Diggs, Jackson and Smith to represent Texas A&M at SEC Media Days

Defensive linemen McKinnley Jackson and Fadil Diggs and wide receiver Ainias Smith will join Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher at the upcoming SEC Media Days in Nashville, Tennessee.

The conference’s preseason showcase, Media Days, runs from Monday, July 17, through Thursday, July 20. All 14 head coaches from the conference and three student-athletes from each school will be in attendance.

The Aggies will take center stage on July 17 alongside LSU and Missouri. Commissioner Greg Sankey will kick off the festivities that Monday morning.

Diggs, a junior from East Camden, NJ, was voted a team captain in 2022 and started eight games last season while battling injuries. He posted 28 total tackles, five tackles for loss and three sacks. The 6-foot-5, 260-pound standout’s best game came in Tuscaloosa, where he forced two fumbles in the Aggies’ narrow loss at Bryant-Denny Stadium. For his play last fall, Diggs earned the Aggie Defensive Leadership Award as well as the Strength & Conditioning Defensive Award.

Jackson, a senior from Lucedale, MS, was also a team captain last fall and also appeared in only eight games for the Maroon & White. In 2022, the 6-foot-2, 325-pounder was named the A&M defense’s MVP, posting 37 total tackles, seven tackles for loss and two sacks. A former five-star signee in the class of 2020, Jackson was an SEC All-Freshman Team selection that fall.

Smith, a fifth-year senior from Missouri City, started the first four games of 2022 before suffering a season-ending injury vs. Arkansas. In his limited action, Smith hauled in 15 catches for 291 yards and two touchdowns. In his career as a pass-catcher, he has recorded 127 catches for 1,612 yards and 17 scores. An all-purpose threat, “Sub Zero” also factors into the A&M attack on offense and as a punt returner. At A&M’s annual team banquet last season, Smith earned the Community Service Award and the Strength & Conditioning Offensive Aggie Award.

2023 SEC Media Days Schedule

Monday, July 17

• LSU - Brian Kelly
• Missouri - Eli Drinkwitz
• Texas A&M - Jimbo Fisher

Tuesday, July 18

• Auburn - Hugh Freeze
• Georgia - Kirby Smart
• Mississippi State - Zach Arnett
• Vanderbilt - Clark Lea

Wednesday, July 19

• Alabama - Nick Saban
• Arkansas - Sam Pittman
• Florida - Billy Napier
• Kentucky - Mark Stoops

Thursday, July 20

• Ole Miss - Lane Kiffin
• South Carolina - Shane Beamer
• Tennessee - Josh Heupel

SEC Media Days Player Representatives 

Alabama

• JC Latham, OL, Junior
• Kool-Aid McKinstry, DB, Junior
• Dallas Turner, LB, Junior

Arkansas

• Landon Jackson, DE, Junior
• KJ Jefferson, QB, Senior
• Raheim Sanders, RB, Junior

Auburn

• Luke Deal, TE, Senior
• Elijah McAllister, LB, Senior
• Kameron Stutts, OL, Senior

Florida

• Kingsley Eguakun, OL, Junior
• Jason Marshall Jr., DB, Junior
• Ricky Pearsall, WR, Senior

Georgia

• Brock Bowers, TE, Junior
• Kamari Lassiter, DB, Junior
• Sedrick Van Pran, OL, Junior

Kentucky

• Eli Cox, OL, Senior
• Octavious Oxendine, DL, Senior
• J.J. Weaver, LB, Senior

LSU

• Jayden Daniels, QB, Senior
• Josh Williams, RB, Senior
• Mekhi Wingo, DT, Junior

Ole Miss

• Cedric Johnson, DE, Senior
• Quinshon Judkins, RB, Sophomore
• Deantre Prince, CB, Senior

Mississippi State

• Jaden Crumedy, DT, Senior
• Jo’quavious Marks, RB, Senior
• Will Rogers, QB, Senior

Missouri

• Kris Abrams-Draine, DB, Junior
• Javon Foster, OL, Senior
• Darius Robinson, DL, Senior

South Carolina

• Tonka Hemingway, DL, Senior
• Kai Kroeger, P, Senior
• Spencer Rattler, QB, Senior

Tennessee

• Joe Milton III, QB, Senior
• Omari Thomas, DL, Senior
• Jacob Warren, TE, Senior

Texas A&M

• Fadil Diggs, DL, Junior
• McKinnley Jackson, DL, Senior
• Ainias Smith, WR, Senior

Vanderbilt

• Ethan Barr, LB, Senior
• Jaylen Mahoney, S, Senior
• Will Sheppard, WR, Senior