Texas A&M’s 2026 offseason has been anything but quiet - and that’s exactly what new head coach Mike Elko needed. After a season of transition, the Aggies hit the transfer portal hard, bringing in 17 new faces to reshape the roster.
Nine of those are on defense, and several are poised to make an immediate impact, especially in the trenches and at key skill positions. On offense, seven newcomers join a unit undergoing a significant reset, particularly along the line.
Let’s start with the headline additions. Northwestern edge rusher Anto Saka and Alabama wide receiver Isaiah Horton stand out as plug-and-play veterans. Saka, in particular, brings proven pass-rushing chops to a defense that just lost its most disruptive presence off the edge.
That would be Cashius Howell, the unanimous All-American who’s off to the NFL after terrorizing SEC quarterbacks. Howell’s departure leaves a major void, but the Aggies are reloading rather than rebuilding.
Saka, along with San Diego State transfer Ryan Henderson and rising sophomore Marco Jones, will rotate as the primary pass-rushers. Meanwhile, senior **T.J.
Searcy** returns and is the early favorite to anchor the defensive end spot.
At linebacker, it’s a similar story. Taurean York declared for the draft, but A&M wasted no time filling the gap.
Ray Coney, a transfer from Tulsa, steps in with strong credentials - and the tape to back it up. He posted an elite 87.6 overall defensive grade last season, with standout marks in run defense (86.9) and tackling (88.2).
Expect him to be the tone-setter in the middle of the defense, flanked by Daymion Sanford, who earned SEC Player of the Week honors twice last season and is entering his senior year with momentum.
The defensive front also gets a boost with transfers like Brandon Davis-Swain (Colorado), Angelo McCullom (Illinois), and CJ Mims (North Carolina). McCullom showed a well-rounded game with a 70.3 run defense grade and solid tackling (72.6), while Mims brings versatility and depth to the interior. Henderson, coming from San Diego State, adds another layer to the pass rush with a 73.9 pass rush grade, complementing Saka’s 84.1 in that same category.
In the secondary, Rickey Gibson from Tennessee and Tawfiq Byard from Colorado help shore up coverage. Gibson’s 76.3 coverage grade suggests he’s ready to handle SEC receivers, while Byard might be one of the more underrated pickups. His 78.7 coverage grade and strong run support (72.2) make him a valuable piece at safety.
Another name to watch: TJ Smith, a linebacker from Houston Christian. While his tackling grade (48.5) leaves room for improvement, he showed flashes in run defense (69.3) and could develop into a rotational piece with upside.
On the offensive side, the biggest shakeup isn’t just the roster - it’s the coaching staff. With Collin Klein heading back to Kansas State as head coach and Jay Bateman taking the defensive coordinator role at Kentucky, Elko promoted from within.
Holmon Wiggins, formerly the wide receivers coach, steps up as offensive coordinator. On defense, Lyle Hemphill takes over as DC, bringing continuity and familiarity to a group that’s undergone significant turnover.
One of the biggest challenges Elko faces is rebuilding the offensive line. A&M lost four starters and five total linemen, prompting the staff to bring in four SEC-tested transfers. These additions will battle it out during spring and summer for starting jobs, and their experience could be crucial for an offense that needs to find its identity quickly.
With the portal now closed and the roster set, the focus shifts to development, chemistry, and carving out roles. The talent is there - especially on defense - and if the new coordinators can hit the ground running, A&M might be one of the more quietly dangerous teams in the SEC this fall.
Bottom line: Texas A&M didn’t just patch holes. They retooled with purpose. The names may be new, but the expectations in College Station remain sky-high.