Texas A&M’s offseason momentum kept rolling as Athlon Sports placed eight Aggies on its 2026 Preseason All-SEC teams, another sign that Mike Elko’s roster is drawing plenty of attention heading into the fall.
The Aggies have spent the offseason stacking talent from every angle. Elko and his staff added 17 players through the transfer portal and brought in 26 signees from the 2026 recruiting class, while 65% of the 2025 roster is back. That group is headlined by starting quarterback Marcel Reed, who is stepping into what the source calls the most important seasons of his football career.
Athlon’s recognition came after Texas A&M already had eight players named to DCTF’s All-Texas first and second teams. Even with a record ten players going in the 2026 NFL Draft, Elko has said the roster still has NFL-level talent and, just as importantly, depth across nearly every position.
On Athlon’s first team, junior wide receiver Mario Craver and senior safety Marcus Ratcliffe earned the nod. Both are described as having taken over as locker room leaders and as players expected to lead the Aggies in several categories this fall.
Texas A&M also landed two second-team selections: wide receiver and return specialist Terry Bussey, plus veteran starting center Mark Nabou. Bussey remains one of the more intriguing names on the roster, though he has yet to break out as a wide receiver.
The third team included safety Dalton Brooks and Northwestern transfer edge Anto Saka.
Rounding out the Aggies on Athlon’s list were former five-star running back Rueben Owens II and senior cornerback Dezz Ricks on the fourth team. Ricks enters the season as A&M’s No. 1 cornerback after his breakout 2025 campaign, while Owens is at a pivotal point in his career.
For Texas A&M, the message from the preseason honors is clear: the roster is loaded with proven pieces, emerging leaders, and a handful of players whose best football may still be ahead.
In Other News...
Texas A&M Faces Late Pressure In Another Massive 2027 Battle
Texas A&Ms recruiting push in the 2027 class keeps picking up speed, and the Aggies have already added some needed momentum at receiver with Damani Warren and Eric McFarland. That gives the staff a little more breathing room as it keeps pressing on major defensive targets, especially with five-star cornerback Joshua Dobson nearing a decision and the race tightening at the top.
The more immediate optimism may be coming from linebacker Mikahi Allen, who is trending toward the Aggies ahead of his July 11 commitment date despite Syracuse staying in the mix. If that holds, Texas A&M could be lining up another key piece for the future defense, but the bigger question is whether the staff can finish the week with the sort of blue-chip win that changes the tone of the entire recruiting board. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&Ms New OC Just Got A Surprising SEC Label
Collin Kleins departure for Kansas State left Texas A&M with an immediate question on offense, and the Aggies answered it by promoting wide receivers coach Holmon Wiggins to coordinator. Wiggins is not starting from scratch, either. He worked as co-offensive coordinator under Klein and is expected to keep much of the same structure in place while giving the Aggies a slightly different feel.
That continuity helped Wiggins land in a respectable spot in Athlons preseason SEC coordinator rankings, where he checked in at No. 15. It is a reminder that Texas A&M is not trying to reinvent its offense after Kleins exit so much as preserve the parts that worked, with Wiggins now tasked with nudging the unit toward a heavier emphasis on the run while keeping the overall scheme intact. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Awaits Huge In-State Recruiting Decision From Versatile Playmaker
Texas A&M has spent plenty of time chasing versatile pieces in the state of Texas, and Jaiden Fields fits the mold. The three-star athlete from Hutto High School has drawn attention for doing damage on both sides of the ball, lining up at safety and wide receiver while giving evaluators a look at how easily he can move around the field. Mike Elko and Holmon Wiggins see the kind of potential that can matter in more than one phase of the game, which is part of what has made Fields such an intriguing target for the Aggies.
The waiting now is the part Texas A&M fans know all too well. Fields is set to make his commitment decision on July 7, and the Aggies remain among the programs in the mix as they try to land another in-state playmaker who could grow into a piece with multiple uses. For a staff looking to keep adding athletic, flexible talent, this is one of those decisions that could ripple beyond just one position group. [Read more 🡒]