Texas A&M heads into fall camp with plenty of buzz and just as many questions.
Year three under Mike Elko arrives in less than two months, and the temperature around College Station is higher after the Aggies reached their first College Football Playoff last season. Elko managed to keep quarterback Marcel Reed, wide receiver Mario Craver, and other important pieces in place, but the roster still took a hit from the NFL Draft departures that opened up some obvious gaps ahead of the 2026 season.
There are also 17 new additions on the roster, plus new coordinators on both sides of the ball, which means fall camp at the end of the month will be less about fine-tuning and more about sorting out the biggest unknowns.
Reed sits at the top of that list. For much of last season, he was in the Heisman Trophy conversation alongside Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza and Ohio State’s Julian Sayin. But the finish to his year was rough: over the final two games, he threw no touchdowns and four interceptions, including the last pass of his sophomore season, which was picked off by Miami cornerback Bryce Fitzgerald while Reed was trying to engineer a game-tying drive.
He is expected to be back as the starter in Elko’s offense, and this offseason has already included added weight, work with a private coach, and a stop at the Manning Passing Academy. Now the question is whether the Nashville native comes back sharper and more decisive in big moments, or at least cleaner than he was against Texas and Miami last year.
The offensive staff has its own major adjustment. With Collin Klein leaving for the head coaching job at Kansas State after last season, wide receivers coach Holmon Wiggins was promoted to offensive coordinator. Wiggins has talent to work with on the outside, including Alabama transfer Isaiah Horton, but the real test is whether he can handle the full scope of an offense after previously focusing on the receiver room.
The ground game is another area to watch, especially with Rueben Owens set for a full workload as the lead back for the Maroon and White after getting healthy.
Defensively, Texas A&M has to replace one of its biggest stars from last season in All-American edge rusher and reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Year Cashius Howell, who was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in this year’s NFL draft. The defense also has a new voice in Lyle Hemphill, who takes over for Jay Bateman at coordinator.
One of the priorities on that side of the ball will be creating more interceptions after finishing near the bottom of the conference in that category last year. That said, Howell and the front were so disruptive that there often wasn’t much left for the secondary to feast on.
The Aggies still bring back key names like Daymion Sanford, Marcus Ratcliffe, and Dezz Ricks, while Anto Saka arrives via transfer from Northwestern. With that group in place, the next version of the “Wrecking Crew” will try to build on the impressive 2025 season that came before it.
In Other News...
This Texas A&M Commit Could Spark Something Much Bigger
Zyron Forstalls commitment to Texas A&M in the 2027 class already looks bigger than one highly rated edge rusher choosing a school. The five-star prospect brings the kind of profile Aggies fans notice immediately, but it is the way he carries himself that makes this one stand out, with his leadership and his background giving A&M a foothold in more than one recruiting lane.
Forstall has ties that stretch from Louisiana to IMG Academy, and that combination gives Texas A&M a chance to stay in the conversation for elite talent well beyond his own pledge. He is also the type of recruit who can help create momentum on the trail, and the Aggies will be watching closely to see whether his decision starts pulling more top-end names toward College Station. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M May Be Losing Grip On A Massive In-State Recruit
Texas A&Ms push to keep one of the states top running backs in the fold is suddenly looking a lot less secure. Landen Williams-Callis, a highly ranked in-state target and one of the most productive backs in the country, is set to make his college decision on Aug. 1, and he has long been a player the Aggies had circled as a potential anchor for their No. 1 recruiting class.
Williams-Callis had been viewed as an early favorite for Texas A&M, which only adds to the intrigue around where this one is headed. Ranked among the best at his position, he brings the kind of production and profile that can swing a class, and the late momentum around his recruitment has turned a once-comfortable race into one the Aggies are suddenly watching closely. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&Ms 2027 Class Just Got More National Validation
Texas A&Ms 2027 recruiting class keeps drawing more national attention, and the latest Rivals300 update only adds to the momentum. Five-star offensive tackle Mark Matthews and five-star safety Kamarui Dorsey are already carrying elite billing, while linebacker Aston Whiteside and athlete Errol Kerns have now joined the top 300 as well, giving the Aggies a class that is starting to look loaded across the board.
What stands out for Texas A&M is not just the rankings climb, but the fit. The staff has been targeting players who match the system and the culture it wants to build, and the early returns suggest those evaluations are resonating with national analysts too. With more of these commitments still developing and several already pushing into higher territory, the Aggies have reason to feel good about where this group could end up once the cycle plays out. [Read more 🡒]