s 2026 season opener vs. Missouri State is simply six days away, and with the conclusion of the preseason, which featured important strides from a number of rising gamers on each side of the ball, particularly redshirt junior quarterback Marcel Reed, who has improved his decision-making and deep ball accuracy, at the least primarily based on what we witnessed throughout a number of scrimmages.
Among the many 17 switch portal additions, former Northwestern Edge a has been broadly described as a "grown man" who’s all enterprise on the sector, whereas senior defensive finish T.J. Searcy has been essentially the most constant defender outdoors of the Aggies' loaded secondary, coming into the brand new season with a watch on bettering as a go rusher.
Texas A&M's offense, particularly the large receiver rotation led by Mario Craver and now together with Alabama switch Isaiah Horton, ought to result in matching final season's manufacturing, however as I acknowledged above, the Aggies' cornerback and security rotation is chock-full of NFL expertise, now together with former Tennessee CB Rickey Gibson and Colorado switch security Tawfiq Byard.
One of many program's "sleepers" needs to be sophomore Edge s, who already appears like a pressure to be reckoned with bodily and matches completely in Elko's scheme because the beginning Jack as a hybrid Edge/linebacker.
Exterior of an absence of continuity alongside the defensive position, all of the preseason proved was that Texas A&M's protection could possibly be higher than final 12 months's unit. Listed here are the ultimate two-deep depth chart projections heading into Saturday's season opener.
Security
- Beginning free security: Dalton Brooks
- Backup FS: Myles Davis
- Beginning sturdy/boundary security: Marcus Ratcliffe
- Backup SS: Tawfiq Byard
- Freshman additions: Likelihood Collins, Tylan Wilson
The addition of Colorado switch Tawfiq Byard will possible result in Mike Elko and Lyle Hemphill deploying a three-headed security rotation, whereas Dalton Brooks supplies positional versatility and Marcus Ratcliffe thrives because the short-side security, the place he and Byard will present run assist within the field on early downs.
Cornerback and nickel
- Beginning cornerback: Dezz Ricks
- Backup CB: Adonyss Currie
- Beginning nickel: Jordan Shaw
- Backup NB: Bravion Rogers OR Bryce Anderson
- Beginning cornerback: Julio Humphrey
- Backup CB: Rickey Gibson III
- Freshman class: Brandon Arrington, Victor Singelton
Dezz Ricks is the clear No. 1 possibility after breaking out final 12 months, whereas former Georgia switch Julio Humphrey is wholesome and, after stiff competitors with Rickey Gibson, enters the 2026 season opener because the No. 2 cornerback in my remaining projection.
At nickel, some of the vital positions in Elko's man-heavy scheme, Jordan Shaw stood out this preseason and appears like the present chief to take over the beginning NB position, with veteran nook Bravion Rogers and former beginning security Bryce Anderson both serving as his major backup or outright incomes the beginning job this fall.
Linebacker
- Beginning center linebacker: Ray Coney
- Backup MLB: Jordan Lockhart
- Beginning Will linebacker: Daymion Sanford
- Beginning WLB: Noah Mikhail
- Freshman class: DaQuives Beck, Tank King, Tamarion Watkins, Storm Miller
Daymion Sanford's miraculous return after struggling a fibula harm isn't the one takeaway from the linebacker room's preseason efficiency, as junior Jordan Lockhart is coming off a powerful string of practices and has all however locked up the backup center linebacker job.
Switch Ray Coney has completed sufficient to start out the season at MLB, whereas sophomore Noah Mikhail is flexible sufficient to play both place and supply vital depth.
Defensive position
- Beginning defensive finish: Anto Saka
- Backup DE: T.J. Searcy
- Beginning Jack defensive finish: Marco Jones
- Backup Jack defensive finish: Sam M'Pemba
- Beginning defensive deal with: DJ Hicks
- Backup defensive deal with: Landon Rink
- Beginning nostril deal with: CJ Mims
- Backup nostril deal with: Angelo McCullum
Nothing has modified right here, as Anto Saka and T.J. Searcy will function the 1-2 punch off the sting, whereas senior defensive deal with DJ Hicks will pair nicely with switch nostril deal with CJ Mims, who’re extremely athletic defensive linemen with NFL upside. Depth-wise, Angelo McCullum is among the strongest gamers on the roster, whereas Marco Jones, who wants no introduction.
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