Texas A&M didn’t just dip into the transfer portal this offseason - they dove in headfirst. With 17 new additions, the Aggies made it clear they’re not waiting around to rebuild.
Nine of those transfers come on the defensive side of the ball, while seven bolster the offense. And if early projections hold true, a couple of these names could be turning heads in College Station right out of the gate.
Instant Impact Candidates: Horton and Saka
Two names stand out immediately: edge rusher Anto Saka from Northwestern and wide receiver Isaiah Horton from Alabama. Both bring the kind of high-end talent and experience that suggests they won’t be waiting long to see the field.
Horton, in particular, looks like a tailor-made fit for what A&M needs at the X receiver spot. At 6-foot-4 with the ability to win at the catch point, he gives the Aggies a vertical threat who can complement an already deep receiver room that includes Mario Craver, Ashton Bethel-Roman, and Terry Bussey. Add in four incoming freshmen, and this group suddenly has both depth and versatility.
A Revamped Offensive Line
One of the biggest questions for A&M heading into 2026 is how they’ll replace all five starting offensive linemen - each of whom declared for the NFL Draft. That’s no small task, but the Aggies responded by bringing in four transfers to help fill the void.
Here’s how those linemen graded out in 2025, according to Pro Football Focus:
- Wilkin Formby (Alabama): The standout of the group. His overall grade of 70.9 is solid, but it’s his 82.1 pass-blocking mark that jumps off the page.
That kind of protection on the edge is exactly what a young offense needs.
- Tyree Adams (LSU): His 55.5 overall grade and 47.6 run-blocking score suggest some inconsistency, but there’s upside in his 65.0 pass-blocking grade.
- Coen Echols (LSU): Another LSU product, Echols posted a 57.2 overall grade. Like Adams, his pass-blocking (68.3) was stronger than his run-blocking (49.7).
- Trovon Baugh (South Carolina): The lowest-graded of the bunch with a 53.1 overall score. His 55.7 run-blocking grade is serviceable, but he’ll need to improve in pass protection (59.3) to lock down a starting role.
Bottom line: Formby looks like a plug-and-play starter, while the rest of the group will need to prove themselves in spring and fall camp. With five starting spots up for grabs, competition will be fierce.
Tight End Room Reloaded
The tight end position also saw major turnover, with Nate Boerkircher and Amari Niblack heading to the NFL and Theo Melin-Ohrstrom transferring to SMU. But the Aggies weren’t caught flat-footed. They added Houston Thomas (UTSA) and Richie Anderson (Fresno State) to a room that already includes Kiotti Armstrong and Micah Riley.
Anderson’s PFF grades paint a picture of a well-rounded player. His receiving grade (53.2) leaves room for growth, but his blocking - both in the pass game (68.5) and run game (61.1) - suggests he could be a reliable in-line option. Thomas is expected to bring a different skill set, more of a vertical threat who can stretch the seam.
New Faces, New Staff
All of this roster turnover comes as head coach Mike Elko reshapes his staff. Holmon Wiggins has been elevated to offensive coordinator, while Lyle Hemphill takes over the defense. Both promotions come after significant departures: Collin Klein left to take the Kansas State head coaching job, and Jay Bateman is now calling the defense at Kentucky.
That means 2026 won’t just be about integrating new players - it’s about syncing them with new schemes and philosophies. Wiggins will be tasked with molding a new-look offense behind a rebuilt line, a fresh tight end rotation, and a wide receiver group that’s deep but still needs a true No. 1 to emerge. Defensively, Hemphill inherits a unit that just added nine transfers and will be expected to raise the bar immediately.
What’s Next
The transfer portal window is closed, and the 2026 roster is locked in. Now it’s about fit, development, and execution.
On paper, Texas A&M addressed key needs - especially in the trenches and at the skill positions. But as always, the real evaluation starts when the pads come on.
If Horton lives up to the billing and Formby anchors a retooled offensive line, this Aggies team could be more competitive than expected in what’s shaping up to be a stacked SEC. There’s still plenty to sort out, but the pieces are there. Now it’s on Elko and his revamped staff to make it all click.