Texas A&M’s biggest offseason storyline isn’t hard to find. Before Marcel Reed can really take the next step, the Aggies have to settle the line in front of him.
That’s been the constant buzz all offseason, and it’s the central question heading toward the 2026-27 campaign. Reed’s success will depend in large part on whether the offensive line can hold up once the games count, keep defenders out of the backfield and give the offense room to breathe.
If that group comes together quickly, Texas A&M can unlock a lot more. The run game can get rolling, the receivers can be hit cleanly, and the whole offense can function the way it wants to.
“Our goal is to make sure coming out of fall camp, we have an offensive line that is ready to cohesively function together and play at the level we need them to play to go be successful,” Elko said. “And you know, whether we get that done week one, two, three, that's got to happen as quick as it possibly can.”
The Aggies spent the offseason trying to replace the production left behind by four departing starters, and now it’s straight into next-man-up mode. There’s no settled answer yet for what the starting five will be, and Elko probably won’t reveal it until he’s ready.
That uncertainty makes the line one of the most interesting things to watch. It also makes it one of the biggest factors in Reed’s development.
For now, the only returning starter is Mark Nabou Jr., who has become the leader and voice of the group. The rest of the picture is still coming into focus, but Nabou is expected to anchor a unit that has to protect Reed and live up to the Maroon Goons standard.
The competition is wide open in the four spots around him. On the right side, Trovon Baugh and Tyler Thomas are battling at guard, while Wilkin Formby and Robert Bourdon are competing at tackle.
On the left side, Tyree Adams and Lamont Rogers are fighting for the tackle job, and Coen Echols and Blake Ivy are in the mix at guard.
Whoever wins those jobs will have to do the dirty work well. Pass protection and run blocking both have to be there, because if they aren’t, the pressure shifts right back onto Reed to avoid mistakes.
That’s the equation for Texas A&M: get the right five on the field, let them do their job, and give Reed the chance to use his feet, eyes and arm to take care of the rest.
In Other News...
Texas A&M May Have Found The Ideal Safety Net Behind Marcel Reed
Texas A&M heads into 2026 with a little more clarity behind Marcel Reed, and that matters for a team that wants to avoid any wobble at the most important position on the field. Reed is set to return for his fourth season, giving the Aggies continuity at quarterback, but fall camp still had one meaningful battle to settle. Brady Hart came out of it as the backup after competing with true freshman Helaman Casuga, giving the staff a more defined plan if Reed ever has to miss time.
Harts role may be a reserve one, but it carries real value for a program trying to stay steady across a long season. He saw limited action in 2025 and has shown enough to be considered capable of running the offense if called upon, even if Texas A&M would much rather keep him in the second spot on the depth chart. For the Aggies, the appeal is simple: a proven starter up top, and a backup who looks ready enough to keep the season from going sideways. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Backfield Battle Just Took Shape Before Opening Day
Texas A&Ms 14th preseason practice offered one last clear look at how the offense is taking shape before the season opener against Missouri State, and the passing game had its moments. Redshirt junior quarterback Marcel Reed looked sharper downfield, highlighted by a 50-yard touchdown to junior wide receiver Mario Craver, while the receiver and cornerback groups each came away with noticeable plays in the final media-accessible scrimmage.
The backfield, though, may have left the strongest impression. Redshirt junior Rueben Owens showed the kind of speed and agility that can change a game in a hurry and appears to be the likeliest option to start at running back, but he was hardly alone in making a case for snaps. Sophomore Jamarion Morrow and freshmen KJ Edwards and Carsyn Baker also got in on the action, a sign the Aggies could have more than one answer when the season starts and the workload begins to sort itself out. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Fall Camp Is Fueling A Real Depth Chart Debate
Fall camp has already given Texas A&M a few reasons to pause and reassess what the early depth chart might eventually look like. Terry Bussey has looked increasingly comfortable as a versatile receiver, Marcel Reed has shown cleaner mechanics and better decision-making at quarterback, and Julio Humphrey has stood out on the back end with a mix of physical play and a louder presence than he had before.
Those developments matter because they are happening across both sides of the ball, and they are coming from players whose roles could shape the Aggies early-season identity. With Missouri State ahead, the competition in practice has made it clear that some of the more interesting questions in camp are not about who is on the field, but how much the staff trusts these players once the games start for real. [Read more 🡒]