Mike Elko fielded a top-25 defense at Notre Dame a year ago. Now, he’ll try to do the same in Year 1 on Jimbo Fisher’s staff at Texas A&M.

He’ll have plenty to work with, and like any good defense, it starts up front. Justin Madubuike was the defensive MVP of the spring, but Kingsley Keke, Daylon Mack and Jayden Peevy make defensive tackle a likely strength of the unit.

Landis Durham and Tyree Johnson should play major roles on the defensive line. Durham finished atop the SEC in 2017 with 10.5 sacks and could be due for an even bigger year as a senior.

Tyrel Dodson (105 tackles in 2017) and Otaro Alaka (78 tackles) both return as starters at linebacker, along with Buddy Johnson, who made 20 tackles as a freshman in 2017. That trio, along with backups like Anthony Hines III, Santino Marchiol and Ikenna Okeke give the Aggies experienced, quality depth at the position, a rarity at almost any program, but especially in recent years across Aggieland.

Donovan Wilson and Keldrick Carper are the frontrunners to win safety jobs. Carper made 26 stops as a freshman in 2017, while Wilson is returning for a fifth season. He was a defensive team captain a year ago but suffered a season-ending knee injury in the season-opening loss to UCLA. He made 59 tackles as a part-time starter at nickel back in 2016. Derrick Tucker and Deshawn Capers-Smith should find their way into the rotation as well.

The Aggies should be deep at corner. Clifford Chattman will return after missing 2017 with academic issues, and Charles Oliver, Travon Fuller, Myles Jones and Debione Renfro are each capable of doing what’s necessary in a starting role on the outside of the defense.

“I see enough athleticism; I see good guys; and I see the potential at every position,” Fisher said. “I really do. It’s just a matter of developing it and putting in our culture and our way of doing things. As an overall group, their genuine attitude and willingness to be coached probably excites me as much as anything.”

The short version: the talent is there for the Aggies to contend defensively in the SEC. Can they put it all together?