,” York said after his first Shrine Bowl practice on Friday in Frisco, “so I’m going to continue to stick with it.”
York, only 20 years old, hopes his process leads to similar results in the NFL, too — even as he hears a similar uncontrollable criticism that’s followed him throughout his career.
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York doesn’t away from the fact that he’s undersized for a linebacker. A lower pad level in football means a higher chance of success, he says. His 5-foot-10 height and 30-inch arms have forced his fundamentals to be precise. Arm tackles, he says, won’t work with him. Part of his process is being preparing to overcome the disadvantages created by his height.
When asked for his best skill, York confidently says it’s his on-field instincts.
“Knowing what all 22 guys on the field are going to be doing, not just the defense,” said York, who claimed he could’ve been a Valedictorian in high school if so much of his attention wasn’t fixated on studying football. “I’m very aware and cognizant of who’s able to motion, what type of formations give me problems and what they like to do out of certain formations.”
Still, the NFL draft process is an evaluation process designed for scouts to comb through every detail that makes up a prospect. That includes York answering questions about his size. He said it reminded him of his recruiting process coming out of Temple High School. York didn’t garner a Power 5 offer at the time until after his junior season.
“I remember the days where me and my mom would pack up our car. In 2021 we went to 15 camps in 30 days. A lot of those schools said they would offer me if I went out there and made the trip to visit them, but then they never offered me.”
He ultimately had 15 offers and signed with Texas A&M. Eight months later he was starting for the Aggies as a true freshman. His favorite play of his college career was a tackle for loss he had against Auburn his freshman year. It was his first play in the Southwestern Conference. The Aggies called a fire zone blitz from the field side, York recalled, setting him up to make a tackle in the backfield. He didn’t miss.
“All week long they were asking if I’m ready for the SEC and if I can handle SEC competition,” York recalled. “That got the jitters out immediately. If i didn’t feel like I already belonged, I knew I belonged there after that play.”
At the Shrine Bowl, York is once again trying to prove he belongs. One of the first competitions at the first Shrine Bowl practice on Friday was one-on-ones. Corners and safeties guarded wide receivers and tight ends. Offensive linemen and defensive linemen battled in the trenches. Linebackers did a blitzing drill against running backs tasked with pass protection. York ran through a block easily in one-on-one, sending his opponent to the ground. One of his favorite players to watch is Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean, another undersized linebacker. Dean is known for being a difficult blitzer to block. York looked the same on Friday.
Texas A&M’s Taurean York was just bullying running backs at the East-West Shrine Bowl today.
York led the Aggies in defensive stops this past season (44). pic.twitter.com/DJzxQyHghO
— Bobby Football (@Rob__Paul) January 23, 2026
So much of the draft process has reminded York of his recruiting experience. He ultimately found a home in College Station, but there was doubt from some schools about what he could do at his size, despite being very productive in high school. The same can be said after his college career at A&M, where he finished with 229 tackles, 25.5 tackles for loss and an interception in three years. He might’ve been the only one that expected him to instantly have an impact for the Aggies. He eventually earned Freshman All-American honors that season.
“I didn’t sign to ride the bench, or be a backup, or play special teams,” he said. “I came up there with one intention only and that was to start by Day 1. And that’s exactly what I did.”
You’ll never guess how he’s approaching his entrance into the NFL.
“I’m going up there with the same process. I’m going up there to start. I’m going up there to ultimately start from Day 1 and ultimately have longevity … I love football, man. I have a process that works that takes care of my mental and physical. I’m not going to change now that I’m in the big leagues.”
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