Texas A&M’s first week of fall camp has already started to sort out who’s climbing and who’s fading as the Aggies work toward another run in 2026.
The loudest buzz has followed Terry Bussey, who keeps showing up as one of the clear winners from camp. He’s drawing attention because he looks like a player who is finally putting everything together and living up to the billing that made him such a coveted prospect for Texas A&M.
Anto Saka has also made a strong early impression. The Northwestern transfer arrived with a reputation as one of the more explosive additions Texas A&M landed this offseason, and he was viewed as a potential answer to replace Cashius Howell’s production.
There was also a sense that he might need some work from Mike Elko and his staff. Instead, the early camp reports suggest his technique has sharpened since he got to College Station, and with the burst and power he already brings, he looks capable of becoming one of the program’s next feared edge rushers.
That development has helped push back against one of the early losers from camp: the idea that Texas A&M’s pass rush will be a weakness this season after losing several important pieces from last year. Even without full pads on yet, the Aggies have shown enough in camp to make that concern look shaky.
Saka is part of that case, and so are others on the front. Defensive lineman CJ Mims has flashed strong interior play, while DJ Hicks appears ready to take a step forward. Taken together, the defensive front could again end up being one of Texas A&M’s strengths.
In Other News...
Texas A&M Linebackers Suddenly Carry A Big Defensive Question
Texas A&Ms fifth preseason practice offered a little bit of everything on both sides of the ball, with quarterback Marcel Reed showing improvement and wide receiver Mario Craver continuing to stand out. The Aggies also brought in 17 transfer portal additions, and one of the more important ones for this fall is linebacker Ray Coney, who arrives with the kind of profile that can help steady a defense still sorting out its identity.
At linebacker, the intrigue is starting to center on how quickly that group comes together after the offseason turnover. Defensive coordinator Lyle Hemphill has already expressed confidence in the room, and Daymion Sanford is nearing full strength again after the injury he suffered in the Maroon & White Game. Even with those encouraging signs, the position still carries a big question for Texas A&M as camp unfolds, because the next few practices will go a long way toward showing who can turn promise into production. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M's Texas Tech Decision Says Plenty About SEC Scheduling
Texas A&M has made its scheduling priorities pretty clear by passing on Texas Techs offer to set up a non-conference game in the foreseeable future. Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire said the Red Raiders have reached out to multiple schools about matchups in 2027 and beyond, and so far the answers have not been encouraging. For the Aggies, the decision fits the broader way SEC teams have been managing their calendars, with outside games carefully chosen around the demands of league play and the need to protect long-term scheduling plans.
Texas A&M already has home-and-home series lined up against Arizona State and Louisville over the next four seasons, which underscores how selective these openings can be. For fans hoping to see old regional ties revived, the Texas Tech pitch would have carried real appeal, but the Aggies refusal suggests they are not eager to add another commitment unless it fits exactly what they want. In the meantime, Tech keeps searching for a partner, and the lack of traction says as much about the current scheduling climate as it does about any one matchup. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M May Have Finally Fixed One Passing Game Problem
Texas A&M spent a good chunk of last season looking for a little more variety in its passing game, and now it appears the Aggies may have added a piece that changes the shape of the room. A transfer receiver is on the way who brings the kind of size this offense has not consistently had, giving the unit a different look to pair with Mario Craver and KC Concepcion.
The addition matters because the new arrival is not just another target, but a player who produced in bigger spots last season and showed he could hold up against major competition. For an Aggies passing attack trying to become more balanced and harder to defend, that mix of size and production could be exactly what it needed. [Read more 🡒]