Texas A&M’s 16th preseason practice brought the Aggies one step closer to the 2026 opener, and it also marked the final time media was allowed to watch and film the early portion of practice before in-season work begins next Monday. With the opener now just 11 days away, Tuesday afternoon offered one more look at where things stand.
The biggest storyline remains the same: redshirt junior quarterback Marcel Reed is heading into his second full season as the starter without a real battle for the job, and that matters for first-year offensive coordinator Holmon Wiggins. Reed and Wiggins already have an established relationship, and Wiggins’ background with dual-threat quarterbacks gives that pairing a clear head start.
On the field, Reed’s deep ball has been sharper over the first 15 practices, including Saturday’s scrimmage. His best work has come when targeting junior wide receiver Mario Craver and Alabama transfer Isaiah Horton. Texas A&M’s secondary, though, has not made that easy, with the cornerback group pushing back and coming up with two interceptions late in practice.
There was also encouraging movement at linebacker from senior Daymion Sanford. After the brutal fibula injury he suffered during the Maroon & White Game, Sanford has been recovering at a pace that can only be described as remarkable. He continued to look close to his usual speed on Tuesday, and his lower-body explosiveness still appears intact, which is a strong sign for Texas A&M.
Several other players drew attention from the reporters on hand, including former 5-star offensive tackle Lamont Rogers, junior linebacker Jordan Lockhart, rising sophomore edge Marco Jones, Northwestern transfer edge Anto Saka, former 5-star edge Tristian Givens and sophomore running back Jamarion Morrow.
The defensive backfield also had its moments. Texas A&M’s deep cornerback rotation kept working, and the safety group showed why it’s considered one of the team’s strengths. Reed and wide receiver Terry Bussey continued to show strong chemistry as well, while Sanford’s movement around the field remained a positive note for the Aggies.
In Other News...
Texas A&M Has A Camp Battle Fans Need To Watch Closely
Texas A&Ms secondary is one of the more intriguing parts of camp because the Aggies have both continuity and a fresh face pushing for playing time. Along with a group of returning defensive backs, the biggest new name is Gibson, the transfer from Tennessee, and he has quickly entered the conversation for a starting cornerback job alongside returning cornerback Julian Humphrey.
Gibsons camp has drawn positive reviews from coaches and teammates, who have pointed to his skill set and competitiveness as reasons he has been able to make a real push. No official decision has been announced yet, which leaves this as one of the roster battles worth watching closely as Texas A&M keeps sorting out its secondary. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&Ms Defense May Depend On One Overlooked Sophomore Linebacker
Texas A&M already knows it will lean on familiar names on offense next season, with quarterback Marcel Reed and receiver Mario Craver expected to be central figures. The more interesting question may be on the other side of the ball, where the Aggies are looking for answers as they prepare for another push in the SEC. One name inside that conversation is Noah Mikhail, a sophomore linebacker who got into 13 games as a freshman and is now working toward a much bigger piece of the defense.
Mikhails importance has grown with the departures of key linebackers such as Taurean York, leaving Texas A&M with some real weight to replace in the middle of the defense. If the Aggies are going to build the kind of defensive stability that travels in conference play, they need younger players to grow up quickly, and Mikhail is one of the clearest candidates to do it. His development could end up mattering just as much as any headline name when the Aggies start measuring themselves against the league's best. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Has A New Debate Over Its Offensive Face
Texas A&M is entering the 2026 season with a lot of familiar faces trying to define what the offense will look like after major roster turnover, and the preseason watchlist for the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award only sharpened that conversation. Quarterback Marcel Reed, running back Rueben Owens II and wide receiver Terry Bussey all landed on the list, a reminder that the Aggies have multiple players with the kind of profile that can shape the identity of the unit.
The interesting part now is not simply that all three are back, but how their roles stack up as the season approaches. Reed gives the offense its obvious centerpiece, Owens brings balance in the backfield and Bussey adds another dynamic option on the perimeter, leaving Texas A&M with a choice about where the true face of the offense will emerge once the games begin. [Read more 🡒]