Texas A&M’s preseason work is done, and the picture on offense is starting to come into focus with Missouri State six days away.
The biggest reason for that optimism sits at quarterback. Marcel Reed is headed into his second full season as the starter after putting up 3,169 passing yards and 25 touchdowns a year ago, and the redshirt junior reportedly looked sharper this month as a passer and more comfortable operating under center. Behind him, sophomore Brady Hart has separated himself from freshman Helaman Casuga for the No. 2 job after 16 preseason practices.
The Aggies also appear to have a clear shape at receiver. Isaiah Horton, Mario Craver and Ashton Bethel-Roman are projected to hold down the three starting spots, while freshman Aaron Gregory has essentially locked up the backup X role after Jerome Myles left the team. Terry Bussey remains a valuable piece who can move around in the slot or at Z, giving Marcel Reed and new offensive coordinator Holmon Wiggins another dynamic option.
Running back could be a little less rigid. Rueben Owens and Jamarion Morrow both had strong preseasons, and Owens did enough to be viewed as the favorite for the top spot.
Even so, the way Morrow moves suggests Texas A&M could lean into a committee approach. Depth is thinner than it looked earlier in camp, though, because redshirt freshman Tiger Riden is out for the year.
That means freshmen KJ Edwards and Carsyn Baker should both get opportunities at some point.
At tight end, the Aggies are leaning on senior Micah Riley and UTSA transfer Houston Thomas to carry the workload after Nate Boerkircher was taken 56th overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Redshirt freshman Kiotti Armstrong stands out because of his size at 6-foot-5 and 285 pounds, and Fresno State transfer Richie Anderson adds another veteran option.
The most unsettled area remains the offensive line, where Texas A&M has to replace four starters. LSU transfer Coen Echols is the projected left guard, former South Carolina guard Trovon Baugh is expected at right guard, and Alabama transfer Wilkin Formby is in line to start at right tackle alongside returning center Mark Nabou. Left tackle is still a real battle between LSU transfer Tyree Adams and former five-star redshirt sophomore Lamont Rogers.
Rogers has continued to make progress, and the staff knows Adams brings starting experience. Still, Rogers could wind up outplaying the veteran once the season starts.
Even with the questions up front, Mike Elko has repeatedly pointed to the depth in the room. Tyler Thomas, Ashton Funk and Blake Ivy give third-year offensive line coach Adam Cushing plenty of flexibility, and Robert Bourdon gives Texas A&M a versatile swing tackle who can back up both tackle spots.
In Other News...
Texas A&Ms 5-Star Anchor Is Nearing A Huge Recruiting Step
Mark Matthews has opened his senior season at St. Thomas Aquinas with the spotlight that comes with being a five-star offensive tackle and one of Texas A&Ms biggest offensive line commitments. The Aggies have long recruited him with the idea that he can serve as a foundation piece up front, and Matthews has said the relationships he has built with Mike Elko, Adam Cushing and Trooper Taylor have been central to keeping him locked in.
Now the focus shifts from commitment to paperwork, with Matthews reportedly nearing the point where he will officially announce his intention to sign with Texas A&M during Early Signing Day. For the Aggies, that would be an important step toward turning a prized pledge into a signed member of the class, especially with a player at a position where stability and development matter as much as star power. [Read more 🡒]
Marcel Reed Just Turned Texas A&Ms Texas Game Into A Statement
Marcel Reed did not leave much room for interpretation in a recent USA TODAY profile, making it clear he has little affection for the University of Texas or the Longhorns colors. For Texas A&M fans, it was the kind of blunt rivalry talk that fits the build toward one of the sports most charged matchups, especially with the Lone Star Showdown back in the SEC spotlight.
Reed also acknowledged that the Aggies have come up short against Texas since the rivalry resumed in conference play, but he did not sound resigned to that history. Instead, he pointed ahead to the next meeting on Nov. 27, 2026, and framed it as a game he intends to win, turning a familiar rivalry into an early statement of intent. [Read more 🡒]
Mario Craver Just Raised The Stakes For Texas A&M In 2026
Texas A&M heads into 2026 with plenty of momentum after an 11-2 season that still left a sour finish, with losses to Texas and Miami in the College Football Playoff. The Aggies are ranked No. 8 nationally, and the early mood around the program is less about resting on that record than treating it as a baseline for what comes next.
Mario Craver has already added to that sense of urgency by putting a national championship front and center while also stressing the need to play better late in the year. With Missouri State first on the schedule, the Aggies are leaning into a game-by-game approach, but the larger standard has clearly been set higher than simply repeating last season's success. [Read more 🡒]