Micah Riley is stepping into a bigger role at Texas A&M with a healthy body and a fresh start in Aggieland.
For the Aggies, tight end play is going to matter in a big way this season. Whether the job is helping in the run game or finishing plays through the air, production from that room will carry real weight. Riley understands that, and as a captain of this year’s group, he knows the pressure that comes with it.
The good news for Texas A&M is that Riley is finally back to full speed. After missing last season because of a shoulder injury, he’s back as a full participant and ready to take part in fall camp.
“I'm excited,” Riley said. “I'm healthy for the first time in a while.
I had shoulder surgery this offseason, so I've been working on that all offseason with Dalton, Des and Tommy. We're all healthy and ready to go, and we're very excited for camp.”
Riley, an Omaha, Nebraska native, last played in 2024 during his time at Auburn, where he spent two seasons and finished with three catches for 43 yards and two touchdowns.
He now joins a Texas A&M tight end room that looks completely different after losing Nate Boerkircher, Theo Melin-Ohrstrom and Amari Niblack. That turnover has opened the door for a new group to define itself, and Riley said the room has already built a strong bond.
“I think we've meshed really well,” Riley mentioned. “We spend as much time together as you can imagine.
We've had extra meetings and done a lot throughout the offseason to build chemistry and make sure everyone is comfortable with each other and the scheme. We spent the entire offseason together, especially making an effort to bring the transfer guys in.
We're an older group, but we also have a lot of young players, and it's our job to bring them along, teach them, and make sure they understand what they're learning and why they're learning it. I think we've done a good job of that.”
Riley, Houston Thomas and Richie Anderson Ⅲ are part of a room that is drawing plenty of attention because of the changes around the offense, including a new offensive coordinator in Holmon Wiggins and tight ends coach Derek Shay. Even with that spotlight, Riley said the group is comfortable operating without a lot of outside noise.
“Our coach talks about it a lot,” Riley said. “We've got something to prove.
There's not a lot of attention around our room, and we kind of like it that way. We've got talented receivers, a talented offensive line and a talented quarterback, and all those pieces will open things up for us.
So just being versatile, being ready, being prepared, and being quarterback-friendly. Whenever Marcel needs me, I'll be open.
I'll be ready. That's just kind of the standard of our room.”
Riley didn’t get into specifics about what the offense will look like under Wiggins, but he did say the transition should feel familiar. He also made it clear the staff’s choice at offensive coordinator was one the team fully backed.
“I can't give you too much, but I think things will be similar,” Riley said. “We try to keep everything as common and consistent as possible.
I think things will be great. He's proven that he's great at his job, and getting this opportunity to show what he can do as an offensive coordinator is great for his path and his career.
We're super excited. There wasn't anybody else we wanted.”
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