Texas A&M’s 2025 season is reaching historic levels for a program that has underperformed over the last decade-plus, outside of two solid seasons. Sitting at 8-0 and 5-0 in the SEC standings —the best start the Aggies have had since 1992 —second-year head coach Mike Elko deserves a ton of credit for instilling a blue-collar, physical mentality into the program.
Set to take on No. 19 Missouri (6-2, 2-2 SEC) in Columbia on Saturday afternoon, Texas A&M’s defense is looking to pressure freshman quarterback Matt Zollers, led by senior edge Cashius Howell, who leads the SEC with 9.5 sacks within a defense that has produced 32 sacks on the year.
Howell’s final collegiate season has been an immense success thanks to Elko’s scheme that allows the redshirt senior to thrive off the edge. Despite his below-average arm length (30 inches) by NFL standards, his elite athleticism and enhanced strength after training with S&C Tommy Moffitt have provided a significant boost to his playing future.
Paired with 30-plus pressures, Howell has rightfully become a semifinalist for the prestigious Lombardi Award, given to a player at the end of each season who “embodies” the spirit of the late, great Vince Lombardi. Here is a quick rundown of the award’s background.
For more than 50 years, the Lombardi Award™ has honored the nation’s top college linemen while fueling the fight against cancer. Established by the Rotary Club of Houston in 1970, just weeks after Coach Vince Lombardi’s passing, the award celebrates athletes who exemplify his legacy of character, discipline, and excellence.
Texas A&M will look for Cashius Howell to make another significant impact on the road to help lead the Aggies to a third consecutive road win against Missouri.
Lombardi Award Semifinalist💪#GigEm | @2cashiuspic.twitter.com/DsvT6QhEIz
— Texas A&M Football (@AggieFootball) November 4, 2025
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M Edge Cashius Howell named semifinalist for Lombardi Award
