Texas A&M’s passing game looks different now, and the biggest reason may be Isaiah Horton.
With KC Concepcion off to the NFL after being taken 24th overall by the Cleveland Browns in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Aggies lost the receiver who had anchored their rotation. Concepcion became the first of a record 10 players drafted under second-year coach Mike Elko, and that leaves junior Mario Craver at the top of the 2026 wideout pecking order after re-signing with Texas A&M.
Craver already proved he can carry plenty of weight. Last season, he finished second on the team behind Concepcion with 917 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 15.5 yards per catch and nearly 9 yards after the catch, which ranked too 10 nationally. At 5'9", size is the only real concern attached to the former Mississippi State transfer, but he’s still the most important offensive piece back outside of starting quarterback Marcel Reed.
Reed is coming off a career year of his own, throwing for 3,169 yards and 25 touchdowns. The numbers were strong, but the rough edges showed up too: his 12 interceptions were tied for second in the SEC, and against a top-35 ranked opponent, the Tennessee native threw six touchdowns, eight interceptions, and completed just 59% of his passes. That stretch helped fuel back-to-back losses to Texas and Miami in the first round of the College Football Playoff.
So while Reed’s growth as a pocket passer will shape Texas A&M’s 2026 season, the Aggies also added a receiver who could change the feel of the whole offense. Alabama transfer Isaiah Horton may end up being one of the main reasons Texas A&M gets back to the CFP.
Before Reed, linebacker Daymion Sanford, and safety Marcus Ratcliffe are set to speak during the third day of SEC Media Days on Wednesday, college football analyst Brooks Austin, known as "The Film Guy," talked to TexAgs about what Horton can bring to the Aggies.
"Nothing will make offense easier for a quarterback than having an X, a true outside-the-numbers receiver" Austin stated to TexAgs. "I don't think people realize how godd Isaiah Horton is.
Horton’s production at Alabama was real. In his lone season there, he caught 511 yards and 8 touchdowns, and he now enters his final college season with 1,301 yards and 14 touchdowns. At 6'4" and 208 pounds, he gives Reed something Texas A&M didn’t have in the same way before: a big target who can win on 50-50 balls, handle slants, and become a red-zone answer.
In Other News...
Former A&M Defensive Architect Is Now Shaping Another SEC Program
Will Steins first staff move at Kentucky carried a familiar Texas A&M flavor, as the new Wildcats coach turned to former Aggies defensive coordinator Jay Bateman to help shape the next chapter in Lexington. Batemans time in College Station left a clear imprint, with his defenses playing a major role in A&Ms 11-0 start and eventual College Football Playoff trip, the kind of run that makes his resume stand out in the SEC coaching carousel.
For Texas A&M, the connection adds a little extra edge to a matchup already circled on the calendar. Kentucky visits College Station on Sept. 19, giving the Aggies an early chance to see how one of their former defensive architects handles a new job in the same league, while A&M continues looking ahead to a 2026 season that will put its key voices back in the spotlight at SEC Media Days. [Read more 🡒]
Mike Elkos Terry Bussey Update Changes Everything For Texas A&Ms Offense
Texas A&Ms offense is entering the season with a very different look, and Mike Elko is sorting through the ripple effects of departures to the NFL and the transfer portal. The Aggies will lean on a mix of returning players and newcomers to stabilize the receiver room, with the staff still trying to settle who can step into the biggest roles and keep the passing game moving.
One name now sitting at the center of that conversation is Terry Bussey, whose availability changes the outlook for an offense that needs playmakers to emerge quickly. Elkos group has spent the offseason piecing together options around the receiver group, and Busseys presence gives the Aggies a much-needed piece as they head into fall camp with more questions than answers about how the targets will be distributed. [Read more 🡒]
One Aggies Pass Rusher Is Suddenly Turning Heads This Offseason
Texas A&Ms front seven is shaping up as one of the more intriguing parts of the 2026 roster, with a heavy dose of returning production and several newcomers expected to factor right away. Former Northwestern edge rusher Anto Saka is projected to start, while sophomore Marco Jones is set to handle a hybrid linebacker-edge role that could make him a central piece of the defense. In that mix, the Aggies also have a former Georgia transfer in Samuel MPemba, whose limited action last season left more questions than answers.
MPemba is now drawing attention for a different reason. He has shown notable strength during offseason training, and the buzz around his work has only added to the sense that his role could expand in a hurry behind Jones. Texas A&M has plenty of NFL-level talent on the roster already, but the development of players like MPemba often ends up shaping how much upside a defense really has once the season starts. [Read more 🡒]