Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy gives players to watch during Alabama-Texas A&M

Alabama and Texas A&M have started a recent tradition of facing off on the Saturday following the first week of October, and that will continue this year. While both teams saw early September struggles, they have gotten it all together heading into the new month.

Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy broke down some players to watch in the game on Monday’s episode of Andy Staples’ podcast. He started with three front seven players on the Aggies defense: McKinnley Jackson, Fadil Diggs and Edgerrin Cooper.

“We’ve seen Alabama a couple of times,” Nagy said. “I think, as a staff, we’ve seen them four times already. They’re right here in our backyard. I was up there for the Texas game. But on the A&M side, McKinnley Jackson, the nose tackle for Texas A&M, he can be a gamewrecker.

“When he’s on his game, and he’s on his game all the time, that kid plays really hard for defensive lineman. But Fadil Diggs, Edgerrin Cooper, the linebacker, has put back-to-back games where he’s filled the stat sheet. We’re going to be looking at that front seven for Texas A&M and kind of how they stack up against Alabama’s o-line.”

Nagy then highlighted the Alabama offensive line. The Crimson Tide’s front five on offense have played very well the past two weeks, and it has made a difference for the Alabama offense.

“Bama’s o-line the last couple of weeks looks like they’re getting it together, playing better the last couple of weeks,” Nagy said. “They’re running it. Jalen Milroe’s, running it. Jase McClellan’s running it well. This is gonna be big boy football. Jimbo’s seat, just listening to the media, it might have been getting a little hot after that Miami game to come out of the year. These last couple weeks, they’ve played really, really well. Give it to Jimbo and that staff. They’ve really pulled it together and played well the last few weeks.”

Texas A&M’s one loss this season came to Miami in Week 2. Since then, they have won all three games in convincing fashion.

This includes two SEC victories over Auburn and Arkansas. The Aggies defeated the Tigers, 27-10, before beating the Razorbacks, 34-22, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

“Those are two good tests, Auburn and Arkansas both; those are big boy teams,” Nagy said. “They’ve responded. I think the DJ Durkin probably wishes he could do a couple of things differently against Miami. They kind of sat back and let Tyler Van Dyke pick them apart. I’ve noticed that a little more aggressive the last couple of weeks with some blitz stuff. They’ve gotten Cooper really involved in the rush game from his linebacker spot. It should be a good one. Another really good matchup.”