Texas A&M’s 2026 offseason checklist had a glaring item at the top: figure out the kicking game. After a season full of missed opportunities-literally-it became clear that special teams needed a reset. What was once a position of quiet confidence turned into a weekly question mark, and head coach Mike Elko knew he couldn’t afford to roll the dice again.
Senior kicker Randy Bond, who had previously been one of the more reliable legs in the SEC, struggled to find his rhythm last season. He finished just 12-for-19 on field goals, including 5-of-8 from 40-49 yards and 0-for-3 from beyond 50.
Those are tough numbers for any team, but for one with postseason aspirations, they’re especially costly. Bond eventually lost the starting job, and backup Jared Zirkel didn’t exactly inspire confidence either.
The Kerrville native went 4-for-7 on field goals and missed a short one in a critical College Football Playoff matchup against Miami.
In most programs, kicker isn’t the first position you think of when the transfer portal opens. But Elko and special teams coordinator Patrick Dougherty knew they couldn’t treat this like a luxury item. They needed a fix, and fast.
Enter David Olano.
The veteran kicker from Illinois hit the portal with a résumé that turned heads in College Station. Not only did he drill the game-winner against Tennessee in the Music City Bowl, but he also wrapped up the season hitting 87% of his field goals and was perfect on extra points.
That kind of consistency is gold in the college game. Olano was especially sharp from mid-range, going 7-for-8 on both 30-39 and 40-49-yard attempts-a range that gave the Aggies fits last year.
Olano’s arrival brings instant credibility to a unit that desperately needed it. But he won’t be the only new face in the mix.
Freshman Asher Murray is also on campus, and while he hasn’t kicked a collegiate snap yet, the buzz around him is real. A five-star recruit by specialist standards, Murray’s leg strength is already turning heads.
In a recent offseason training video, he showcased what looked like a 50-plus-yard bomb that split the uprights with room to spare. It’s the kind of raw power that coaches dream about developing.
So now, for the first time under Elko, Texas A&M enters an offseason with real competition-and real potential-at kicker. Olano brings the experience and poise of a proven Big Ten contributor.
Murray offers the upside and swagger of a future star. Together, they give the Aggies options, whether it's a clutch 40-yarder in crunch time or a long-range attempt that requires a cannon for a leg.
It may not be the flashiest storyline heading into next season, but make no mistake: this kicker situation could be the difference between another frustrating finish and a real breakthrough. With Olano likely handling the bulk of the duties and Murray potentially stepping in for deep attempts, Texas A&M has quietly turned a weakness into a strength. And that could be a game-changer.