Texas A&M’s captain list for the 2026-27 season is set, and Rueben Owens isn’t on it. But that doesn’t mean he’s any less central to what the Aggies are trying to build.
Head coach Mike Elko named five captains for the Maroon and White: quarterback Marcel Reed, tight end Micah Riley, linebacker Daymion Sanford, and safeties Marcus Ratcliffe and Dalton Brooks. Owens doesn’t have the patch, yet his role could end up shaping the season just as much as anyone in that group.
That’s because running back is never just about carrying the ball, especially in the SEC. The job demands versatility - catching passes, grinding out yards, protecting the football and doing the dirty work that helps everyone else function. Owens checked those boxes last season, and Texas A&M leaned on him heavily after Le’Veon Moss went down with an injury.
Once Moss was out, Owens saw more work alongside Amari Daniels and Jamarion Morrow. He made the most of those chances, using his footwork to slip through traffic and his burst to get upfield when the Aggies needed him.
The 5-foot-11 back finished with 119 carries for 639 yards, scored five touchdowns and averaged 5.4 yards per carry. Those numbers were a major part of Texas A&M’s run to the College Football Playoff.
Now the path is even more open. Moss and Daniels are gone, which gives Owens a real shot at winning the starting job or at least sharing the load with the first-team offense. He’ll have competition, but he also brings experience into a room now working under running backs coach Trooper Taylor.
His biggest rushing performances came against Mississippi State and Missouri, when he topped 100 yards in both games. There’s also reason to watch how Texas A&M uses him as a receiver, since his two best games in receptions came against Arkansas and South Carolina. Add in the ball security he showed last season, and Owens has a chance to become even more important this fall.
He may not wear the captain’s patch, but Owens looks like one of the Aggies’ most valuable leaders anyway.
In Other News...
Texas A&Ms No. 1 Class Just Got Even More Dangerous
Texas A&Ms 2027 class keeps looking less like a hot streak and more like a full-on recruiting avalanche. The Aggies already sat atop the national rankings, and the addition of another blue-chip defender only deepens a group that now features six five-star commitments and a steady climb for several prospects in the Rivals300. It is the kind of class that gives a program real margin for error, especially when the talent is spread across premium spots and the momentum keeps building.
Mike Elkos staff changes have only added to the sense that this run is being built to last, with Holmon Wiggins taking over as offensive coordinator and Lyle Hemphil stepping in as defensive coordinator after recent departures. Behind the scenes, the Aggies recruiting machine has been humming too, with key staffers helping land more than half the class and others tied to some of the biggest names still shaping the board. The bigger question now is how high this group can climb before signing day, because the way Texas A&M is stacking commitments, the ceiling still feels very much in play. [Read more 🡒]
Why Texas A&M Fans Should Watch Mike Elkos Sanford Decision Closely
Texas A&Ms footprint at SEC Media Days is starting to come into focus, and the Aggies will send a familiar mix of leadership and intrigue to Tampa. Quarterback Marcel Reed, safety Marcus Ratcliffe and linebacker Daymion Sanford will represent the program, while Mike Elko and the 2026 team captains are also scheduled to speak as the leagues preseason spotlight turns toward College Station.
Sanfords presence on the list is the one that stands out most for Aggie fans, given the uncertainty around his availability entering the season. Reed gives Texas A&M a chance to put its young quarterback on a big stage, and Ratcliffe offers another veteran voice, but Sanfords appearance could be the first meaningful update fans get on where he stands as the program heads into fall camp. [Read more 🡒]
Rueben Owens Has One Last Chance To Become An Aggie Star
Rueben Owens II has spent his first two seasons at Texas A&M in a supporting role, but the path in front of him looks very different now. With the backfield opening up, Owens is projected to step into the lead job in 2026, giving the Aggies a chance to see whether the former rotational piece can become the kind of feature back that changes the shape of an offense.
There is reason to believe the opportunity is real. Owens handled a career-high workload in 2025 and finished with 639 yards and five touchdowns, production that showed what he can do when the ball is in his hands more often. For Texas A&M, the stakes are bigger than one players breakout, since a strong season from Owens would fit neatly into a larger push to put the Aggies in national championship contention. [Read more 🡒]