Taurean York LB Texas A&M | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Taurean York LB Texas A&M
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| PLAY STYLE: MULI-ROLE LB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 05/19/2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.58 seconds (83%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| PLAY STYLE: MULI-ROLE LB | |
| Last Updated: 05/19/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2026 | |
| 40 time: 4.58 seconds (83%*) | |
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SHARE THIS PROFILE:
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| Overall Rating: | 85.9 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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79% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Tackling: |
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90% |
| Pass Rush: |
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78% |
| Run Defense: |
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80% |
| Coverage: |
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66% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
2nd - Late
Overall Rank:
#55
Position rank:
#4
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| College Games: 26 College Snaps: 1294 | ||
ESPN RATING: 76/100
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247 RATING: 86/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.7 (93%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Brian Asamoah - Oklahoma |
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90% |
| Smael Mondon Jr. - Georgia |
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81% |
| Chris Paul Jr. - Ole Miss |
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81% |
Draft Profile: Bio
The undersized three-star recruit from Temple High School has bulldozed every expectation placed on him since stepping foot in College Station. York carved his path through sheer will and football instinct, starting all 26 games during his first two seasons while collecting hardware along the way - ESPN Freshman All-America and SEC All-Freshman Team honors punctuating his arrival. This wasn't a five-star phenom living up to the hype; this was a worker transforming himself into the defensive heartbeat of Aggie football.York's sophomore campaign showcased his evolution as both a player and a leader, earning season-long captain status before a single snap. His production jumped to 82 tackles while adding 9.5 TFLs and showing improved coverage skills with his first career interception against LSU. The consistency became his calling card - seven games with 5+ tackles, including back-to-back double-digit performances against Auburn and Texas where he seemingly lived in the backfield, logging 3.5 TFLs against the Longhorns alone.
The former District 12-6A Defensive MVP (three consecutive years in high school) has transferred that dominance to the SEC, where his tackling prowess and run defense have vaulted him from afterthought recruit to legitimate NFL prospect. Entering his junior season as a Preseason All-American, York has shattered the ceiling on his projection while positioning himself among the elite linebacker prospects in the 2026 class.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Exceptional diagnostic ability allows him to process blocking schemes instantly, rarely taking false steps or getting caught up in misdirection despite aggressive play style.
- Natural leverage-winner who plays bigger than his 6'0" frame, consistently getting underneath blockers' pads to maintain gap integrity in congested areas.
- Exceptional tackler with advanced technique and finishing power – 89.8 tackle grade backs up the film showing he rarely misses when getting hands on ball carriers.
- Shows juice as a blitzer with sharp timing and compact burst, demonstrated in the Texas game where he knifed through protection schemes multiple times.
- Field commander who owned pre-snap adjustments as a sophomore, showing veteran-level communication skills and alignment recognition rarely seen in underclassmen.
- Operates with controlled violence through contact, displaying tremendous core strength to absorb and shed blockers without sacrificing positioning or balance.
- Tracks ball carriers through traffic with disciplined eyes, showing rare ability to maintain sight lines while navigating through blocking schemes.
- Better coverage defender than metrics suggest – shows fluid hip rotation and spatial awareness when dropping into zones or matching underneath routes.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Limited by frame dimensions that occasionally surface against longer offensive linemen who can lock him out when he doesn't win with initial quickness.
- Coverage responsibilities against slot receivers present matchup challenges – lacks elite change-of-direction ability when forced to mirror shifty receivers laterally.
- Occasionally brings excessive momentum downhill that narrows tackling angles, limiting his ability to adjust to sudden cutbacks when committed.
- Needs technical refinement as a pass rusher, often relying on pure effort rather than developed counter moves when initial path is obstructed.
- Takes unnecessary contact at times rather than using finesse to navigate through trash, creating unnecessary wear despite impressive durability thus far.
Scouting Report: Summary
York's tackling technique and run defense instincts translate immediately, though interior offensive linemen will test his undersized frame. His processing speed often beats blockers to the spot, but when directly engaged, he can get swallowed up. The Aggie linebacker thrives when slipping through gaps rather than taking on blocks head-on – a limitation that will require scheme consideration.As a blitzer, York shows legitimate juice with timing and burst that creates backfield havoc. His coverage skills remain a work in progress – comfortable in underneath zones but lacking the fluidity to consistently match athletic tight ends in space. Defensive packages that deploy him as a targeted blitzer while limiting his man coverage exposure will maximize his effectiveness.
The three-star recruit turned All-American brings an edge born from perpetually exceeding expectations. His football I.Q. compensates for athletic limitations, suggesting a ceiling higher than measurables indicate. Evaluators willing to bet on instincts over prototype will find a linebacker whose production consistently outpaces his physical tools – the exact profile that often yields draft day steals on the second day of the draft.
How other scouting services rate Taurean York (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
54.0
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
3.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.