Texas A&M’s defensive line is entering 2026 with a whole new look, and the challenge starts right at the top.
The Aggies are set to lean on a wave of newcomers from both the transfer portal and the 2026 signing class as they try to replace unanimous All-American pass rusher Cashius Howell, who led the SEC with 11.5 sacks. Northwestern transfer Edge Anto Saka is expected to help fill that void, but he won’t be carrying the load alone.
Senior defensive tackle DJ Hicks, described as a 2027 NFL Draft “sleeper,” and senior defensive end T.J. Searcy are also key pieces in the mix.
Hicks brings the kind of presence Texas A&M will need up front, while Searcy’s value comes from his experience, versatility and ability to impact both the pass rush and the run game. With third-year coach Mike Elko and defensive line coaches Tony Jerod-Eddie and Elijah Robinson guiding the group, those three are expected to set the tone.
But there are other names starting to push into the conversation, too.
Texas A&M’s first scrimmage last Saturday was closed to the media, but clips that surfaced on social media during the week showed former five-star prospect and freshman DL Bryce Perry-Wright teaming up with Illinois transfer DT Angelo McCullom for a solid run stop. With the Aggies set to open the season against Missouri State on Saturday, Sept. 5, that kind of early flash matters.
If Texas A&M wants its rebuilt front to keep pace with last season’s 43 sacks and take a step forward against the run, Perry-Wright and McCullom will need to be part of the answer. The same goes for depth pieces from the portal and previous recruiting cycles, including defensive linemen DJ Sanders and Chace Sims, who may be called on to help this group hold up over the course of the season.
In Other News...
Texas A&M Still Has A Chance To Flip A Crucial In-State RB
Texas A&Ms running back recruiting board for the 2027 class already has a familiar name on it in SaRod Baker, the current Texas Tech commit the Aggies are still working to pry loose. The pursuit fits the way this staff has approached in-state talent before, and it also brings back memories of previous recruiting battles in which Trooper Taylor helped push a flip across the finish line.
Baker remains pledged to Texas Tech, so this is far from a simple courtship and the Red Raiders have every reason to keep holding firm. Still, the Aggies have stayed in the mix, and with a prospect of this caliber in Texas, it is the kind of long game Texas A&M cannot afford to ignore if it wants to keep stacking the states best backs. [Read more 🡒]
Marcel Reed Is Making Texas A&Ms QB Outlook A Lot Harder To Ignore
Marcel Reed has spent fall camp giving Texas A&M a much different kind of quarterback conversation than the one that followed him around earlier in his career. The athleticism was never in question, but what has stood out lately is the way hes handling the offense, making cleaner decisions and showing a sharper feel for where the ball needs to go. For a program trying to settle its quarterback outlook, that kind of development matters.
The optimism is real enough that some of the national skepticism around Reed may be getting ahead of itself. Still, camp is one thing and Saturdays are another, and Reeds next step is proving that the growth in command and accuracy carries over when the games count. Until then, Texas A&M has reason to believe the position is looking less like a question and more like a storyline worth watching. [Read more 🡒]
Former LSU QB Max Johnson Adds Another Twist To His Journey
Max Johnsons college journey has taken him through some of the sports biggest stages, and now the veteran quarterback is headed into another fresh start. Georgia Southern has tabbed Johnson as its starter, setting him up for a debut against Charleston Southern before a much stiffer test against Clemson, another step in a winding career that has already included starting roles at LSU, Texas A&M and North Carolina.
For Aggies fans who remember his stop in College Station, Johnsons next chapter is another reminder of how much mileage he has put on a college arm. He brings more than six years of experience and a career line of 6,356 passing yards with 49 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, but the real intrigue now is how quickly he settles into his new home with a demanding early schedule waiting right away. [Read more 🡒]