Texas A&M Linebacker Earns Spot on Butkus Award Watch List

Texas A&M junior linebacker Taurean York has earned a spot on the 2025 Butkus Award preseason watch list. The Butkus Award honors the nation’s top collegiate linebacker. This preseason recognition adds to York’s growing list of accolades. He is coming off a breakout 2024 campaign as the leader of the Aggies’ defense.

Preseason Honors for a Rising Linebacker

York is one of 51 linebackers nationwide named to the Butkus Award watch list, including 18 from the SEC. The Temple, Texas, native has collected multiple preseason All-American honors. Walter Camp, Athlon Sports, and Pro Football Focus (PFF) all named York to their first-team All-America lists. These accolades reflect the high expectations for his junior season after two years as a starter. If he were to claim the Butkus Award, York would be only the second Aggie ever to win it. The legendary Von Miller last won the honor in 2010.

Defensive Anchor in 2024

As a sophomore last season, York led Texas A&M with 82 total tackles and 9.5 tackles for loss. The 6-foot, 235-pound linebacker started all 13 games. He posted three games with double-digit tackles, including a career-high 12 stops in a win at Mississippi State. He also registered 2.5 sacks and notched his first career interception during the season. Notably, York was one of the surest tacklers in the SEC. He earned an 85.7 tackling grade from PFF. He missed only six tackles in nearly 700 defensive snaps, a 7.4% miss rate. That reliability and production set the tone for the Aggies’ defense throughout the year

Leadership and Football IQ

York plays fast, but more importantly, he plays early. His ability to identify offensive intent before the snap allows him to stay a step ahead. He routinely aligns the front seven, adjusts coverages, and positions teammates with the urgency and clarity of a seasoned communicator.

On tape, York shows strong pattern recognition in both run and pass situations. Against zone read and counter looks, he reads pullers and reacts without false steps. He scrapes efficiently, plays square, and avoids overcommitting to window dressing. In coverage, he displays adequate depth in his drops and closes with control. While he’s not built like a prototypical sideline-to-sideline athlete, his mental processing compensates for it.

Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko emphasized how instinctive York is at the position. “He sees the game of football really well,” Elko said (si.com). “He’s got a lot of natural instincts, which when you play the linebacker position is critical.”

His play style reflects preparation and trust. York commits downhill when he diagnoses a run, and his angles to the football are efficient. He avoids wasted movement and consistently maintains leverage.

York Speaks at SEC Media Days

York attended 2025 SEC Media Days as Texas A&M’s defensive representative and made clear he welcomes the pressure that comes with leadership. The junior linebacker emphasized the pride he takes in defending Kyle Field. “Rule number one, you’ve got to protect Kyle Field,” York said. “The power of the 12th Man is real.” (si.com)

York expressed confidence in the direction of the Aggies’ defense entering Fall camp. He pointed to team chemistry as a major reason for optimism. “I’m excited,” he said. “These guys are very receptive to my leadership, and I’m thankful for that.” That leadership comes naturally for York, who already serves as the voice of the defense and a two-time team captain. Still, he made clear that his drive remains internal. “My biggest motivation would probably just be trying to prove to myself that all the work I put in is validated,” York said.

York’s tape, leadership, and production already speak loudly.  The preseason accolades and Butkus watch list are just the beginning for the rising star in the middle of the Aggie defense.