INDIANAPOLIS — In three years at Texas A&M, linebacker Taurean York showed a knack for being in the right place at the right time.
There was a pass he intercepted against LSU in 2024.
He deciphered a screen pass and made a tackle for a four-yard loss vs. Auburn.
Late in that game, he recorded a sack for a seven-yard loss that helped A&M protect a 13-10 lead.
Those were perhaps York’s biggest plays in an excellent three-year collegiate career in which he amassed 229 tackles.
When York announced he would enter the NFL Draft, there were skeptics. He stands only 5-foot-10, which is well below average height for an NFL linebacker.
There was no shortage of opinions that York should’ve returned to A&M for his senior season.
But at the NFL Combine on Wednesday morning, York maintained he’s once again at the right place at the right time.
“Ultimately, if I came back for another year, I wasn’t going to grow three inches, you know. So, I just decided to bet on myself right now. Just made the decision with conviction and never looked back.”
- Texas A&M linebacker Taurean York
“I’m 20 years old,” he said. “I’m healthy. Never been hurt. Thirty-nine straight games in the SEC. Two-time captain.
“As I was going through the (Combine interview) process, they kept talking about how short I was and how I wasn’t fast enough and couldn’t do it again. I’ve already heard this stuff.
“Ultimately, if I came back for another year, I wasn’t going to grow three inches, you know. So, I just decided to bet on myself right now. Just made the decision with conviction and never looked back.”
If York’s tone comes off as defiant, it’s because it is. Throughout his football career, he’s cleared hurdles with the ease of Edwin Moses.
York was a mere three-star recruit coming out of Temple High School. He appeared to be on his way to play at Duke until then-Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher made a last-second scholarship offer.
York impressed immediately. He was a starter as a true freshman. He was a team captain as a sophomore. He earned All-SEC acclaim as a junior.
“A lot of people said I couldn’t do it, but I just proved them wrong once again,” he said.
Will Huffman, TexAgs
Taurean York was a third-team All-SEC selection as a junior in 2025.
So, when the subject of height is brought up during Combine interviews, York gets a little annoyed.
“Everybody has flaws as a player,” he said. “Everybody has missed tackles or plays they wish they could get back, but to be honest, that (height) is all I’ve heard. They just keep talking about my height and my short arms and things of that nature.
“I felt like I’ve already put this to rest once at the biggest stage, and I keep doing it, and I keep taking people’s jobs, and they keep doubting me.”
York believes the A&M game tape should remove all doubts.
“Trust me. You watch it on film. You can tell that I’m playing ferocious and I’m playing gritty,” he said.
If York comes off as arrogant, so be it. He’s just confident in the abilities that have brought him this far. He thinks they can take him farther.
But York acknowledges he has shortcomings — and not just in height. He knows there are areas in which he can improve.
“You want to create more turnovers,” he said. “I watched my perimeter game this past year. I got kind of dominated on the perimeter a little bit. I’m not a fan of being dominated. I like to do the dominating.”
York said studying tape revealed the problem. He feels he can fix it. He just needs a chance.
“Ultimately, just to be on that field is an honor,” he said. “So, I’m going to go give it my all every chance I get.”
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