Texas A&M’s 2025 defense had enough talent that a few good players simply ran out of room.
That’s been the story for several former Aggies this fall. With the depth chart crowded - especially up front - defenders who couldn’t carve out consistent roles in College Station are making noise elsewhere in 2026.
Cashius Howell was the headliner a year ago, and the current Cincinnati Bengals edge rusher backed up the hype by leading the SEC with 11.5 sacks. But he’s not the only former Texas A&M defender putting up real production.
At linebacker, former four-star Mississippi prospect Tristan Jernigan has settled in at Cal alongside ex-Aggie edge rusher Solomon Williams. The Golden Bears haven’t had the season they wanted, but both transfers have shown up. Jernigan has 28 tackles, while Williams has posted two sacks, 25 pressures and a 73.3 pass rush grade through eight games, according to Pro Football Focus.
Another former Aggie who is popping is Rylan Kennedy. After moving to Florida State, the senior edge/defensive end has become one of the Seminoles’ most productive defenders despite their disappointing season. Kennedy leads the team with seven sacks, has added 17 tackles and 21 pressures, and owns a 73.4 pass rush grade.
The frustrating part for Texas A&M is that these were not all surprises. Jernigan and Williams were expected to leave, but Kennedy had a path to meaningful snaps and may have worked his way into the starting lineup based on what he showed. Instead, the Aggies brought in Edge Anto Saka, who has not delivered on his NFL potential in eight games.
It leaves Texas A&M with a familiar question heading forward: what will the pass rush look like in 2027? The broader issue, though, is clearer. Mike Elko and his staff have to keep getting the evaluation right at the scheme-first level, just as they did when they found Cashius Howell from Bowling Green.
In Other News...
Texas A&M Cant Avoid This Holmon Wiggins Question Anymore
Will Steins move from Oregon to Kentucky and Collin Kleins return to Kansas State set off a coaching shuffle that left both Oregon and Texas A&M looking inward for answers. The Ducks promoted Drew Mehringer, and the Aggies did the same with Holmon Wiggins, a move that was supposed to provide continuity while keeping the offense on track.
Instead, Oregon already made its own change after offensive struggles, and Texas A&M has been forced to live with the same uneasy question about Wiggins. The Aggies have had enough time to see whether the internal promotion can lift the unit, and the lack of progress has put his ability to improve the offense under the spotlight in a way that is getting harder to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Fans Just Got An Exciting NFL Rookie Update
Texas A&M fans had plenty to follow in Week 7, with several former Aggies turning in noteworthy NFL moments across the league. Cleveland Browns rookie wide receiver KC Concepcion posted career highs with eight catches for 129 yards and added 23 rushing yards, a performance that earned him a Rookie of the Week nomination. It was the kind of all-around outing that gives a young player real momentum as the season settles in.
Cashius Howell also hit a meaningful milestone, logging his first career NFL sack in the Cincinnati Bengals' comeback win over the Baltimore Ravens. Elsewhere, Jake Matthews of the Atlanta Falcons and Jermaine Eluemunor of the New York Giants drew recognition for their pass-blocking work, another reminder that Texas A&M's NFL footprint keeps showing up in different forms each week. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Opens With One Big Chance To Validate The Hype
Before the SEC grind begins, Texas A&M gets a clean first look at how much its offseason makeover can matter. The Aggies open against Alabama State with a roster built around second-year coach Bucky McMillan, key transfers and a pair of focal points in guard PJ Haggerty and returnee Mackenzie Mgbako, giving fans an early read on whether the hype around the program is ready to translate into wins.
Alabama State arrives with its own reset in motion, too, under first-year coach Chris Wright and new general manager Dominique Wilkins. The Hornets will lean on guard Mike James as they try to move past last seasons 10-22 finish, which makes this opener more than just a tune-up for Texas A&M. It is the kind of early test that can either calm the noise around a revamped roster or add even more attention to what comes next. [Read more 🡒]