Texas A&M enters 2026 with a few names already sitting at the center of the conversation. Marcel Reed.
Mario Craver. Anto Saka.
Those are the players most people are circling as the Aggies try to live up to the expectations that come with another big year in College Station.
But the player who may end up mattering more than people realize is sophomore linebacker Noah Mikhail.
That’s because Texas A&M is going to need more than its headline names to make a real push in the SEC. Mike Elko’s team has plenty of offensive talent, with Reed, Craver, Isaiah Horton and Rueben Owens II expected to drive that side of the ball. Even so, the defense could be the unit that defines the season, and Elko’s background only raises the standard there.
The challenge is that Texas A&M is replacing some important defensive pieces, especially at linebacker. Taurean York is gone, and that opens the door for someone else to grab a bigger role. Mikhail looks like the clearest candidate.
As a true freshman, he was on the field in 13 games and made the most of his chances. He finished with 16 tackles, including six solo stops, along with 2.5 tackles for loss and a quarterback hurry. That kind of production doesn’t scream star yet, but it does show a player who was already finding ways to contribute.
Now the job gets bigger.
During Fall Camp, Mikhail talked about the growth he’s been pushing for and the kind of responsibility that comes with playing linebacker in this defense.
“As a linebacker in our defense…there's got to be a commanding presence out there, something getting the defense set," Mikhail said. "So that role, and some things coach is getting me to work on in the spring, footwork-wise, has really played into how I've grown as a linebacker. And just the physicality piece of it, coach has got us playing far downhill, and that just helped out a lot with my game, and I feel like (I'm) making some good strides this fall."
That growth matters even more with Daymion Sanford still working back from a fibula injury. Sanford is expected to return at some point this season, but Mikhail has a real chance to settle into a steady, productive role before that happens.
For Texas A&M, that could be a big deal. A breakout from Mikhail would give the Aggies another dependable piece in the middle of the defense, and that kind of development could go a long way for a team carrying major expectations into 2026.
In Other News...
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&M Has A New Debate Over Its Offensive Face
Texas A&M is entering the 2026 season with a lot of familiar faces trying to define what the offense will look like after major roster turnover, and the preseason watchlist for the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award only sharpened that conversation. Quarterback Marcel Reed, running back Rueben Owens II and wide receiver Terry Bussey all landed on the list, a reminder that the Aggies have multiple players with the kind of profile that can shape the identity of the unit.
The interesting part now is not simply that all three are back, but how their roles stack up as the season approaches. Reed gives the offense its obvious centerpiece, Owens brings balance in the backfield and Bussey adds another dynamic option on the perimeter, leaving Texas A&M with a choice about where the true face of the offense will emerge once the games begin. [Read more 🡒]