Texas A&M’s rebuilt roster is already drawing national attention, and PJ Haggerty is right in the middle of it.
The former Kansas State guard, who averaged nearly 24 points per game in his lone season with the Wildcats, is set to anchor an Aggies team that opens the 2026-2027 season Tuesday, November 3 against Alabama State in Reed Arena. Under second-year coach Bucky McMillan, this group is being described as Texas A&M’s most talented roster in more than a decade, with Haggerty leading the way.
ESPN’s Jay Bilas pushed that buzz even further by placing Haggerty on his Preseason All-America Second Team. Bilas also included him on the Preseason All-Transfer Team after previously naming him to the Second Team Preseason All-SEC.
Texas A&M’s makeover goes well beyond one star guard. The Aggies added six other players through the transfer portal, including guards Tyshawn Archie and Jalen Reece, giving the backcourt the look of the team’s biggest strength. The return of former Indiana transfer forward Mackenzie Mgbako also helps stabilize a front court that was short on size and depth a year ago.
There is still more roster movement to monitor. Former Texas guard Jordan Pope is expected to be available for the entire season after receiving a preliminary Injunction, while senior guard Rylan Griffen is still waiting on his hearing.
If Mgbako stays healthy, Texas A&M also has experienced big-man depth behind him in Zach Clemence and Jamie Vinson, a combination that could matter a lot in SEC play. But the offense is expected to run through Haggerty, whose slashing ability should put pressure on defenses and send him to the free-throw line often, while also creating kick-out chances on the perimeter in McMillan’s system.
And if Haggerty carries over his 2025-2026 scoring production, the Aggies have a real shot to get back to the NCAA Tournament and potentially make a run to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2018.
In Other News...
Texas A&M Could Be Pulled Into A Massive QB Portal Chase
Texas A&Ms quarterback room is already drawing offseason scrutiny, and the sense around the program is that changes could be on the horizon next season. With questions about how the current options are performing and whether they are ready for the next step, the Aggies could be forced to look hard at the transfer portal for a proven answer rather than simply hoping the depth chart sorts itself out.
That search could quickly become part of a much bigger market, with Texas A&M linked in conversation to portal names such as Austin Mack and Brandon Atkenson. There is also speculation around Texas quarterback Arch Manning and whether he might ever consider a move if the right conditions develop, which would only intensify what could already be a crowded sweepstakes for programs hunting a high-end solution under center. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Suddenly Has A Bigger Offensive Problem Than Expected
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The result has been a unit that looks noticeably less settled than it did a year ago, even with senior transfer kicker David Olano providing steady work on special teams. Marcel Reed remains the projected starter at quarterback, but his production has dipped enough to make the offense feel like more than just a rebuilding job. For a team that entered the season expecting some regression, the bigger concern now is whether the passing game can recover before the hole gets any deeper. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Needs A Big Injury Turnaround Before Alabama
Texas A&M is heading into one of its biggest tests with the availability report doing plenty of damage to the buildup. The Aggies have several key starters listed as questionable or out, including wide receiver Mario Craver and defensive players DJ Hicks, Anto Saka and Daymion Sanford, while season-ending injuries have already taken Terry Bussey and Blake Ivy out of the equation.
Alabama is dealing with some issues of its own, but the bigger concern for Texas A&M is how much strain the current injury situation could put on both sides of the ball in a game that figures to demand depth. With the Crimson Tide missing receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams and cornerback Zabien Brown also in question, the matchup still has room to shift, though the Aggies are waiting on some late movement that could change the tone of their week. [Read more 🡒]