If you’re a Texas A&M fan, the 2025 season might sting a little right now - the way it ended wasn’t what anyone in College Station was dreaming about when the Aggies started 11-0. But take a step back, and it’s hard to see this year as anything but a major turning point for the program. In just his second year at the helm, Mike Elko didn’t just push the Aggies into the national conversation - he kicked the door down, guiding them to their first-ever College Football Playoff berth and the program’s best start since 1993.
It all started with a statement win on the road at Notre Dame. That early-season victory didn’t just boost their résumé - it lit a fire. From there, the Aggies rode momentum and a revamped offense that looked nothing like the one fans were used to seeing in recent years.
At the center of it all was quarterback Marcel Reed, who took a massive leap forward. Reed threw for a career-high 3,192 yards and 25 touchdowns, and added over 400 yards and six scores with his legs.
That dual-threat ability gave opposing defenses fits and opened up the playbook for offensive coordinator Collin Klein. And when you’ve got weapons like KC Concepcion and Mario Craver on the outside, it’s no surprise the offense found another gear.
Concepcion and Craver - both transfer additions - were game-changers. They combined for over 1,800 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns, giving Reed two dynamic targets who could stretch the field and make plays after the catch. Their arrival didn’t just improve the offense - it transformed it.
The run game had to adapt midseason after senior back Le’Veon Moss went down, and while that was a blow, Rueben Owens stepped up. The redshirt sophomore finished with a career-best 639 rushing yards and five touchdowns. He didn’t quite have the same pop down the stretch - failing to crack 40 yards in each of the final three games - but his contributions helped keep the offense balanced when it needed it most.
Defensively, the Aggies were anchored by a front that was nothing short of ferocious. Senior edge rusher Cashius Howell capped off his A&M career with 11.5 sacks and earned unanimous All-American honors.
He was a nightmare off the edge, and he wasn’t alone. The defensive line - Albert Regis, DJ Hicks, Tyler Onyedim, and veteran Dayon Hayes - brought relentless pressure all season long.
Together, that group racked up 43 sacks, good for second in the nation. That’s not just impressive - that’s elite.
And while Elko and his staff have already turned the page to the offseason - adding 17 transfers and locking in the 2026 recruiting class - the accolades from 2025 are still rolling in. Pro Football Focus released its annual Top 101 college football players list following Indiana’s national title win over Miami, and Texas A&M had four players make the cut - more than any other team.
Three of those four - linebacker Taurean York, edge rusher Cashius Howell, and wide receiver KC Concepcion - are off to the NFL after declaring for the 2026 Draft. But their impact in College Station won’t be forgotten anytime soon.
Here’s how PFF broke down their selections:
LB Taurean York (No. 62)
York’s been the heartbeat of A&M’s defense since he stepped on campus in 2023, and he saved his best for last. This season, he ranked third among all linebackers in the country in PFF’s wins above average metric and posted a 90.8 coverage grade - second-best among all Power Four linebackers.
Smart, instinctive, and always around the ball, York was the kind of linebacker every defense needs.
WR Mario Craver (No. 67)
Craver made the jump from Mississippi State and wasted no time making an impact. His 82.6 PFF receiving grade was tied for best in the SEC, and his 3.26 yards per route run ranked third among all Power Four receivers.
That’s elite-level efficiency. Heading into his junior year, Craver’s firmly in the conversation as one of the top wideouts in the country.
WR KC Concepcion (No. 76)
Concepcion didn’t just produce - he did it all. He took home the Paul Hornung Award as the nation’s most versatile player, and the numbers back it up.
He led all SEC receivers in first downs or touchdowns (48) and added two punt return touchdowns for good measure. His 84.2 return grade ranked second among all Power Four players.
Simply put, he was a weapon from anywhere on the field.
Edge Cashius Howell (No. 82)
Howell was a force off the edge all season long. He finished with 12 sacks - tied for fifth-most in the country - and posted a 90.3 pass-rush grade, ranking him 20th among all edge defenders.
A projected first-round pick, Howell didn’t just rack up numbers - he changed games.
So yes, the ending wasn’t what Aggie fans had hoped for. But the foundation?
It’s solid. The talent?
Undeniable. And the direction under Mike Elko?
As promising as it’s been in decades. The 2025 season might not have ended with a trophy, but it sure felt like the beginning of something big in College Station.