SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE FOOTBALL MEDIA DAYS

July 17, 2025

Taurean York

Texas A&M Aggies

Press Conference

Q. Do players, teammates notice who gets picked for these things?

TAUREAN YORK: For sure, 100 percent.

Q. Can you talk about the impact that Ar'maj has not only in the locker room but you go up against him in practice every day as well?

TAUREAN YORK: As far as the locker room goes, as soon as he got on campus he told me he always wanted to be an Aggie. That's something that stuck with me. He plays like he acts. He does the exact same thing.

On the field, he's a head buster. He's always going to try to get the best of you. When he gets the best of you he'll let you know about it. He's a tremendous force to be reckoned with, and I'm glad he's on my team.

Q. Where have you seen growth and development in Marcel this offseason as he becomes more of a leader for this team?

TAUREAN YORK: I mean, taking command of the offense for sure, being knowledgeable of the entire playbook. And the relationship he has with the receivers is what stands out to me.

Q. Have you been able to go in and see the College Football Hall of Fame yet?

TAUREAN YORK: I went to go check it. It's awesome.

Q. Did you see the A&M display?

TAUREAN YORK: The Von Miller Butkus Award-winner jersey? Checked it out.

Q. Want your thoughts on that. Is Von Miller one of those guys, being a linebacker, that's kind of maybe a motivation to you as an Aggie?

TAUREAN YORK: For sure. I walk by Von Miller's Butkus Award every day as I'm walking to and from the workouts and facility. Glad he went to A&M, and glad he also got signed by the Commanders recently.

Q. That Auburn game last year was a crazy one, four overtimes. How much extra motivation do you get entering the rematch this year knowing they stormed the field last year at Jordan-Hare?

TAUREAN YORK: I definitely understand the significance of that game. When they stormed the field, it was crazy. They stormed the field on us in South Carolina.

I'm glad Auburn will be coming back to Texas A&M and Kyle Field. I know Coach Durkin will be amped up and ready to go and coming back to his old stomping grounds. So that game has a lot of significance to it.

Q. Texas A&M is known for their strong rituals. Do any or your teammates have any strong rituals for pregame or superstitions that you guys abide by?

TAUREAN YORK: I just like Ar'maj slam the chair pregame. When we come out of the tunnel, we say the little chant. It gets the guys fired up. Whenever we say the chant I know everybody's on the same page and we're ready to go to war.

Q. Is there a particular opponent that means more to you or rivalry that you like to engage in?

TAUREAN YORK: Of course we have a lot of rivals, but as far as game week goes, our opponents are faceless. It's always more about what we do how and we execute as opposed to what the opposing team is doing.

Q. How would you describe Marcel Reed as a teammate? What have been some of your favorite moments with him so far?

TAUREAN YORK: My favorite moment with Marcel is celebrating after LSU, just knowing that his story and where he came from and what he had to do to put in the work to be the starting quarterback at A&M, he's one of my best friends on the team. I'm glad he's leading the charge for us.

Q. Coach Elko earlier was talking about Coach Taylor and just what he brings. I know it's the other side of the ball. But that seems to be somebody who has made a big impact on the program.

TAUREAN YORK: 100 percent, he made a big impact on me when he was recruiting me to Duke in high school. I'm happy everything came full circle, that he and Coach Elko came to Texas A&M.

How Coach Troop has the running backs in line and how he has command of the team, I'm happy. I'm blessed that God brought us back together.

Q. What is your biggest motivation that drives your competitiveness?

TAUREAN YORK: My biggest motivation would probably just be trying to prove to myself that all the work I put in is validated. A lot of man-hours each and every week into my craft and it's not something I take lightly.

The game of football has changed my life for the better and changed my family life as well. It's given us experiences like this and opportunities to travel the country. I love the game of football, and I'm blessed to be playing it.

Q. Shemar Stewart, you played along side him last season. What have you been able to learn from him taking into this season?

TAUREAN YORK: Shemar Stewart got drafted by the Bengals, and I'm seeing reports that he's coming back to play for us, which is crazy but I just let the media do their thing.

Shemar Stewart is a great friend of mine. Shemar was always very open to me. He always (indiscernible) as a person. Not a lot of people knew who I was. That's something that always stuck with me because he was always so nice and kind. He was open to building relationships with me.

Shemar was the No. 2 player in his class. And, me, I was, like, 978th. So for Shemar to talk to me before I played a snap at A&M, that's something that stood out to me.

Q. Who is someone on the defense this year maybe that could take people by surprise, maybe not on a lot of people's radar but you've noticed has really taken a step up?

TAUREAN YORK: Dayon Hayes for sure. We got him from Colorado. He's a tremendous football player, loves the game, plays with that type of passion. I'd probably say Dayon for sure.

Q. Other side of the ball offensively, especially the running back room, seems like at full health they can be really deep. What have you seen from them during practice?

TAUREAN YORK: In practice they give us headaches, just how they line up, what type of plays they run with all types of running backs. The entire stable, they can go at any moment, and that's all the way from walk-ons and Le'Veon Moss. It's a tribute to Coach Troop as well.

Q. I was wondering, A&M filmed the SEC Netflix special. How was that for you?

TAUREAN YORK: It was a tremendous experience for sure. Dave Targan and his crew, they did it the right way. They mic'ed us up for practice. They went with me and my family for Thanksgiving before the Texas game. We had a lot of interactions.

I'm looking forward to watch it. I hate it's coming out during fall camp, but I'll get around to watch it sometime soon.

Q. A&M starts the season with five-of-six home games, including three straight SEC home games to open their SEC schedule. What type of statement do you guys want to make to the league and college football as a whole?

TAUREAN YORK: Rule number one, you've got to protect Kyle Field. Gotta protect Kyle Field, especially playing three SEC games, you know, that has implications on playoff matters as well.

You have to take care of Kyle Field. That's the homeland. Kyle Field is not something that we take for granted. The power of 12th man is real. We'll be ready to play with them for sure.

Q. Along those lines, just the boost that Kyle Field can provide, especially for a defense.

TAUREAN YORK: Kyle Field, for defense? It really helps the offense out. It hurts the opposing offense as well.

I saw for the first time we played Alabama my freshman year, that was back when Coach Saban was coaching as well so you know they'll be extremely disciplined. They had like six or seven false starts versus us. I think at one point it was like third and 28. I'm like, how is it all possible? It's all through the 12th man.

Q. Yesterday I asked DJ Lagway about coming to play at Kyle Field. He actually mentioned you all have played against each other in high school. He said you got the better of him, but he's excited to come back and play at Kyle Field. What have you seen from him last year getting to play him at the Swamp? And obviously you all came away with a pretty big win there?

TAUREAN YORK: DJ has no fear. That's something I knew when we played him when I was Temple versus Willis back in my senior year in 2022, to see DJ on the field last year was cool. This year, I know he'll be fired up as well. Willis isn't too far from Texas A&M. I know he will have a lot of family there. So will I. Looking forward to facing him to him. He's one of those quarterbacks that you always look forward to facing because you kind of have a relationship. You know his family and what he stands for. I'm ready for it.

Q. If you have the opportunity, which NFL player, former or active, would you like to pick their brain on your position?

TAUREAN YORK: From my position, Ray Lewis, for sure. And Luke Kuechly as well. I liked how Luke studied the game. He was (indiscernible) release at No. 1 or No. 2 as well.

When you talk that much in detail with some guys who really love football, we'd probably be in that room all day.

Q. As a fellow Aggie, I know you're probably about to receive your Aggie ring. How excited are you for that?

TAUREAN YORK: That's a big-time accomplishment, for sure.

I have some family who graduated from A&M, they're ready for me to get my ring. As far as the ring (indiscernible) goes, I never even drank a beer in my life. I'm not 21 yet. I don't know how I'm going to do it or if I'm going to do it because that ain't me at all.

Q. Do it under a minute?

TAUREAN YORK: Under a minute? No, ma'am. I'm not going to be able to do that. I'm just being honest with you. I've never even had a beer before. So to think that you have to drink an entire, what is it, like a gallon? A pitcher, to get your ring, I'm going to have to have help from my family. Seriously, though.

Q. What does it mean to be representing your program at SEC Media Days?

TAUREAN YORK: It's a big-time honor. It really is. Just knowing my story, knowing the work I had to put in to get to this spot, even just to get on the team, in general, in 2023. It was a lot of stuff had to go in place and a lot of factors that went into that.

But as far as just being up here on the stage, it's a big-time blessing, it really is. Knowing that my teammates truly respect me for who I am and what I stand for. They just know I love the game of football and I love my teammates as well.

We have little celebrations. We talk. I always make sure I tell them I appreciate them because I really do, because they changed my life and they allowed me to lead them without any resentment or any backlash from it.

If I lead them, I'm going to lead them tough. I'm going to tell them you can do better, you can bring the best out of you. That's what I'll continue to do for them.

I'm excited. These guys are very receptive to my leadership, and I'm thankful for that.