Texas A&M turned the defense over to Mike Elko in Jimbo Fisher’s first season, and the immediate impact was obvious.

The Aggies’ defense went from No. 78 in the country all the way down to No. 32 after allow- ing 60 fewer yards per game. The scoring defense jumped from No. 87 to No. 47. Nothing was more impressive than the Aggies jumping up all the way from No. 70 to No. 3 in rushing defense after holding teams to just 95.2 yards per game.

Elko’s defensive culture already started to set in during the first season. Even after losing six starters from the unit to the NFL, the renewed expectations on defense aren’t going anywhere.

“There’s a standard of how we want to play,” Fisher said. “Before the kids didn’t know because it was a new way of doing things, but now they know. The biggest thing coming out of spring is that they know what to expect.”

While the culture is in place, the roster is turning over at key spots. Three defensive linemen are gone to the NFL, so defensive tackle Justin Madubuike becomes the centerpiece of the front seven. Otaro Alaka and Tyrel Dodson are out at linebacker, so Anthony Hines, Keeath Magee and Braden White will have to join Buddy Johnson as major contributors at the position.

Secondary is where the most experience returns, but the production has to get better. Safety Donovan Wilson is gone to the NFL, but sophomore Leon O’Neal is one of the best defensive back prospects to join Texas A&M in recent years. The entire cornerback rotation is back, along with safeties Derrick Tucker and Larry Pryor.

That said, part of the reason Texas A&M was so good against the run is because of how much it struggled against the pass. The Aggies ranked No. 98 nationally by giving up 253.2 passing yards per game. That was good enough for No. 12 in the SEC. If Texas A&M wants to beat Trevor Lawrence, Jake Fromm and Tua Tagovailoa next season, that won’t cut it.