Texas A&M’s defense already has the look of a group built to win now, but the names generating the loudest buzz in fall camp are the ones just arriving.
That’s the takeaway from Billy Liucci on the latest edition of the Loochador Podcast, where the TexAgs insider pointed to five freshmen who have stood out across all three levels of the defense. In a program loaded with older pieces, those young players are starting to carve out real attention.
The Aggies’ veteran backbone is part of why the unit has drawn so much optimism for 2026. Mike Elko has spoken more than once about how deep and elite the secondary is, and it’s not hard to see why.
Texas A&M has fourth-years Dezz Ricks, Dalton Brooks, Tawfiq Byard, and Marcus Ratcliffe in that group, along with fifth-years Julio Humphrey and Rickey Gibson. Up front, the experience runs deep too, with Anto Saka, Ryan Henderson, DJ Hicks, CJ Mims, and others bringing plenty of mileage.
But Liucci’s focus was on the next wave.
The five freshmen he highlighted were CB Brandon Arrington, DL Bryce Perry-Wright, EDGE Tristian Givens, safety-turned-linebacker Tamarion Watkins, and S Chance Collins. Arrington already carries the reputation of a future star, and there’s plenty of expectation around Perry-Wright as well. The other three, though, are the names Liucci kept coming back to.
Collins has been showing up more and more as one of the most under-the-radar players in Texas A&M’s latest recruiting class. He still has a climb ahead of him with several players in front of him this season, but his level of play has clearly put him in the conversation to force his way onto the field.
Givens arrived with a strong recruiting profile out of Georgia, but the big question was whether he could keep his twitch after adding the weight needed to handle SEC football. So far, the reports say he has done that and then some. His progress late in the season and into the year ahead is shaping up as one of the more interesting storylines to watch.
Watkins may be the most intriguing of the bunch. He came in as a three-star prospect and spent most of his high school career in South Carolina at safety.
Texas A&M saw something different in his frame and imagined him at linebacker. That move appears to be ahead of schedule.
If those five freshmen keep building and eventually become the foundation of the defense, Texas A&M could be looking at something even bigger than a strong season. The incoming class of 2027 only adds to that picture, with LB Kaden Henderson, EDGE Zyron Forstall, CB Raylaun Henry, S Kamarui Dorsey, DT Myels Smith, and others on the way.
For Aggie fans, the message from camp is pretty simple: the present looks good, and the future might be even better.
In Other News...
Texas A&M Has A Freshman Back Fans Need To Watch Closely
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Rueben Owens is projected to open as the starter, but Edwards has a path to playing time if he keeps building on what hes shown. The biggest test for a young back in this offense may not be carrying the ball, though. Pass protection will go a long way toward determining how quickly Edwards earns the staffs trust, and thats often the difference between a promising freshman and one who actually gets on the field early. [Read more 🡒]
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The immediate flashpoint involves former Ole Miss players DaeQuan Wright and Zxavian Harris, both waived by NFL teams and now seeking to use the new eligibility path to join LSU. Even without a formal move to block those transfers, the stance from SEC leadership suggests the issue is far from settled, and it could shape how the conference handles similar cases going forward. For Texas A&M, the concern is less about these two players alone and more about where the league draws the line next. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Is Battling For A Recruit Who Could Change Its Future
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Now the focus has shifted to five-star offensive tackle Antijuan Wilkes Jr., who is weighing a list that includes Texas A&M and Michigan. For the Aggies, this is the kind of battle that speaks to more than one recruits decision, because the pitch leans on culture, academics and facilities as much as anything on the field. Those are the details that can separate finalists in a chase like this, and they will matter even more as the process moves forward. [Read more 🡒]