Texas A&M’s defensive line was dealt a blow this offseason after starters Nic Scourton, Shemar Stewart, and Shemar Turner declared for the 2025 NFL Draft. This left incoming senior edge Cashius Howell and incoming junior defensive end Rylan Kennedy as the lone contributors in the trenches.
Howell, who transferred from Bowling Green after two seasons, earned his way into a key rotational role behind Shemar Stewart. However, he had a better statistical season than the potential first-round selection, producing 40 tackles, four sacks, seven pass deflections, and an interception in 13 games.
After recording six tackles in the Aggies’ regular season-finale loss to Texas, Howell’s impact took center stage after earning the starting defensive end spot vs. USC in the Las Vegas Bowl in place of Stewart, who, along with Scourton and Turner sat out of the game.
In one of his best carer performances, he nearly wrecked the game before the Trojans’s late comeback, finishing with five tackles, a sack, and his first career interception in a memorable deflection and diving grab.
According to Pro Football Focus, Howell’s prolific pass-rush grade of 87.4 was only second to South Carolina freshman phenom defensive end Dylan Stewart’s 91.5 grade, as Austin American Statesman reporter Tony Catalina recently pointed out.
Howell’s size (6-4, 250 pounds), athleticism, and versatility make him a mismatch for most offensive linemen.
Coach Mike Elko and his staff have added four edge rushers/defensive linemen this offseason, but even with the new additions, Howell remains the leader in the locker room and has a chance to shine in 2025.
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