Texas A&M's elite DE named SEC Defensive Player of the Year
After wreaking havoc across the Southeastern Conference and punishing offensive foes during his senior campaign in Bryan-College Station, Texas, the Aggies' superstar defensive end has earned one of the most prestigious awards in the league.
Texas A&M's Cashius Howell was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year for his incredible performances on the gridiron for the Maroon and White, which included leading the conference with 11.5 sacks and ranking No. 4 with 14.0 tackles for loss. Those marks were also good for No. 4 and No. 20 in the FBS, respectively. His quietly underrated junior season was a warmup for Howell exploding onto the scene this year, giving Texas A&M its first award-winner in program history .
Howell also became the first player since Aggie legend Von Miller to record multiple outings with three sacks or more in a single season. His outstanding second year in College Station has cemented his name into the history books, as he continues to earn national recognition and propel up NFL Draft boards.
His elite quickness, strength and pass-rush ability have made him one of the most feared defensive players in the country this season. With Texas A&M's upcoming CFP first-round matchup against Miami rapidly approaching, Howell will be a difference-maker for the Aggie defensive unit against the Hurricanes' offense, which is averaging 425.8 yards per contest this year. While his time donning the Maroon and White uniform is coming to a close, he will get one last opportunity to showcase his innate ability to quickly track down quarterbacks at Kyle Field on Saturday, Dec. 20.
Following the conclusion of the Aggies' 2025 season, Howell will likely enter his name into the NFL Draft pool, with the opportunity to become one of the highest-selected picks in school history on the table. According to Pro Football Focus , the Kansas City, Missouri, native is projected to be a top-10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, with the site predicting the Washington Commanders as a franchise that could use Howell's elite athleticism and speed off the edge.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M's Cashius Howell named SEC Defensive Player of the Year
