{"id":320446,"date":"2026-06-03T05:32:12","date_gmt":"2026-06-03T05:32:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/320446\/"},"modified":"2026-06-03T05:32:12","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T05:32:12","slug":"how-aston-whiteside-fits-schematically-at-texas-am","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/320446\/","title":{"rendered":"How Aston Whiteside Fits Schematically at Texas A&M"},"content":{"rendered":"

After an official recruiting<\/a> visit on May 28-30, three-star linebacker Aston Whiteside announced his commitment to Texas A&M<\/a>, over elite programs such as Kentucky<\/a>, Miami and Texas Tech<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Standing at 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, Whiteside joins head coach Mike Elko’s defense from Lovejoy High School in Lucas, Texas, reinforcing the Aggies’ recruiting presence in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.<\/p>\n

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Losing key defensive contributors to the 2026 NFL Draft, including Cashius Howell<\/a>, Tyler Onyedim, Albert Regis<\/a> and Will Lee III<\/a>, A&M has already begun to reload its roster for future dominance in the Southeastern Conference.<\/p>\n

Aggies Land Up-and-Coming Linebacker\"TexasSep 27, 2025; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies cornerback Will Lee III (4) and cornerback Dezz Ricks<\/a> (2) react after the game against the Auburn Tigers<\/a> at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images | Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

The Maroon and White added Whiteside to their loaded front seven, which features talented transfer portal additions<\/a> such as defensive end Anto Saka<\/a> and linebacker Ray Coney.<\/p>\n

As a member of A&M’s top-ranked 2027 recruiting class, Whiteside won’t see the field in 2026, but he offers something much more valuable to Elko’s program – long-term talent.<\/p>\n

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Whiteside recorded a combined 150 tackles over the course of the 2024 and 2025 seasons, securing 13 pass breakups, six tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and a pair of interceptions.<\/p>\n

Before his junior season, the Lucas, Texas, native transferred to Burleson Centennial High School in Burleson, Texas<\/a>, where he will compete for the Spartans in 2026.<\/p>\n

At 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, Whiteside joins the Aggies’ linebacker room as a lean, athletic playmaker but will need to add mass to compete with power-conference talent in the SEC.<\/p>\n

Mike Elko’s Defensive Layout\"TexasFeb 7, 2026; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies head football coach Mike Elko sits court-side during the Men’s basketball game against the Florida Gators<\/a> at Reed Arena. | Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

After a historic season that featured A&M’s first 11-0 start since 1992, the Aggies lost a program-high 10 players to the 2026 NFL Draft. But luckily for the 12th Man, Elko’s squad is only getting stronger.<\/p>\n

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At linebacker, Taurean York<\/a> served as a captain for A&M’s defense in 2025, protecting the center of the field from both passing and rushing attacks. But following York’s departure, the Aggies turned to the transfer portal for help.<\/p>\n

Elko added Ray Coney, who played under head coach Tre Lamb at Tulsa, where he recorded 40 solo tackles, two sacks, two pass deflections and a single forced fumble over the course of a season with the Golden Hurricane.<\/p>\n

If the Aggies use the transfer portal, they add experienced players to position groups that need immediate attention. Without York, who was recruited to A&M, Coney moved to College Station to hold down Elko’s front seven.<\/p>\n

When Whiteside joins Elko’s roster in 2027, the Lucas, Texas, native will add depth to A&M’s up-and-coming roster, with the potential to establish himself as a leader on the defensive side of the ball.<\/p>\n

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This article was originally published on www.si.com\/college\/tamu as How Aston Whiteside Fits Schematically at Texas A&M<\/a>.<\/p>\n