Texas A&M’s secondary came out of the 48-20 win over Arizona State with plenty to brag about, and Pro Football Focus backed up what showed up on the field. The Aggies’ fourth quarter stole the spotlight after they put up 24 points, but the defensive backfield also played a major role, especially with two pick-six scores from sophomore Edge Marco Jones and senior cornerback Julio Humphrey.
Humphrey’s rise has been one of the quieter developments in Texas A&M’s preseason picture. Entering the year, the cornerback group already looked like a strength, with senior Dezz Ricks back as the No. 1 lockdown CB and Tennessee transfer Rickey Gibson giving the Aggies more depth and starting options. Humphrey, though, turned his offseason work into a real role, earned the No. 2 cornerback job, and has now looked sharp in his first two starts.
Against Arizona State, Humphrey posted a 79.9 coverage grade from PFF, the best mark among the Aggies’ corners. He gave up three catches on six targets for 42 yards and was beaten for ASU wide receiver Reed Harris’ first-half touchdown, but otherwise held up well. Ricks wasn’t far behind, finishing with a 71.9 coverage grade while allowing just one catch on two targets for one yard.
Texas A&M also got strong work from senior nickel Bravion Rogers, who checked in with a 71.4 coverage grade. He allowed two receptions on five targets for seven yards and has quickly become one of the most dependable options in the room, even outpacing starting nickel Jordan Shaw.
Gibson had the roughest night of the group. He allowed two catches on two targets for 52 yards and finished with a 42.8 coverage grade.
For Texas A&M, holding Arizona State to just two touchdowns through the air from one featured wideout was a solid day for the secondary, and it’s a unit that should keep tightening up as SEC play approaches.
In Other News...
Texas A&M Practice Scare Casts A Shadow Over Kentucky Week
Texas A&M got a brief scare in practice this week when an anonymous player suffered a heat-related medical emergency and was taken to a hospital for evaluation. The program later confirmed the incident in a statement, and the player has since been released, easing immediate concern as the Aggies turn their attention to Kentucky.
The timing still adds an uneasy note to a week that should be centered on preparation, especially with early-season conditions often making practice management part of the conversation. Even with the player expected to be available for the game, the episode is a reminder of how quickly a routine practice can become something much more serious. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&Ms SEC Opener Comes With One Uncomfortable Advantage For Kentucky
Kentuckys trip to Kyle Field for the SEC opener brings an unusual layer of familiarity into a game that already carries real early-season weight. Defensive coordinator Jay Bateman, who spent two seasons as Texas A&Ms defensive coordinator, returns to a place where he knows the personnel, the building and, just as importantly, the way the Aggies like to operate on that side of the ball.
For Texas A&M, the comfort goes both ways, because Bateman also knows enough about the Aggies to make this a sharper chess match than most September conference games. The wrinkle is that his insight into offensive coordinator Holmon Wiggins adds another wrinkle for both staffs, with each side expected to lean on its understanding of the others tendencies as the opener unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M's Place In College Football's Spending Race Says Plenty
Texas A&Ms place in college footballs spending race sits inside a larger picture the sport can no longer ignore. The Athletics survey of roster-building budgets across 68 Power Four programs and Notre Dame showed just how wide the gap has become, with the top end of the market pushing far beyond what many schools can match. The figures blend athletic department revenue, booster money and program-controlled funds, but leave out independent player income, which only adds another layer to the financial picture.
For Aggies fans, the bigger story is not simply who leads the list, but what it says about where A&M fits as the sport keeps tilting toward resource-driven competition. Ohio State landed at the top with an estimated range of $49 million to $54 million, while Boston College checked in at the low end at $8 million to $13 million. Where Texas A&M lands in that spread says plenty about how aggressively it is trying to keep pace in a market where spending has become part of the arms race. [Read more 🡒]