Texas A&M’s first depth chart of the 2026 season has already delivered a few answers - and one of the biggest ones comes in the secondary.
The Aggies’ Week 1 two-deep, released on August 31, shows the three cornerbacks fans expected to see near the top of the battle, but not in the order most people assumed. Dezz Ricks, who entered the year as the incumbent starter from last season, is not sitting at the top of the chart. Instead, Julio Humphrey appears to have the lead at corner, with Ricks now fighting Gibson for work on the other side.
That is a notable twist from the way the competition had been viewed all offseason, when the expectation was that Humphrey and Gibson would be the main names duking it out. If this chart holds, Texas A&M may have found an even stronger answer than anticipated. Ricks played at a high level last year, so Humphrey claiming the top spot would point to a defensive backfield that could be even tighter than it was a season ago.
Of course, this is still only the opening snapshot. Elko has regularly rotated players early in the season before settling on his preferred starters later on, so the picture could still shift once games begin.
The offensive line also got its first real sorting out. At guard, Blake Ivy and Trovon Baugh are listed as the starters. At tackle, the spots go to Tyree Adams and Wilkin Formby.
Behind Formby sits Robert Bourdon, while Lamont Rogers is listed behind Adams. Bourdon was used heavily last year as Texas A&M’s sixth offensive lineman, and Rogers has been a player fans have been waiting to see take a step forward after arriving as a former five-star prospect.
Coen Echols, the other transfer lineman brought in by the Aggies, shows up as the top backup at two spots, which suggests he’ll be part of the mix as well. By the time conference play arrives, all eight of those linemen should have plenty of snaps under their belts.
Another name that stands out is Ray Coney. He has turned heads in fall camp, but the depth chart lists him as a backup at linebacker. That still points to a role in the rotation, while also hinting at progress for Noah Mikhail, a player the coaches have liked since recruiting him.
With kickoff only days away, Texas A&M’s roster is finally starting to come into focus. The depth chart has not answered every question, but it has given a clear early look at where several of the most closely watched battles stand.
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