Texas A&M Aggies DE is one of the top defenders in the new mock draft

The Texas A&M Aggies and new head coach Mike Elko put together a very strong transfer class in the offseason, with former Purdue defensive end Nic Scourton being the crown jewel of the class.

After 10 sacks and a second-team All-Big Ten selection last season, Scourton has picked up right where he left off down in College Station. In six games, the junior has 17 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss and a team-high 4.5 sacks. His ability to rush inside or to the rim is a valuable asset and the Aggies are fortunate to have him.

However, Scourton’s time as an Aggie will likely be short-lived. The 6-4, 285-pound pass rusher is expected to be one of the best players at his position in the upcoming NFL Draft. CBS Sports projects him to go No. 12 overall to the Arizona Cardinals in the latest version.

“Scourton is another power rusher who would stand up well to last year’s first-round pick Darius Robinson Jr.,” wrote Mike Renner of CBS Sports. “He can attack from either the inside or the outside with some of the strongest hands in the draft class.”

Edge rushers are a hot commodity in the NFL, so good players like Scourton are in high demand. In this mock, Scourton is the second edge rusher off the field, following Penn State’s Abdul Carter at No. 3 overall to the Tennessee Titans.

Scourton may be the only current Aggie in this model, but there is also a former Aggie. That would be defensive lineman LT Overton, who transferred to Alabama this offseason and is expected to go to the Baltimore Ravens at No. 31 overall.

Unless something catastrophic happens, Scourton appears to be a safe first-round pick next April. If he can put together a strong performance in the second half of the season, his stock should only go up from here.