Howell, Concepcion Earn AFCA All-America Recognition
Dec 16, 2025 | Football
WACO – Texas A&M defensive end Cashius Howell and wide receiver/punt returner KC Concepcion earned First Team All-America honors from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), the organization announced on Tuesday.
It was Howell's fourth First Team All-America recognition (Walter Camp Football Foundation, Associated Press and CBS Sports), while it was Concepcion's third All-America award (Associated Press and CBS Sports).
The 6-2, 248-pound Howell emerged as the SEC's most-feared pass rusher in 2025 with a league-best 11.5 sacks, while also generating 41 quarterback pressures according to Pro Football Focus. He became the first Aggie to earn SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors and he was also a finalist for the Chuck Bednarik, Bronko Nagurski and Lombardi awards. His sack total was the most by an Aggie since current NFL record-setter Myles Garrett posted the same amount in 2014. Additionally, the Kansas City, Missouri, native ranked fourth in the SEC with 14.0 tackles for loss. Making plays all over the field, the redshirt senior finished the regular season with 29 tackles, including 19 solo stops, and also batted down six opponent aerials.
Already recognized as college football's most versatile player as the winner of the Paul Hornung Award, Concepcion earned All-America honors at all-purpose from the AFCA. A First Team All-SEC selection at wide receiver, return specialist and all-purpose, he paced the team with 57 catches for 886 yards with an SEC-best nine touchdowns (tie) while leading the league with 460 punt return yards. He led all SEC receivers with 12 total touchdowns and became the first Texas A&M player in the modern era of football to reach the end zone via rush, reception and punt return in a season. The Charlotte, North Carolina, native ranked No. 14 nationally with 1,409 all-purpose yards and averaged 117.4 yards per game. He was one of the nation's most explosive returners, finishing third in the FBS with five punt returns of 30 yards or longer and third nationally with 20.0 yards per return.
Earning a berth in the College Football Playoff for the first time, the 7th-seeded Aggies (11-1) host the 10th-seeded Miami Hurricanes (10-2) in a first-round game at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 20 at Kyle Field. Texas A&M, under the direction of second-year head coach Mike Elko, completed the second 11-win regular season in school history and the first-ever perfect 7-0 home worksheet in 2025.
It was Howell's fourth First Team All-America recognition (Walter Camp Football Foundation, Associated Press and CBS Sports), while it was Concepcion's third All-America award (Associated Press and CBS Sports).
The 6-2, 248-pound Howell emerged as the SEC's most-feared pass rusher in 2025 with a league-best 11.5 sacks, while also generating 41 quarterback pressures according to Pro Football Focus. He became the first Aggie to earn SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors and he was also a finalist for the Chuck Bednarik, Bronko Nagurski and Lombardi awards. His sack total was the most by an Aggie since current NFL record-setter Myles Garrett posted the same amount in 2014. Additionally, the Kansas City, Missouri, native ranked fourth in the SEC with 14.0 tackles for loss. Making plays all over the field, the redshirt senior finished the regular season with 29 tackles, including 19 solo stops, and also batted down six opponent aerials.
Already recognized as college football's most versatile player as the winner of the Paul Hornung Award, Concepcion earned All-America honors at all-purpose from the AFCA. A First Team All-SEC selection at wide receiver, return specialist and all-purpose, he paced the team with 57 catches for 886 yards with an SEC-best nine touchdowns (tie) while leading the league with 460 punt return yards. He led all SEC receivers with 12 total touchdowns and became the first Texas A&M player in the modern era of football to reach the end zone via rush, reception and punt return in a season. The Charlotte, North Carolina, native ranked No. 14 nationally with 1,409 all-purpose yards and averaged 117.4 yards per game. He was one of the nation's most explosive returners, finishing third in the FBS with five punt returns of 30 yards or longer and third nationally with 20.0 yards per return.
Earning a berth in the College Football Playoff for the first time, the 7th-seeded Aggies (11-1) host the 10th-seeded Miami Hurricanes (10-2) in a first-round game at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 20 at Kyle Field. Texas A&M, under the direction of second-year head coach Mike Elko, completed the second 11-win regular season in school history and the first-ever perfect 7-0 home worksheet in 2025.
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