{"id":136889,"date":"2026-01-24T22:07:07","date_gmt":"2026-01-24T22:07:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/136889\/"},"modified":"2026-01-24T22:07:07","modified_gmt":"2026-01-24T22:07:07","slug":"texas-am-lb-taurean-york-is-in-familiar-territory-during-2026-nfl-draft-process","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/136889\/","title":{"rendered":"Texas A&M LB Taurean York is in familiar territory during 2026 NFL draft process"},"content":{"rendered":"

FRISCO \u2014 Texas A&M<\/a> linebacker Taurean York only has about 10 minutes on this busy afternoon at the East-West Shrine Bowl, so, unfortunately, he can\u2019t tell us too much about his process. He promises it works, however, and points to the results. <\/p>\n

York was a four-year starter at Temple High School \u2014 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\u2019s 20-person high school class in 2023<\/a>, according to 247Sports. He then went on to be an immediate starter for the Aggies \u2014 a role he didn\u2019t relinquish until the two-time captain declared for the NFL Draft after this season ended<\/a>. 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. <\/p>\n

\u201cI have a process and it works,\u201d York said after his first Shrine Bowl practice on Friday in Frisco, \u201cso I\u2019m going to continue to stick with it.\u201d<\/p>\n

York, only 20 years old, hopes his process leads to similar results in the NFL, too \u2014 even as he hears a similar uncontrollable criticism that\u2019s followed him throughout his career. <\/p>\n

Sports Roundup<\/p>\n

Get the latest D-FW sports news, analysis and opinion delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, Kevin Sherrington’s A La Carte.<\/p>\n

By signing up, you agree to our\u00a0Terms of Service<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Privacy Policy.<\/a><\/p>\n

York doesn\u2019t away from the fact that he\u2019s 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\u2019t work with him. Part of his process is being preparing to overcome the disadvantages created by his height. <\/p>\n

When asked for his best skill, York confidently says it\u2019s his on-field instincts. <\/p>\n

\u201cKnowing what all 22 guys on the field are going to be doing, not just the defense,\u201d said York, who claimed he could\u2019ve been a Valedictorian in high school if so much of his attention wasn\u2019t fixated on studying football. \u201cI\u2019m very aware and cognizant of who\u2019s able to motion, what type of formations give me problems and what they like to do out of certain formations.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u2019t garner a Power 5 offer at the time until after his junior season. <\/p>\n

\u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u2019t miss. <\/p>\n

\u201cAll week long they were asking if I\u2019m ready for the SEC and if I can handle SEC competition,\u201d York recalled. \u201cThat got the jitters out immediately. If i didn\u2019t feel like I already belonged, I knew I belonged there after that play.\u201d<\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

Texas A&M\u2019s Taurean York was just bullying running backs at the East-West Shrine Bowl today.<\/p>\n

York led the Aggies in defensive stops this past season (44). pic.twitter.com\/DJzxQyHghO<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Bobby Football (@Rob__Paul) January 23, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

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\u2019ve been the only one that expected him to instantly have an impact for the Aggies. He eventually earned Freshman All-American honors that season. <\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t sign to ride the bench, or be a backup, or play special teams,\u201d he said. \u201cI came up there with one intention only and that was to start by Day 1. And that\u2019s exactly what I did.\u201d<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll never guess how he\u2019s approaching his entrance into the NFL.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going up there with the same process. I\u2019m going up there to start. I\u2019m 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\u2019m not going to change now that I\u2019m in the big leagues.\u201d<\/p>\n

Zach Clemence\u2019s seven 3-pointers power Texas A&M to blowout win over South Carolina<\/a>2026 NCAA football transfer portal: Tracking moves for Texas Tech, SMU, other area schools<\/a><\/p>\n

Find more college sports coverage from The Dallas Morning News here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Find more Texas A&M coverage from The Dallas Morning News here<\/a>.<\/p>\n