Texas A&M stock report, who shined in Saturday’s game against Auburn

The Texas A&M Aggies (4-0, 1-0 SEC) outlasted Auburn (3-2, 0-2 SEC) at home in front of a crowd of over 105,000 fans, securing their first conference win of the season. This marks the first time since 2016 that the team has started 4-0, and Coach Mike Elko acknowledges there’s still plenty to refine. He believes the team is merely scratching the surface of its true potential.

What’s intriguing about the 16-10 victory is that, based on most statistical categories, it should have been a blowout in favor of A&M. However, the field was riddled with drive-killing penalties throughout the game. Historically, this is the type of matchup Aggie fans have seen slip away, prompting the familiar sentiment: “We knew it was coming.” But on Saturday, the team checked another box, handling pressure and finding a way to win amid adversity.

As Coach Elko noted, this is just the first quarter of the season, and there’s a long road ahead. Still, his squad is exhibiting the qualities necessary to remain in contention for the long haul. If they can start stringing together complete performances, it’ll be difficult to justify leaving them out of the College Football Playoff conversation.

Here are the individuals who stood out and those who need to step up after Week 5:

Stock Up: Taurean York

After a tough outing against Notre Dame, York rebounded impressively, emerging as the highest-graded defender on the Aggie roster. He was omnipresent, making timely tackles and delivering a crucial fourth-quarter sack that pushed Auburn out of a manageable down-and-distance. When a play needed to be made, the junior team captain was consistently in the vicinity.

Game Stats: 7 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack, 1 pass defended

Stock Up: Le'Veon Moss

If I had to choose one word to describe Moss, it would be “Monster.” Among a deep stable of talented running backs, he’s the bell cow, rarely tackled for a loss. Coming into this matchup, Auburn’s rush defense ranked among the SEC’s best, holding opponents under 60 yards. Moss doubled that total and consistently broke off runs of six yards or more. Good things happen when the ball is in his hands.

Game Stats: 21 carries, 139 yards, 6.6 average, 1 touchdown

Stock Up: Dezz Ricks

Ricks has emerged as one of the most improved players on the roster, locking down the corner opposite Will “The Blanket” Lee III. Entering the season, cornerback depth was a concern, prompting the addition of former Georgia DB Julian Humphrey. But Ricks has stepped up, becoming one of the team’s most reliable defenders. On Saturday, he helped limit Auburn’s receiving corps to just 125 yards and zero touchdowns.

Game Stats: 3 tackles, 1 pass defended

Stock Up: Dayon Hayes

Hayes delivered his best performance of the season, consistently pressuring quarterback Jackson Arnold. The defensive line’s success this year hinges on collective effort, and Hayes rose to the occasion, especially in crunch time. With the game on the line, he sealed the win with a clutch fourth-down sack.

Game Stats: 6 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack

Stock Down: Dametrious Crownover

It’s been a challenging season for Crownover. Despite entering the year with the offensive line projected as one of the team’s strengths, he’s currently the weakest link. He posted the lowest pass-blocking grade of the game and must improve in future outings for A&M to sustain success.

Stock Down: Special Teams

Special teams remain a concern, particularly in the kicking game. The Aggies went 3-for-5 on field goals and managed to down just one of six punts inside the 20-yard line. Nationally, they rank 113th in field goal percentage (60%) and 98th in punt average (41.63 yards per attempt). Coach Elko acknowledged the poor execution postgame and emphasized the need for immediate improvement.

Stock Down: Offensive line

This one’s nuanced. The offensive line didn’t play poorly overall, but they committed several drive-killing penalties. It wasn’t isolated either; four of the five starters were flagged at least once. Coach Elko addressed this issue after the game, stressing that discipline must improve moving forward.

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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: A&M football stock report following Week 5, 16-10 win over Auburn