During a massive overhaul of the Texas A&M Aggies‘ roster, it’s fair to say fans of the program are going to have a completely different team to cheer on in 2024. With new head coach Mike Elko bringing in essentially an entirely new roster, it was fair to also say that A&M fans may not be aware of some potential stars on their new-look roster.
When looking for potential stars to take Kyle Field this fall, Aggie fans must look no further than new cornerback BJ Mayes.
BJ Mayes Should Stand Out for Texas A&M
It’s not often a lockdown cornerback with several years of top-tier play at the major college football level sticks around for a fourth year. But that’s just what Mayes did.
He not only stuck around for one more season, Mayes moved on from dominating the American Athletic Conference to upping the competition level and joined an SEC defense in need of some playmakers.
Mayes now has his sights set on locking down SEC receivers the same way he did AAC receivers in 2023. An All-American and an All-AAC First Team Defensive Back, Mayes was more than impressive in his first season with UAB a year ago.
He also nabbed the CFN AAC Defensive Newcomer of the Year Award a season ago for his efforts in 2023. Mayes was a starter at Incarnate Word prior to his dominant season with the Blazers a year ago, carrying that same set of skills over with him to the FBS level.
With double-digit pass breakups for the second year in a row, it wasn’t just CFN who caught a glimpse of what Mayes had to offer. When his name hit the transfer portal, a handful of Power Five offers came in, including one from Elko and Co. at A&M.
Returning ‘home’ to the state of Texas, a chance to put himself on the map and test himself against top-tier competition was the ultimate deciding factor for Mayes. A simple player who lets his play on the field do the talking for him, Mayes just wants the nation to know his name.
MORE: College Football Transfer Portal Tracker
“(Help) get the word out there so the nation knows who to look out for,” Mayes told CFN.
If he continues the high-level play he’s shown during his time in college, it’s safe to say the nation will absolutely know who to look out for. The real question is, will SEC quarterbacks and receivers recognize it too late this fall?
Ready to track all the movement with the college football transfer portal? Want to preview the latest positional rankings for returning college athletes? College Football Network has you covered with that and more!