Cole Cubelic reveals the most impactful incoming transfer at Texas A&M

Texas A&M has 10 transfers coming in this season after a rough go in 2022. Among them is cornerback Tony Grimes, who entered the transfer portal after three years at North Carolina.

He’ll look to make an impact on the Aggies’ defense in 2023. According to SEC Network analyst Cole Cubelic, Grimes could be the most impactful transfer addition for Jimbo Fisher.

“Texas A&M, another one that’s pretty easy. We don’t need to spend a ton of time on it because there’s not a ton of dudes going in. I’ll go Tony Grimes, cornerback out of UNC,” Cubelic said on the Cube Show this week. “Outside of one safety spot, I don’t feel super comfortable with the A&M secondary. So you go get someone with experience, understanding of playing big-time college football, should be able to come in, lock down a spot and be a good player for that A&M defense.”

Grimes put up solid numbers at North Carolina, totaling 97 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and an interception in three years in Chapel Hill. He became the No. 90-ranked transfer to hit the portal and the No. 15-ranked cornerback transfer during the 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Transfer Portal Rankings.

How Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M used the portal to add to the secondary

Grimes is the second-highest ranked transfer Texas A&M has brought in. Former Boston College cornerback Josh DeBerry was ranked as the No. 65-ranked transfer this cycle, per the On3 Transfer Portal Rankings, as Fisher looked to address the secondary. Remember, Antonio Johnson is off to the NFL.

Last season, Texas A&M ranked No. 1 in the SEC in passing defense and No. 4 in scoring defense. However, the Aggies had the worst rushing defense in the league, allowing 209 yards per game — 20 more yards than South Carolina, which was 13th out of the 14 teams. Even so, ESPN recently ranked Texas A&M as the No. 9 defense in the country entering the 2023 season.

But adding through the portal is important, Fisher said earlier in the offseason. It’s all about finding the right players, though.

“Transfers at all schools are going to be inevitable,” Fisher said. “I mean every year you’re going to have transfers. That’s just part of the game in today’s world. You just hope they’re doing it for the right reasons and for something that can benefit them. And they don’t get themselves caught out there without a scholarship sometimes. Or trying to leave for the wrong reasons. I think that’s the biggest thing about it.

“Those are things we’re trying to address right now. Because this is all new on us too. Trying to monitor all those things? I mean I don’t know if there’s a perfect answer. In time, you’re going to continually shape those decisions until something is made.”