Fall camp is only a week old, but Texas A&M is already starting to show its shape for Week 1.
With the 2026 season still a month away, the real conversation in College Station is about who’s pushing for snaps and who’s separating from the pack. Mike Elko has plenty to sort through, but based on the first week of work, the Aggies’ projected two-deep against Missouri State is beginning to come into focus.
At quarterback, there hasn’t been much mystery. Brady Hart has flashed during camp and sits well ahead of true freshman Helaman Casuga, but Marcel Reed is still the clear QB1 for Elko. Reed has handled all of the first-team reps so far, and he’ll be aiming to get himself back into the Heisman Trophy conversation after a stretch of interception-heavy play in the final two games against Texas and Miami.
The backfield picture is a little more fluid. Owens is holding onto his starting role for now, though increased reps could lead to a tandem setup with Morrow in the same vein as what Le'Veon Moss and Amari Daniels did in College Station.
The receiving group brings a mix of speed and familiarity, with Isaiah Horton at X, Ashton Bethel-Roman at Z and Mario Craver in the slot. Terry Bussey, TK Norman and Aaron Gregory are listed as backups, but Bussey’s camp has already created pressure on the depth chart. If he keeps stacking strong days, Elko and offensive coordinator Holmon Wiggins may have some real choices to make.
On the offensive line, Riley’s presence stands out. The Auburn transfer from after the 2024 season was named one of the team captains before this year, a strong indicator of the kind of impact A&M expects from the redshirt senior from Omaha. The projected line has Tyree Adams at left tackle, Coen Echols at left guard, Mark Nabou Jr. at center, Trovon Baugh at right guard and Wilkin Formby at right tackle, with Robert Bourdon, Blake Ivy, Ashton Funk and Lamont Rogers behind them.
Nabou is the only returning lineman from the 2025 team, which leaves the front five as a blend of youth and experience.
The cornerback spots are projected for Dezz Ricks and Julio Humphrey, with Tawfiq Byard and Rickey Gibson III behind them. Humphrey is trying to make a bigger imprint after limited action in 2025, while Ricks should be one of the leaders in a room full of transfers.
At safety, Dalton Brooks and Marcus Ratcliffe are the starters, backed by Myles Davis and Adonyss Currie. Ratcliffe is back for his senior season after intercepting three passes in 2024, and Brooks follows a career year that included four sacks.
The linebacker group has Daymion Sanford and Ray Coney as the projected starters, with Jordan Lockhart and Noah Mikhail next up. Sanford’s injury in the Maroon and White game had to alarm A&M fans, but the update has been trending in a better direction, and there’s a more optimistic outlook for the senior from Katy to be on the field on September 5.
Up front on the defensive line, Texas A&M is leaning on a transfer-heavy group that includes Anto Saka, Marco Jones, CJ Mims and DJ Hicks, with TJ Searcy, Landon Rink and Sam M'Pemba as backups. Saka, from Northwestern, and Mims, from North Carolina, are expected to help maintain the kind of quarterback pressure that has become a trademark of the Aggies’ defense.
In Other News...
Texas A&M Is Already Seeing New Names Push Into Key Roles
Fall camp has already started to sort through Texas A&Ms new-look depth chart, and a few names are making an early case for bigger roles. Wide receiver Bussey has been one of the more noticeable standouts, drawing attention for his size and explosiveness as the Aggies work to replace key production from last season and identify who can rise into meaningful snaps right away.
On the other side of the ball, Northwestern transfer Anto Saka is beginning to look like a pass-rush option, while Jordan Shaw is competing for the starting nickel job and has the early edge in that battle. For a team trying to retool without losing its edge, those are exactly the kinds of August developments that matter, even if the picture is still far from complete. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M May Be Closing In On Mike Elkos Future At QB
Texas A&Ms recruiting momentum at quarterback has a chance to get even louder soon, as Donald Tabron has emerged as one of the more closely watched names in the 2028 class. The Michigan dual-threat prospect is highly regarded and fits the kind of modern QB profile programs chase early, with Texas A&M considered a leading contender as the recruitment heads toward a critical stretch.
The Aggies are battling LSU and Oregon for his commitment, and the outcome could matter well beyond one class. If Tabron eventually lands in College Station, he would give the program another high-end piece to build around and add to the long view Mike Elko and his staff are selling on offense, even if the picture at the position is still waiting for its next official answer. [Read more 🡒]
Ashton Bethel-Roman Sees A Better Fit For Texas A&M's Offense
Texas A&Ms third preseason practice offered another look at a receiver group that already seems to be setting the tone early in camp. Junior Terry Bussey drew attention with several one-handed grabs, while redshirt sophomore Ashton Bethel-Roman continued to look like a player carrying momentum from a breakout season. The bigger takeaway, though, came after practice, when Bethel-Roman met with the media and talked about the fit of new offensive coordinator Holmon Wiggins.
Bethel-Roman said the scheme is built to put each receiver in positions that match what they do best, which is part of why he sounds so comfortable with where the offense is headed. He pointed to the blend of speed, size and separation the group can offer quarterback Marcel Reed, and the confidence around the unit feels tied to how familiar it already seems this early in camp. For an offense still sorting itself out in August, that kind of comfort can go a long way. [Read more 🡒]