Texas A&M’s special teams picture is coming into focus, and the biggest change sits right where the Aggies needed it most: kicker.
With the 2026 season opener against Missouri State set for Saturday night, Mike Elko is entering Year 3 with a special teams unit that looks a lot different from the one that struggled a year ago. The kicking game, in particular, drew the most attention after Randy Bond and Jared Zirkel failed to take a step forward and missed several key field goal attempts. That’s pushed Elko and special teams coordinator Patrick Dougherty to reshape the room this offseason.
The answer arrived through the transfer portal in former Illinois kicker David Olano. He comes in with a strong resume, having hit 87% of his field goal tries, including 7-for-8 from 40 to 49 yards, with a long of 47 yards.
He also joins a competition that includes five-star kicker Asher Murray, and both players have been described as bringing NFL-level leg strength and accuracy. Still, Olano appears to have the edge to open the season as the starter.
There’s also stability on the punting side, where Texas A&M remains in good shape with Tyler White back for his third season. The Aggies continue to carry the “Punter U” label for a reason, and White gives them a proven option in a spot that often gets overlooked. His brother, Jared, is listed as the No. 2 option.
At punt returner, the Aggies are preparing for a new face after KC Concepcion moved on to the Cleveland Browns. Junior wide receiver Mario Craver is now the leading candidate to handle the job.
His speed and elusiveness make him the most natural fit, and he has already logged time as the backup return man. Before preseason, there was some concern about exposing him there, but if Texas A&M wants to replicate Concepcion’s production, Craver brings the best blend of explosiveness and experience.
Kickoff returner looks settled. Terry Bussey took over that role last season and delivered, finishing third in the SEC with 421 kick return yards while bringing back 18 of 20 kicks.
He came close to a touchdown against Notre Dame before a late hold wiped it out. Entering his third season, Bussey should remain a steady source of juice for the Aggies.
Behind him, sophomore running back Jamarion Morrow gives Texas A&M another athletic option.
Long snapper is also getting a reset. After Jacob Graham graduated, his brother Boomer Graham is expected to step in, especially with Levi Hancock not appearing on the updated Aggie online roster.
For now, Texas A&M’s final preseason special teams projection points to a unit that has been reworked where it mattered most and stabilized everywhere else.
In Other News...
Texas A&M Opens With One Problem Fans Need Solved Fast
Texas A&M enters the new season with a different look on the staff and a familiar standard hanging over everything. Holmon Wiggins has been promoted to offensive coordinator, Lyle Hemphill is now running the defense, and the Aggies are trying to turn that structure into steadier results after a season in which the roster showed enough promise to keep the national-title conversation alive.
The immediate concern is not hard to spot. The Aggies want cleaner play, especially when it comes to turnovers, and they still have a couple of spots to settle, including tight end and kicker. David Olano has won the Week 1 kicking job, but the bigger question is whether the rest of the operation can tighten up quickly enough for Texas A&M to turn optimism into the kind of start that matters in September. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Has Plenty Of Bulletin Board Material This Week
Texas A&M is heading into the week with a little extra edge, thanks to Missouri State captain and offensive lineman Isaiah Villanueva, who publicly predicted a Bears win before the matchup. The comment stands out not just because of its confidence, but because Villanueva is a Texas native with familiar ties to the Aggies, having played high school football alongside DJ Hicks and Daymion Sanford.
Statements like that tend to linger in a locker room, especially when an underdog is willing to say it out loud before kickoff. For Texas A&M, it adds a layer of intrigue to a game that already carries the usual early-season uncertainty, with the Aggies now having a chance to answer the chatter on the field rather than in a back-and-forth outside it. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Already Has One Big Offensive Line Concern
Texas A&Ms first depth chart ahead of the 2026 season opener against Missouri State offered an early look at just how much turnover the offensive line is facing. Four new starters are penciled in up front, including former blue-chip guard Blake Ivy along with transfers Trovon Baugh and Wilkin Formby, a group that will be asked to settle in quickly as the Aggies try to build some cohesion before league play ramps up.
Mike Elko already made clear the line is not locked in, and that uncertainty is part of the concern. For a team that knows consistency in the trenches can swing the tone of a season, the competition up front figures to remain one of the more important things to watch as Texas A&M moves from the opener into the SEC portion of the schedule. [Read more 🡒]