Texas A&M’s linebacker room is starting to take shape, and the latest preseason work has brought a few names into sharper focus.
The biggest vacancy entered the offseason at middle linebacker after Taurean York’s departure, leaving third-year coach Mike Elko and new linebackers coach Travis Williams to sort through one of the defense’s main question marks. That search has pushed Tulsa transfer Ray Coney into the spotlight, and through 14 preseason practices, his athleticism and football IQ have made him stand out.
Saturday’s 14th practice also offered another encouraging sign for the Aggies. Senior linebacker Daymion Sanford, who is nearly 100% recovered from the brutal fibula injury he suffered during the Maroon & White Game, kept flashing throughout the session. One of his best moments came on a linebacker blitz that would have produced a sack on starting quarterback Marcel Reed, a play that showed off his 2025 pursuit speed.
Sanford’s return, along with sophomore Noah Mikhail, gives Texas A&M more size in the middle and should help the group improve against the run. The expectation right now is that Coney will land the starting MLB job, while Sanford and Mikhail handle weak-side linebacker duties with coverage and pass-rush responsibilities, especially on third down.
Another name making a push is junior Jordan Lockhart, who turned in his best practice yet. He shot the gap to tackle freshman running back KJ Edwards for a tackle for loss and a safety, and he is on track to be the primary backup at middle linebacker. His rise to the point of seriously challenging for a starting role speaks to his work ethic and Elko’s development background.
In Other News...
Texas A&M May Have Found The Ideal Safety Net Behind Marcel Reed
Texas A&M heads into 2026 with a little more clarity behind Marcel Reed, and that matters for a team that wants to avoid any wobble at the most important position on the field. Reed is set to return for his fourth season, giving the Aggies continuity at quarterback, but fall camp still had one meaningful battle to settle. Brady Hart came out of it as the backup after competing with true freshman Helaman Casuga, giving the staff a more defined plan if Reed ever has to miss time.
Harts role may be a reserve one, but it carries real value for a program trying to stay steady across a long season. He saw limited action in 2025 and has shown enough to be considered capable of running the offense if called upon, even if Texas A&M would much rather keep him in the second spot on the depth chart. For the Aggies, the appeal is simple: a proven starter up top, and a backup who looks ready enough to keep the season from going sideways. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Backfield Battle Just Took Shape Before Opening Day
Texas A&Ms 14th preseason practice offered one last clear look at how the offense is taking shape before the season opener against Missouri State, and the passing game had its moments. Redshirt junior quarterback Marcel Reed looked sharper downfield, highlighted by a 50-yard touchdown to junior wide receiver Mario Craver, while the receiver and cornerback groups each came away with noticeable plays in the final media-accessible scrimmage.
The backfield, though, may have left the strongest impression. Redshirt junior Rueben Owens showed the kind of speed and agility that can change a game in a hurry and appears to be the likeliest option to start at running back, but he was hardly alone in making a case for snaps. Sophomore Jamarion Morrow and freshmen KJ Edwards and Carsyn Baker also got in on the action, a sign the Aggies could have more than one answer when the season starts and the workload begins to sort itself out. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Fall Camp Is Fueling A Real Depth Chart Debate
Fall camp has already given Texas A&M a few reasons to pause and reassess what the early depth chart might eventually look like. Terry Bussey has looked increasingly comfortable as a versatile receiver, Marcel Reed has shown cleaner mechanics and better decision-making at quarterback, and Julio Humphrey has stood out on the back end with a mix of physical play and a louder presence than he had before.
Those developments matter because they are happening across both sides of the ball, and they are coming from players whose roles could shape the Aggies early-season identity. With Missouri State ahead, the competition in practice has made it clear that some of the more interesting questions in camp are not about who is on the field, but how much the staff trusts these players once the games start for real. [Read more 🡒]