Mike Elko’s first fall camp at Texas A&M has started to sort out the pecking order, and a few names have made loud cases for bigger roles when the Aggies open the season.
With Week 1 getting closer, camp has become the proving ground for the players trying to push their way into the lineup. Texas A&M’s staff still has decisions to make, but August has already produced a handful of clear standouts.
One of the biggest buzz builders has been Terry Bussey. The wide receiver and return specialist has turned heads all month, and the reasons go beyond just highlight catches.
Bussey said he gained 10 pounds over the offseason, and that added size has shown up alongside the kind of playmaking that gets noticed fast - one-handed grabs in traffic, sharper route running, and a general sense that the Timpson native is ready for a strong junior year. He’s still very much in the mix for a starting receiver job.
On the defensive side, Texas A&M may have found a ready-made answer to a major departure. After Cashius Howell announced he would enter the NFL draft following the conclusion of the 2025 season, the Aggies needed someone to step into that role off the edge.
Northwestern transfer Anto Saka has done exactly that in camp. He arrived in January and has backed up the hype with refined technique and explosiveness, enough to draw comparisons to Howell, the reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Year.
With Howell and Albert Regis now in the NFL, Saka is being counted on as the next leader on the front.
Rueben Owens has also made a strong push to be the featured back. With both Le'Veon Moss and Amari Daniels out of College Station now, Owens looks locked in as RB1, and he’s shown why throughout camp.
He’s added noticeable muscle, looks better as a ball carrier, and has flashed improved vision. Owens said he has been focused on balance, noting that he left too many touchdowns out there last season because he was stumbling or getting tripped up.
If he can hold up with the workload coming his way, Owens could be set up for the kind of season Texas A&M has been waiting for.
In Other News...
Marcel Reed Gives Texas A&M A Reason To Feel Better Fast
Texas A&M wrapped up its 16th preseason football practice with media watching for the final time before the focus shifts fully into in-season work, and the day offered a little something for the Aggies to hang onto. Quarterback Marcel Reed has shown clear improvement on his deep-ball accuracy, a development that stood out in his work with receivers Mario Craver and Isaiah Horton, while linebacker Daymion Sanford continues to recover well from a fibula injury.
There were other encouraging notes sprinkled through practice, too, with Lamont Rogers, Jordan Lockhart and Marco Jones all drawing mention for strong showings. For a team still sorting through its late-summer answers, those are the kinds of details that matter because they hint at depth, progress and a few players trending the right way as the opener gets closer. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Has A Camp Battle Fans Need To Watch Closely
Texas A&Ms secondary is one of the more intriguing parts of camp because the Aggies have both continuity and a fresh face pushing for playing time. Along with a group of returning defensive backs, the biggest new name is Gibson, the transfer from Tennessee, and he has quickly entered the conversation for a starting cornerback job alongside returning cornerback Julian Humphrey.
Gibsons camp has drawn positive reviews from coaches and teammates, who have pointed to his skill set and competitiveness as reasons he has been able to make a real push. No official decision has been announced yet, which leaves this as one of the roster battles worth watching closely as Texas A&M keeps sorting out its secondary. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&Ms Defense May Depend On One Overlooked Sophomore Linebacker
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Mikhails importance has grown with the departures of key linebackers such as Taurean York, leaving Texas A&M with some real weight to replace in the middle of the defense. If the Aggies are going to build the kind of defensive stability that travels in conference play, they need younger players to grow up quickly, and Mikhail is one of the clearest candidates to do it. His development could end up mattering just as much as any headline name when the Aggies start measuring themselves against the league's best. [Read more 🡒]