Texas A&M’s 14th preseason practice offered a little of everything, but the most encouraging work for the Aggies may have come on the back end of the defense.
Marcel Reed was sharp early for the offense, dealing with confidence and hitting deep shots, including a 50-yard touchdown to Mario Craver. He also found nearly every projected starting wide receiver at some point during the first half of the scrimmage. But Reed’s day faded late, and Texas A&M’s defense answered with a strong finish.
The secondary held up well against what is nationally viewed as one of the top wide receiver groups in the country. The Aggies’ cornerbacks made life difficult, with Dezz Ricks, Julio Humphrey and transfer Rickey Gibson all logging pass breakups and interceptions as the scrimmage wore on. Even after Reed threw two late interceptions, the coverage stayed tight and competitive.
That’s a good sign for a 2026 secondary that already has plenty of buzz around it. The safety rotation is led by Dalton Brooks and Marcus Ratcliffe, and Colorado transfer Tawfiq Byard has joined the mix in what is expected to be a hybrid role in Mike Elko and defensive coordinator Lyle Hemphill’s system. With both coaches known for developing defensive backs, the standard for this group is already high.
There’s also a real battle unfolding at corner. Dezz Ricks is locked in as the No. 1 cornerback, while Julio Humphrey and Rickey Gibson are competing for the No. 2 spot. For now, several sources say Humphrey’s play has him in the lead.
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Marcel Reed Gives Texas A&M A Reason To Feel Better Fast
Texas A&M wrapped up its 16th preseason football practice with media watching for the final time before the focus shifts fully into in-season work, and the day offered a little something for the Aggies to hang onto. Quarterback Marcel Reed has shown clear improvement on his deep-ball accuracy, a development that stood out in his work with receivers Mario Craver and Isaiah Horton, while linebacker Daymion Sanford continues to recover well from a fibula injury.
There were other encouraging notes sprinkled through practice, too, with Lamont Rogers, Jordan Lockhart and Marco Jones all drawing mention for strong showings. For a team still sorting through its late-summer answers, those are the kinds of details that matter because they hint at depth, progress and a few players trending the right way as the opener gets closer. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Has A Camp Battle Fans Need To Watch Closely
Texas A&Ms secondary is one of the more intriguing parts of camp because the Aggies have both continuity and a fresh face pushing for playing time. Along with a group of returning defensive backs, the biggest new name is Gibson, the transfer from Tennessee, and he has quickly entered the conversation for a starting cornerback job alongside returning cornerback Julian Humphrey.
Gibsons camp has drawn positive reviews from coaches and teammates, who have pointed to his skill set and competitiveness as reasons he has been able to make a real push. No official decision has been announced yet, which leaves this as one of the roster battles worth watching closely as Texas A&M keeps sorting out its secondary. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&Ms Defense May Depend On One Overlooked Sophomore Linebacker
Texas A&M already knows it will lean on familiar names on offense next season, with quarterback Marcel Reed and receiver Mario Craver expected to be central figures. The more interesting question may be on the other side of the ball, where the Aggies are looking for answers as they prepare for another push in the SEC. One name inside that conversation is Noah Mikhail, a sophomore linebacker who got into 13 games as a freshman and is now working toward a much bigger piece of the defense.
Mikhails importance has grown with the departures of key linebackers such as Taurean York, leaving Texas A&M with some real weight to replace in the middle of the defense. If the Aggies are going to build the kind of defensive stability that travels in conference play, they need younger players to grow up quickly, and Mikhail is one of the clearest candidates to do it. His development could end up mattering just as much as any headline name when the Aggies start measuring themselves against the league's best. [Read more 🡒]