September 19, 2025

Defender of the Nation Award Player Profile Taurean York

Texas A&M’s Taurean York
5’-10” 227 lbs. Temple, Texas

Athletic Bio & Honors:

2024 (SOPHOMORE): Started all 13 games… Was named a season-long team captain prior to the season … Ranked 12th in the SEC and led the team with 82 tackles, while also ranking second on the team with 9.5 tackles for loss … Led the way with nine tackles in the season opener against Notre Dame … Had four takedowns in the win over McNeese … Led the team with five tackles in the win at Florida … Made five tackles and broke up a pass against Bowling Green … Had four tackles and a hurry in the win over Arkansas … Tallied 12 tackles, 1.5 for loss, at Mississippi State … Registered the first pick of his career and made six tackles in the win over LSU … Tallied eight tackles and broke up at pass at South Carolina … Led the defense with 10 takedowns at Auburn … Made it back-to-back games with double-digit tackles, leading the way with 10, while tallying 3.5 tackles for loss, including 1.0 sack for 4 yards lost against Texas … Tallied seven tackles and broke up two passes against USC in the Las Vegas Bowl … Was nominated for the Defensive MVP and Defensive Skill Awards at the team award show.

2023 (FRESHMAN): Started all 13 games, finishing his debut season second on the team with 74 tackles, ranking third among all league freshmen … Was also third on the team with five hurries and fourth with 8.5 tackles for loss … Received ESPN Freshman All-America and SEC All-Freshman Team accolades … Made two tackles in the season-opening win over New Mexico … Led the defense with seven tackles in his second straight start at Miami … Had a pair of takedowns in the win over ULM … Recorded the first double-digit tackles game of his career, leading the defense with 11 tackles, including 2.0 for loss, against Auburn … Had five tackles and a hurry against Arkansas and Alabama … Led the defense with nine tackles and forced a fumble at Tennessee … Tallied six tackles, including 1.5 for loss, in the win over South Carolina … Had three tackles and a hurry at Ole Miss … Had six tackles, including 1.0 sack, in the win over Mississippi State … Made four tackles against ACU … Had six takedowns at LSU … Made eight tackles in the Texas Bowl against Oklahoma State … Earned the Defensive Skill Award at the annual team banquet.

HIGH SCHOOL: Ranked a 3-star prospect by all three recruiting services (247 Sports, Rivals, ESPN) … Coached by Scott Stewart at Temple High School … Was a four-year varsity standout at Temple that totaled 435 tackles, including 47.0 tackles for loss and 15.0 sacks, adding 11 forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries and one interception during his career … Three-time UIL District 12-6A Defensive MVP (2020, ’21, ’22), was named the district co-Defensive Newcomer of the Year as a freshman.

Texas A&M Head Coach Mike Elko: “I think Taurean is the consummate leader. Since the day he showed up on campus he’s been a phenomenal leader. He stands for everything that we want this program to stand for both on and off the field. And on top of all of that, he’s turned into an outstanding linebacker. He’s started every game since he’s been here and he’s a difference-maker between the lines of scrimmage as well. Couldn’t ask for a better individual.”

The recipient of the Defender of the Nation Award will be announced on October 23 from one of the nation’s 15 distinguished military academies and ROTC programs. These include:

• United States Air Force Academy
• Appalachian State University
• Auburn University
• The Citadel
• United States Coast Guard Academy
• Michigan State University
• United States Naval Academy
• Norwich University
• University of Mississippi (Ole Miss)
• Texas A&M University
• Virginia Tech
• Virginia Military Institute (VMI)
• University of South Carolina
• Villanova University
• United States Military Academy (West Point)

This prestigious award honors a student-athlete who demonstrates exceptional leadership on the field, in the classroom, and within the community. The recipient must also uphold a high standard of integrity and lead by example.

In conjunction with the Football Writers Association of America, the 2025 Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet will take place on Monday, December 8, at the Charlotte Convention Center.

The evening will honor several of college football’s finest, including:

• The Defender of the Nation Award recipient.
• The prestigious Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner.
• The 2025 Legends Award honoree: Ron Rivera, University of California-Berkely, Class of 1983, alumnus and esteemed NFL coach.

In addition, University of Oklahoma legendary linebacker Brian Bosworth is slated to deliver the keynote address.

This annual banquet is a celebration of excellence in college football, recognizing standout performances, leadership, and integrity both on and off the field.

ABOUT THE CHARLOTTE TOUCHDOWN CLUB
The Charlotte Touchdown Club, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1990, is dedicated to promoting the full spectrum of football and athletics–from youth and middle school to high school, collegiate, and professional–throughout the Charlotte, North Carolina region. Since its inception, the Club has experienced significant growth and diversification, now supported by a sponsor team of more than 75 companies. The Club’s initiatives focus on celebrating and elevating Citizenship, Scholarship, Sportsmanship, and Leadership among area athletes and coaches. Through generous individual and corporate contributions, the Charlotte Touchdown Club has raised and donated over $3 million to support its ongoing scholarship programs.

ABOUT CAPITAL GROUP OF COMPANIES
Rick Hughes has a successful 46-year track record in the automotive finance and insurance industry. Rick worked with publicly held NY Stock Exchange companies, setting up their F&I Programs. Rick worked with Sonic Automotive on setting up their F&I Program, with NCADA to form and market their NC Life program and industry-leading programs to increase dealer revenue. Prior to starting Capital Automotive, Rick was the Director of Business Development for one of the world’s largest automotive finance product and service companies. Rick coordinated various international field forces, presented at BSF and CEO Ninety, and personally developed hundreds of successful dealership personnel. As CEO of the Capital Companies, he created Flex-Pro, a patented program which allows an additional income stream coupled with products, insurance, and reinsurance administrative services. The Capital Companies refers to four unique companies: Capital Benefits Group—Structures custom benefit options based on your business needs, Capital Automotive—Gives dealerships the edge they need to meet and exceed their goals, Capital Processing Systems—Provides state-of-the-art products, administration, insurance and reinsurance services to complement dealership and shareholder financial goals, and Data Dot Dealer Services—Least expensive, most effective anti-theft deterrent ever created. We are a group of companies that work together to help dealers capitalize on their investments. We keep our clients in the game and moving toward the goal line through our consumer and client-centric products and administrative services.

ABOUT VETERANS BRIDGE HOME
Veterans Bridge Home connects Veterans and their families, in any state of transition, to the community. Through our network of partners, we help Veterans navigate employment, create social connections, and settle their families. We look at the whole Veteran and connect them to the resources needed to be successful and thriving leaders in our community. Veterans Bridge Home serves as an entry point for Veterans who don’t know where to turn to access support and services. Because Veterans return home to a civilian community and not to federal agencies or bureaucracies, each community must reach out and actively assist in the reintegration process alongside federal agencies such as the Veterans Administration. The Carolinas have the opportunity and privilege to help bring our nation’s warriors and their families home with the same energy and commitment that our Veterans have displayed in serving our nation. In so doing, ours will serve as a leader to inform other communities that wish to create more welcoming and livable communities for returning Veterans and their families.

PREVIOUS DEFENDER OF THE NATION AWARD RECIPIENTS
2024 Defender of The Nation Award Recipient: Shayne Leddy
2023 Defender of The Nation Award Recipient: Trey Taylor
2022 Defender of The Nation Award Recipient: Dax Hollifield
2021 Defender of The Nation Award Recipient: Arik Smith
2019 Defender of The Nation Award Recipient: Kyle Johnson
2018 Defender of The Nation Award Recipient: Sean Williams
2017 Defender of The Nation Award Recipient: Greg Sanders
2016 Defender of The Nation Award Recipient: Andrew King

2025 DEFENDER OF THE NATION PLAYER PROFILES
• September 4: USAF / Aidan Swartz
• September 8: South Carolina / Jalon Kilgore
• September 11: The Citadel / Josh Cole
• September 15: Villanova / Shane Hartzell
• September 18: Texas A&M / Taurean York
• October 23: Defender of the Nation Recipient Announced