Two more Aggies declare early for NFL Draft

Make it four Texas A&M Aggies who are foregoing their final year of college eligibility. On Thursday evening, running back Trayveon Williams and center Erik McCoy both announced their intentions to declare for the NFL Draft. They join tight end Jace Sternberger and linebacker Tyrel Dodson, who announced their decisions earlier this week.

Trayveon Williams’s departure was almost a foregone conclusion. Any doubt was seemingly removed following the Aggies’ 52-13 Gator Bowl win, in which his 236 yards and three touchdowns helped him set the school record for rushing yards in a season, and moved into third place in all time rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. While NFL teams may not like his size, his draft stock was unlikely to go any higher if he stayed, so if the NFL was in his plans, this was the time to go.

McCoy was another player who’s time had simply arrived. A three-year starter, he is currently rated as the third-best center available in the draft, according to WalterFootball.com, projecting him in the second or third round.

While none of the four players who are leaving early are huge shocks, losing all four of them certainly hurts the A&M depth chart in 2019, in what was already shaping up to be a brutal schedule. If there is a silver lining, it’s that next year likely wasn’t going to be the year A&M challenged for a title even if all of these players stayed, and with them gone, it clears the way for younger players to get playing experience and be even more prepared for the 2020 season and beyond.

Gig ‘em, fellas.