'Servant-minded leader': Boadi-Owusu to continue 12th Man tradition

Texas A&M defensive coordinator Jay Bateman on Tuesday praised sophomore walk-on Nana Boadi-Owusu as the embodiment of the 12th Man.

Boadi-Owusu on Monday was voted by his teammates the honor of representing the 12th Man and wearing the acclaimed No. 12 jersey this season.

“All the things I think that is embodied by the 12th Man, I think that’s who Nana is,” Bateman said in a news conference at Kyle Field. “He’s truly a servant leader. He’s a selfless kid. Whatever we ask him to do he does. And I think he’s a good player, too.

“I think that’s kind of what in my mind that role is. He’s worked really hard to become the best football player he can. I think our kids really respect him. I think we can point to him as a leader. This is the kind of servant-minded leader we want in this football program. I think that’s who he is.”

A 6-foot-2, 250-pound sophomore defensive lineman from Arlington Martin, Boadi-Owusu had worn No. 90 the last two seasons.

In 2022 he was honored for his work on the defensive scout team.

Last season, he appeared in four games and was a member of the 12th Man kickoff team.

Coach Mike Elko let the team vote from a list that also included kicker Randy Bond, running back Anthony DiNota and defensive back Jacob Graham.

“Each one of those three would have also been extremely deserving recipients,” Elko said.

Elko said the honor was well earned and well appreciated.

“It means an awful lot to him,” Elko said. “You should have seen the smile on his face last night at practice when he got to wear that jersey. You couldn’t take it off of him.”

Also on Tuesday, Boadi-Owusu told TexAgs it was surreal when he was announced as the 12th Man during a team meeting.

“(Elko) pulled the jersey out of a bag. He turned that jersey around and I seen Boadi-Owusu. I have a long last name,” Boadi-Owusu said. “I saw it … I was like ‘wow.’

“It didn’t really hit me. All my teammates were cheering for me and stuff. I don’t think it really dawned on me until after the team meeting. I got to go call my mom. My mom, just her reaction, she was happy, and started crying.

“That’s when it hit me. OK, I might be the 12th Man.”

Secondary issues

Improving pass defense is a high priority as the Aggies prepare for their Aug. 31 season opener against Notre Dame.

Elko said there would be intense competition in the remaining days of Fall Camp to determine a starting lineup. He also said he’s seen progress in the secondary.

“I think we have enough pieces and enough versatility back there,” he said. “It’s been good to see (transfer) Dezz Ricks out there. We didn’t get to see him much in the spring.

“It’s been good to add (five-star freshman) Terry Bussey into the mix. That’s been good. I think the rest of that group has taken the necessary step forward.”

Last season, the Aggies allowed four opponents to pass for 400 yards and five opponents multiple touchdown passes. A&M lost all those games.

‘A really unique player’

Zoe Kelton, TexAgs

Cashius Howell appeared in 30 games across three seasons at Bowling Green, recording 56 tackles (27 solo), 13 tackles-for-loss and 11.5 sacks.

There’s been so much talk about Nic Scourton, Shemar Turner and Shemar Stewart providing a fierce pass rush that some may have forgotten about Cashius Howell.

Bateman offered an enthusiastic reminder that Howell, a 6-foot-4, 245-pound junior transfer from Bowling Green, can make a big impact on the rush, too.

Howell led the Mid-American Conference with 9.5 sacks last season. He also was credited with five quarterback pressures.

“He’s a really unique player, a really good player,” Bateman said. “I think he’s changed his body since he got here.

“He’s going to play defensive end, he’s going to play on the edge a ton. On third down he gives you a lot of flexibility as a passer rusher and as a dropper (into coverage). He’s going to play a ton. We’re going to be really, really happy with him in 12 games.”

A new York?

Bateman said sophomore linebacker Taurean York is the closest thing to having a coach on the field.

What makes him so special? Well, Bateman said there are a lot of factors.

“He’s a testament to what hard work produces,” Bateman said. “In every facet he is ate up with becoming the best football player he can be. It’s the weight room. It’s his diet. It’s everything.

Zoe Kelton, TexAgs

Taurean York started all 13 games in 2023. His 74 tackles ranked third among all freshmen in the SEC.

“I think he’s moving better than at any point last year. I think he’s stronger than he’s ever been. He’s changed his body.”

Clearly, York, who was named a team captain, earned Freshman All-American recognition. Last season, he posted 74 tackles, 8.5 tackles-for-loss, three sacks and five quarterback pressures.

But he’s clearly not content.

“The amount of time he puts in, the single-minded focus he has with football is rare and, I mean, it’s elite,” Bateman said. “I think sometimes when you have a kid like him you short change the fact that he is a really good player athletically. But it’s the other stuff that makes him special.”

Passing zone

Though some of A&M’s top receiving threats from 2023 have departed, offensive coordinator Collin Klein said the Aggies’ passing game can be explosive.

“I think we’ve got some really, really good weapons,” he said. “I think we’re going to be able to have that aggressive mentality. I think even in a couple of days we’ve shown and proven we have the potential to be really an explosive outfit.”

Klein mentioned Louisiana Tech transfer Cyrus Allen and freshmen Ashton Bethel-Roman and Izaiah Williams as newcomers that could provide big plays along with veterans Noah Thomas, Jahdae Walker and Moose Muhammad.

“We’ve just got to keep building that group collectively,” he said.