Taurean York leaves Texas A&M with lifetime of memories

Taurean York was standing near the Reveille Memorial in front of Kyle Field in early October when a fellow student approached him. The young lady made a request that will likely stand out for the rest of York’s life. 

“She wanted to pray for me,” York said. “That definitely stood out for me.”

As York headed to Houston’s George HW Bush Airport on Monday afternoon for a flight to Phoenix, where he will spend the next two months training for the NFL Draft, he thought of that young lady and other Aggies who offered to pray for him and with him during his three years in Aggieland.

“The people on campus are amazing,” York said. “The amount of times that people came to me and prayed for me on campus is something that will stick out.”

Defensive leader

With a year of college eligibility left, York, 20, will chase his childhood dreams of playing in the NFL. He was a three-year starter and two-year captain at Texas A&M. York was the Aggies’ leading tackler the last two seasons. He finished second in tackles as a true freshman.

He was a major reason the 2025 Aggies finished 11-2 after reaching the College Football Playoff for the first time in school history.

The 2025 Texas A&M football team is universally considered the school’s best this century and arguably the school’s best since 1992. York is two semesters shy of finishing his Sport Management degree.

The Mexican American linebacker vows to get his academic work done to complete his degree. Meanwhile, he’s set to order his Aggie ring in the coming days and then focus on the draft.

“I’d tell them I appreciate them taking in a kid from Temple (Texas) that nobody once knew,” York says of his message to Texas A&M’s 12th Man. “I appreciate how fast time flies by. It was a great three years that changed my family’s life, gave my family experiences that nobody can ever take from them.”

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York finished the 2025 season with a team-high 72 tackles, highlighted by a season-high 11 against Texas. He also had 10 tackles against Mississippi State and UTSA. 

‘A great three years’

He was a Freshman All-American in 2023 while receiving SEC All-Freshman honors. In 2024, Dave Campbell’s Texas Football named York the best linebacker on its All-Texas Team. York finished his career as an All-SEC Third Team selection in 2025. 

Fueled By Zeal 🙏🏾⛹🏾‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/UwfKoq42NU

— Taurean A. York 🏴‍☠️ (@TaureanYork5x) January 6, 2026

He drew compliments often this past season from coach Mike Elko and his teammate for his work ethic and dedication to reviewing game film to prepare to lead the defense. A Missouri offensive lineman paid York the ultimate compliment by saying it seemed as though the Aggie defense knew the plays that were coming.

“Taurean York brings a different type of leadership. … But just how he prepares and how he does it,” Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed said in November. “But as soon as we get into the bus or the plane after a game he’s looking at film for the next week or looking at the scouting report for the next week or watching the game of the team we’re about to play the next week.

“He takes it to another level. It’s just great to see that growth from him and how he’s done it all these years.”

Taurean York credits his father Robert York, who holds two jobs, for instilling the work ethic that has paid off on the football field. Robert, in turn, credits his son for taking the family’s work ethic to another level.

‘A big step’

York was rated as a 3-Star recruit when he signed with the Aggies. He graduated early from Temple High and enrolled in January 2023. Taurean York produced on the field for the Aggies much better than a 3-Star recruit. He hopes to participate in the NFL Combine in February and then at Texas A&M’s pro day in March. York is ready to test himself in the NFL.

“I know it’s a big step,” he said. “But I’m ready for it. I feel like it was time for me to really elevate the game to the next level. I gave it everything I had so I could be at peace if that was my last game.”

Ultimately, he hopes to become a football coach after his playing career is over. York hopes to be an assistant coach for Elko one day and perhaps replace him when Elko retires.

He leaves Texas A&M with plenty of great memories on the field and off. York is grateful for all the Aggies who supported him and offered to pray for him and with him. The student who offered to pray for him in front of Kyle Field in October helped validate his decision to attend Texas A&M. 

“I just knew I made the right decision,” he said. “I knew I was surrounded by great people and people I could depend on down the road, a great safe network you’d want to be employed by or employ in your company.”