As President Donald Trump tries to convince voters that Democrats have let crime run amok, he's digging into the country's political past to cite one of the most controversial campaign advertisements that relied heavily on racist tropes.
During a campaign stop Wednesday in Gastonia, North Carolina, to stump for Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley, Trump resurrected a 1988 George H.W. Bush presidential campaign ad featuring Willie Horton, a Black man convicted of rape and ****** ault after his release through a Massachusetts prison furlough program.
A grainy black-and-white prison photo of Horton was used in the ad targeting then-Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis, who was ahead of Bush in the polls. On Wednesday, Trump evoked the Horton ad in an effort to convince voters Democratic former Gov. Roy Cooper, Whatley's opponent in the Senate race, is soft on crime.
"Willie Horton was a bad guy, really bad guy," Trump said, before comparing Dukakis's release of Horton to the pretrial release of a Black man who faces a murder charge for last year's killing of a white Ukrainian refugee in Charlotte, North Carolina.
But Cooper was not the governor when the man was released or when he was later charged with killing the refugee.

#black

It was a back-and-forth battle against the Arizona State Sun Devils in the first half, but the Texas A&M Aggies put their foot on the pedal with two massive pick-sixes to seal a Week 2 victory at Kyle Field on Saturday afternoon.
One of the most integral improvements the Aggies wanted to make this offseason was forcing more turnovers. After recording no interceptions against Missouri State in the season opener, Marco Jones and Julio Humphrey took their picks to the house for six.
Meanwhile, electric wide receivers Mario Craver and Isaiah Horton hauled in a touchdown pass apiece, in what was a solid overall outing from the offensive playmakers. While there are still a plethora of adjustments to be made in the trenches, quarterback Marcel Reed still threw for 163 yards and three touchdowns, with just one interception.
In what was a record day for the 12th Man, the Maroon and White came through with a massive 48-20 win over the Big 12 representatives to move to 2-0 in 2026.
Here are some of the best social media reactions from Texas A&M's dominant victory over Arizona State in Week 2:

#state #victory #still #devils

Seattle Seahawks WR Tory Horton (hamstring) was a limited participant in practice Sunday, Sept. 6, due to a hamstring injury.
SOURCE: Brady Henderson - ESPN.com
Why it Matters: Horton flashed some big-play potential with limited opportunities last season, but unless there are injuries to Jaxon Smith-Njigba or Rashid Shaheed, Horton's figures to be used sparingly again. At best, he could be a WR5 in deeper formats.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tory Horton limited in practice Sunday

#hamstring

No. 8 Texas A&M (1-0) was slow out of the gate during Saturday night's season opener vs. Missouri State, as the Aggies' revamped offensive line struggled to find consistency, giving up several pressures and two sacks on starting quarterback Marcel Reed, but thanks to adjustments from coach Mike Elko and OL coach Adam Cushing, this group tightened up in the second half.
Leading 19-0 going into halftime, Texas A&M's defense shut down the Bears throughout the night, which continued into the third and fourth quarters, allowing 67 total yards, including a pedestrian 37 rushing yards. With A&M's O-line improvement, the Aggie rushing attack made its late impact, as wide receiver Terry Bussey, RB Jamarion Morrow, and freshman running back Carsyn Baker scored touchdowns.
Marcel Reed completed 21/30 for 233 yards and 2 touchdowns, completing impressive pass after impressive pass despite early pressure in his face, while transfer wide receiver Isaiah Horton made his impact known, leading the game with 76 receiving yards and his first touchdown as an Aggie.
Before hosting Arizona State on Saturday, here are the latest Pro Football Focus grades on offense and defense after Texas A&M's 50-0 win over Missouri State in Week 1.
QB Marcel Reed — 80.6 offense, 78.6 passing, 66.8 running

#yards #leading #line

Texas A&M football's suffocating defense paved the way for a 50-0 victory against the Missouri State Bears to kick off the 2026 campaign at Kyle Field on Saturday night.
The Aggies' first-team defense gave up just 55 yards on 29 plays in the season opener. Meanwhile, junior quarterback Marcel Reed showed his offseason development, throwing for 223 yards and two touchdowns. Texas A&M had three running backs rush for over 40 yards, 77 of which came from senior Rueben Owens II.
Noah Mikhail led the way on defense with seven tackles, followed by transfer linebacker Ray Coney, who notched six tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss, with Texas A&M's sole forced turnover coming from Ryan Henderson.
For head coach Mike Elko, the performance marked his 20th win as the head coach in Aggieland, but he's looking for much more this season. That includes a massive non-conference matchup against Arizona State in an SEC-versus-Big 12 showdown in Bryan-College Station next Saturday.
Here is everything Elko, Mikhail, Alabama transfer Isaiah Horton and Reed said following Texas A&M's first win of the 2026 season against Missouri State on Saturday night:

#state #saturday

Missouri State (0-1) was a heavy underdog entering its Week 1 game against No. 8 Texas A&M. The Aggies (1-0) avoided an upset by taking down the Bears 50-0.
The Bears flashed some great plays, while the Aggies showcased their SEC power and depth. Here are some takeaways from Missouri State's road game at Kyle Field.
Although the score reads a major blowout, Missouri State's defense kept the Bears in the game in the first half.
Texas A&M marched down the field for a 58-yard opening touchdown drive. Following this drive, Missouri State allowed just 68 yards across the next three drives.
Missouri State's defense forced back-to-back punts along with a fantastic forced fumble. Missouri State's Joel Boamah punched the ball out of wide receiver Isaiah Horton's hands. With the Bears trailing 9-0 in the second quarter, it was a huge momentum play.

#missouri #bears

Tory Horton approaches the 2026 NFL season as an under-the-radar player with immense talent and a great amount of potential to become a significant part of the Seattle Seahawks' passing attack. Opportunities will dictate whether or not he will emerge in surprise fashion next season.
Horton recorded 13 receptions for 161 receiving yards and five REC touchdowns in 2025. He averaged 12.4 yards per reception and had multiple big time plays on the year. His 59.1 percent catch rate showed that he has room for improvement, but what met the eye showed a player capable of turning into a dynamic receiver with the ability to make plays after the catch and operate in all three phases of the field.
Horton has the size, route detail and ball skills to work in multiple roles. He has sound footwork, and a mesmerizing stride that enables him to pick up yards after receptions. He does not need to be the Seahawks' primary receiver to make an impact, as exemplified by how much of a scoring threat he was in his limited role last season. The Seahawks' wide receiver room has ***** e for him to upset the pecking order and make more of a name for himself in 2026.
A strong season will depend on opportunity and consistency. Horton must earn Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold's trust by getting open more and finishing catches.
Still, his talent and skills are evident. In the event that Horton sees an uptick in targets at some point next season based off of his route precision and catch ability, his regular season production may reflect who he is as a talent more and help him become one of Seattle's most dependable complementary receivers in 2026, or even perhaps a fixture of the offense.

#make

Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images Getty
The Detroit Lions, like all other NFL clubs, must be at the mandated 53-man roster by 6:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, and they've already announced multiple roster releases.
Among the players that the club has released so far include rookie DL Tyre West, DT Myles Adams, LB Troy Reeder, and TE Zach Horton.
However, another name has been announced as the club's latest release, and it will come as a surprise to some fans considering that he's already spent time playing under new Lions offensive coordinator Drew Petzing during their time together with the Arizona Cardinals.
GettyPhoto by Andy Lyons/Getty Images

#andy

The New York Giants finished out their 2026 preseason schedule with a decisive 23-6 victory over the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Friday night.
The Giants moved to 2-1 this summer and will now gird themselves for roster cutdown day on Sunday. They won't play again until their home opener on Sept. 13 against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football.
Here are three things we learned from the dominant win over the Jets.
The Giants signed veteran running back Najee Harris last week, which has led to questions surrounding workload distribution and snap counts. Harris isn't flashy, but he is the perfect early-down back who can soften up defenses. He gives the Giants a lot of options in the running game. They run five deep and should be fresh for four quarters this year. The Giants want to run the ball a lot this season, and we're seeing what that will look like.
The one thing the Giants were counting on when they hired John Harbaugh was his ability to build strong special teams. It didn't take him very long. He has a top punter in free agent Jordan Stout and now appears to have a rising star at kicker in Dominic Zvada. The return and coverage teams have been playing with more discipline under coordinator Chris Horton.

#teams #metlife

Texas A&M's 2026 season opener vs. Missouri State is just eight days away, as the Aggies will begin in-season practice on Friday, completely focused on the task ahead after 16 preseason practices over the past three weeks. Overall, every position group had their moments, while redshirt junior quarterback Marcel Reed has improved every facet of his game, especially his accuracy, touch, and pocket presence.
Aided by one of the deepest wide receiver rotations in the country, now including Alabama transfer Isaiah Horton, Reed's improvement is based on eye witness accounts from every local beat writer and Texas A&M media member, while an anonymous source, who spoke with On3 insider Pete Nakos, confirmed that Reed has indeed taken the next step in his development, echoing coach Mike Elko's statement earlier this month.
You don't have to take it from me, but thanks to the Texas A&M media team for releasing several videos that featured Marcel Reed connecting with Isaiah Horton and star junior Mario Craver for 50-plus-yard passes with pinpoint accuracy, showcasing his poise in the pocket and improved footwork, which, if the revamped offensive line holds up, the sky is the limit for Texas A&M's passing game.
"Marcel is more accurate, has more of a presence and has another year of playing football for Mike Elko," a source stated to On3.
Texas A&M's loaded wide receiver corps also features former five-star prospect Terry Bussey, who Aggie fans have been waiting for to break out after two seasons, and through nearly every preseason practice, the 2026 season could be the year Bussey finally reaches his potential, with the same source agreeing.

#texas #reed #isaiah #bussey

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, which is now run by Greg Abel, revealed in its latest 13F filing that the fund bought a new stake in D.R. Horton (NYSE:DHI), worth about $580,000. The fund also increased its stake in fellow homebuilder Lennar (NYSE:LEN) by 30% in the second quarter, lifting that position to about $1.2 billion.
The housing market has been taking a hit amid higher mortgage rates, but some long-term indicators suggest a rebound could come. J.P. Morgan Global Research expects home prices to remain flat in 2026 but sees a 3% rise in 2027. Capital Economics forecasts a 2.5% rebound in home prices in 2027, followed by a 4% gain in 2028. The Mortgage Bankers ******* ociation expects single-family construction starts to recover to 967,000 in 2027 and 976,000 in 2028, after dipping in 2026.
DHI is one of the largest homebuilders in the country. In the most recent quarter, gross margin actually beat guidance at 20.7% even as prices slipped amid declining construction costs. The stock is down 10% over the past year. Bulls point out that a broader housing recovery is expected sooner or later and DHI is a strong play to benefit from it in the long term.
Bears say a recovery would take a lot of time. The company recently cut its full-year revenue guidance and Q4 guidance calls for a sequential slowdown in both revenue and homes closed. Elevated mortgage rates, sticky inflation, and cautious buyers are forcing DHI to lean on incentives and lower average prices to keep volume moving and these pressures are not expected to ease soo.
Forward non-GAAP P/E sits at 13.95x, about 13% below the sector median of 15.99x, but 40% above DHI's own five-year average of 9.99x. On a GAAP basis, forward P/E of 13.96x is below the sector median by roughly 19%, yet sits 40% above the stock's five-year norm.

#NYSE #fund

D.R. Horton's cancellation rate hit 20% on qualification failures, and loanDepot has collapsed 59% year to date as mortgage origination dries up.
Annaly Capital rose 12% as higher MBS yields widened its net interest spread, while PNC jumped 25% repositioning its portfolio to a 4.4% yield.
The 10-year Treasury, not the Fed, sets mortgage rates, and with CPI at 3.4% and the 10-year near 12-month highs, borrower relief looks distant.
Act now: the ***** yst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and DR Horton didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
The buyer sitting in a D.R. Horton (NYSE:DHI) sales office in suburban Dallas this week is looking at a 30-year fixed mortgage of 6.67% on the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey for the week ending August 13, 2026, and 6.75% on Mortgage News Daily's Tuesday reading. In late February, the Freddie Mac number was 5.98%. In the interim, the Federal Reserve did nothing. Chair Kevin Warsh has held the federal funds target at 3.75% for 231 consecutive days. Your mortgage rate went up anyway.

#horton #rate

D.R. Horton's cancellation rate hit 20% on qualification failures, and loanDepot has collapsed 59% year to date as mortgage origination dries up.
Annaly Capital rose 12% as higher MBS yields widened its net interest spread, while PNC jumped 25% repositioning its portfolio to a 4.4% yield.
The 10-year Treasury, not the Fed, sets mortgage rates, and with CPI at 3.4% and the 10-year near 12-month highs, borrower relief looks distant.
Act now: the ****** yst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and DR Horton didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
The buyer sitting in a D.R. Horton (NYSE:DHI) sales office in suburban Dallas this week is looking at a 30-year fixed mortgage of 6.67% on the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey for the week ending August 13, 2026, and 6.75% on Mortgage News Daily's Tuesday reading. In late February, the Freddie Mac number was 5.98%. In the interim, the Federal Reserve did nothing. Chair Kevin Warsh has held the federal funds target at 3.75% for 231 consecutive days. Your mortgage rate went up anyway.

#horton #week

Wide receiver Rodney Bullard Jr. is taking the NCAA to court to get a season of eligibility back to play for Michigan State football this fall.
Bullard's attorney, William H. Horton, filed for a "preliminary and permanent" injunction and "a temporary restraining order (if necessary)" in 30th Circuit Court in Ingham County on Monday, Aug. 17, on Bullard's behalf, according to court documents.
A preliminary show cause hearing in front of Judge Wanda Stokes will be held Aug. 27 in Lansing at the 30th Circuit Court, per court records. MSU opens its season Sept. 4 against Toledo at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.
A message left Tuesday for Horton was not immediately returned.
Bullard is a graduate student at MSU. Horton – a Troy-based attorney with the firm Giarmarco, Mullins and Horton – argued in his filing that the NCAA violated its rules by determining that Bullard is not eligible to play for MSU this season "because he used up his four years of eligibility by being a full-time student in the fall of 2021" at Valdosta State in his home state of Georgia. Horton countered that Bullard was a part-time student in the fall of 2021.

#horton #bullard #ncaa #lansing

There's a bit of good news and not-so-good news coming out of the Seattle Seahawks' Monday practice.
On the positive side, running backs Jadarian Price and Jacardia Wright are back in pads and practicing in team drills. The potentially bad news? Second-year wide receiver Tory Horton, who missed the back-half of last season with a crackted tibia, was not part of Monday's session at VMAC.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald didn't have much to offer in terms of injury specifics for Horton or anyone else.
"Tory's working through some things," Macdonald said at Monday's press conference. "Yeah, not a lot of updates on the injury front right now, but they had a couple guys down today."
Horton did not play in Saturday's preseason loss versus the Dallas Cowboys, although it's unknown whether that's injury related or if he's enough of a key offensive component to not be risked for a game. Dating back to his final season at Colorado State, he's had consecutive seasons end prematurely due to leg injuries.

#horton #injury #good

Texas A&M's 2026 season-opener vs. Missouri State is less than three weeks away, and entering his third sesaon at the helm, coach Mike Elko should be encouraged by what he's witnessed from the redshirt junior quarterback Marcel Reed, who has improved accuracy, especially on the deep ball, which was on full display during Saturday's scrimmage after hitting Alabama transfer wideout Isaiah Horton in stride on a 30-plus yard throw.
The only thing preventing Marcel Reed, in my opinion, from matching his 2025 production is whether the revamped offensive line, featuring four new starters, gels early in the year. This group will feature returning starting center Mark Nabou, four new SEC transfers, and several rising offensive linemen from the 2025 signing class.
Again, if this group at least becomes an above-average pass-blocking unit, Marcel Reed will be passing to what is nationally considered one of the deepest wide receiver rotations in the country, now including Alabama transfer Isaiah Horton, who brings much-needed size at 6'4", while Mario Craver, Ashton Bethel-Roman, Terry Bussey, and freshman Aaron Gregory fill out the rotation.
Last season, Reed passed for a career-high 3,169 yards and 25 touchdowns, while 8 of his 12 interceptions came against top-35-ranked defenses, which has been the focus this offseason, working with new OC Holmon Wiggins and QB coach Joey Lynch. Entering the 2026 season with a solid 77.9 QBR, On3 ranks Reed 9th nationally.
"Reed was tremendous in leading Texas A&M to an 11-0 start last season. Then, he was fairly pedestrian — and that might be generous — in the team's two losses to Texas and Miami to close out the 2025 campaign. Decision-making in big moments is the real key for Reed. He needs to avoid costly turnovers in big games. But in terms of raw skill, he's got as much as anyone in the country. And he's probably aptly motivated after the way 2025 ended."

#entering

Texas A&M's 2026 season opener vs. Missouri State is less than three weeks away, and after the Aggies' ninth preseason practice, which included the program's first closed scrimmage on Saturday, everything is seemingly coming together for third-year coach Mike Elko and his revamped 2026 roster.
Whether it be redshirt junior quarterback Marcel Reed, nearly every wide receiver on the roster, or Northwestern transfer Edge Anto Saka, the Aggies have made significant progress over the last two weeks, and after Saturday's scrimmage, which included one of Reed's more impressive deep ***** to Alabama transfer WR Isaiah Horton, the offense is gaining more steam ahead of the season opener.
Still, plenty of questions remain, and SEC ***** yst Chris Marler released his own three "burning questions" for Texas A&M, centered around the program's four new starters along the offensive line, new OC Holmon Wiggins' lack of play-calling experience, and, for comical relief, Marler hating on A&M's new alternative uniforms that were revealed on Friday.
After adding four SEC starting offensive linemen from the transfer portal, OL coach Adam Cushing's development background should be trusted, as four 2025 starters were selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, while former South Carolina guard Trovon Baugh and Alabama transfer Wilkin Formby have stood out this preseason.
Ignoring Marler's alternative jersey critique, he does have a point regarding A&M's offense, which finished top 5 in the SEC in yards per game and per play, while Wiggins, who served as Collin Klein's co-OC over the last two seasons, is expected to utilize Marcel Reed's dual-threat skill set and roll the veteran QB out much more in RPO and play-action looks.

#play #marcel #wiggins

Texas A&M's ninth preseason practice may not have been open to the media, but thanks to the Aggie media team, one of redshirt junior quarterback Marcel Reed's best throws of the day was captured, providing media members and Aggie fans alike another glimpse into Reed's improvement as a pocket passer, delivering strike after strike since fall camp began.
The Aggies' offensive line will replace four starters at left tackle, left guard, right guard, and right tackle. Third-year coach Mike Elko landed four SEC starters from the transfer portal, who are all expected to start at this point in the preseason, but nothing is set in stone. If this group comes through, Reed is expected to, yes, take the next step, especially with the addition of Alabama transfer wide receiver Isaiah Horton.
Standing 6'4" and 215 pounds, Horton's size and ability to stretch the field and make contested catches fill the hole that plagued the Aggies last season, despite transfer wide receivers KC Concepcion and Mario Craver's elite speed, which led to a combined total of nearly 1,900 yards and 13 touchdowns.
While Concepcion is already the Cleveland Browns' No. 1 wide receiver after being selected 24th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, Mario Craver is back for a final season and, paired with Ashton Bethel-Roman and Terry Bussey, who have also shined, especially Bussey, this preseason, Marcel Reed and Isaiah Horton's connection was on full display during Saturday's first scrimmage.
In tight coverage against freshman cornerback Victor Singleton, Horton made a contested catch off a perfectly thrown ball from Marcel Reed, an area the veteran QB struggled last season. With the 2026 season-opener just three weeks away, this connection could take the Aggie passing game to the next level under first-year OC Holmon Wiggins.

#preseason #aggies

Joshua Dobbs is in his second stint with Detroit in the NFL. He signed with the Lions on Monday.
According to Friday's NFL transactions, the former Tennessee quarterback's jersey number changed from No. 12 to No. 6 after signing with the Lions. He wore No. 6 in Detroit's first preseason game on Thursday at Cincinnati.
The Bengals won the contest, 16-14, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. Tight end Zach Horton also had his jersey number changed with the Lions, switching from No. 40 to No. 43.
Dobbs completed 4-of-8 passing attempts for 32 yards in the preseason Week 1 loss to the Bengals. He also recorded nine rushing yards on one attempt. Dobbs led the Lions to field goals on two of his three series. He was sacked one time for five yards.
Dobbs played for the Vols from 2013-16, totaling 7,138 passing yards, 53 passing touchdowns, 2,160 rushing yards, 32 rushing touchdowns, 62 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns.

#cincinnati #jersey

Verdigris spent last season knocking on the door of the state tournament.
With eight seniors back to help lead the way, the Lady Cardinals believe this could be the year they kick it down and return to that stage for the first time since 2022.
Verdigris enters the 2026 volleyball season with an experienced roster and plenty of motivation after coming up just short of a trip to Class 3A state last fall, losing a five-set classic to Chouteau-Mazie in the regional championship.
Coach Caleb Horton said he believes that experience gives the Lady Cardinals a foundation reminiscent of some of his better teams, even if there is still work to be done before the season gets underway.
"They're pretty solid, and they're a lot of fun to watch," Horton said. "But we still have struggles and are kind of streaky. But it'll be nice to get the season started and see how they handle it."

#horton

D.R. Horton, Inc. (DHI) operates as a homebuilding company. Valued at $42.3 billion by market cap, the company constructs and sells single-family homes designed primarily for the entry-level and move-up markets. DHI also provides mortgage financing and ***** le agency services to homebuyers.
Shares of this leading homebuilder have underperformed the broader market over the past year. DHI has declined 1.8% over this time frame, while the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has rallied nearly 22.4%. In 2026, DHI stock is up 4.9%, compared to the SPX's 13.3% rise on a YTD basis.
Don't ***** ume Micron Will Share SanDisk's Fate. Here's Why.
The Nvidia-SpaceX Deal Is Sending a Clear Signal on AI Dominance
Rocket Lab Investors Have Plenty to Cheer Ahead of Q2 Earnings Today

#market #broader #micron

Kickoff against Missouri State on Saturday, Sept. 5, is inching closer, marking the debut of Texas A&M's new offensive and defensive coordinators.
After spending the last two seasons in Bryan-College Station as the co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach, Holmon Wiggins is preparing for his first campaign as the primary play-caller, entering his 23rd year coaching football. The Los Angeles, California, native was named the replacement for Colin Klein, who accepted the head coaching opening at his alma mater, Kansas State.
The return of quarterback Marcel Reed and a slew of playmakers like Mario Craver, Terry Bussey, Ashton Bethel-Roman and Alabama transfer Isaiah Horton provides Wiggins with one of the most talented groups in the Southeastern Conference.
On the other side of the ball, Lyle Hemphill is set for his first year as defensive coordinator, after being in the same role at James Madison in 2024. Last season, he served as the **** ociate head coach for the defense, but was promoted after Jay Bateman left to be Kentucky's defensive coordinator.
While Mike Elko is the primary defensive mastermind of the Aggies, Hemphill has been coaching for 24 years and has spent eight total seasons as the primary defensive coordinator with the Dukes, Wake Forest and Stony Brook.

#primary #offensive

Texas A&M's third preseason practice, and first full practice open to the media, on Saturday showcased the rise of junior wide receiver Terry Bussey and provided more proof that redshirt junior quarterback Marcel Reed, entering his second full starting season, has significantly improved his accuracy and ball placement.
Among the Aggies' 17 transfer portal additions this offseason, former Northwestern Edge Anto Saka and Tennessee transfer cornerback Rickey Gibson III continue to shine in their roles, looking to replace unanimous All-American pass rusher Cashius Howell and veteran corner Will Lee, who were two of A&M's record 10 players selected in the 2026 NFL Draft.
On Monday, Texas A&M's fifth preseason practice further emphasized the offense, as Marcel Reed and his elite wide receiver rotation, now including Alabama transfer Isaiah Horton, continued to build chemistry, which is already established with Mario Craver and Ashton Bethel-Roman, while freshmen Aaron Gregory and Madden Williams would likely start for several SEC teams who don't possess the Aggies' depth.
Texas A&M's running battle between Rueben Owens and Jamarion Morrow continues to take shape, and after an impressive performance this weekend, freshman KJ Edwards' athleticism continues to impress coach Mike Elko and his staff. Redshirt freshman back Tiger Riden showed off his blocking skills on Monday, and senior linebacker Daymion Sanford's return is nothing short of incredible given the severity of his fibula injury.
Here are the best highlights from Texas A&M's fifth preseason practice on Monday evening.

#full

Texas A&M's 2026 tight end room will be led by senior Micah Riley, who is one of five team captains entering the new campaign, while redshirt freshman Kiotti Armstrong and transfer portal additions Houston Thomas and Richie Anderson fill out the rest of the revamped room after Nate Boerkircher, who was selected in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars, led all A&M tight ends in receiving and touchdowns last season.
Losing Boerkircher's skill set as an inline blocker and reliable receiver places pressure on Micah Riley to step up as the full-time starter in most 11-personnel looks next season, but under new offensive coordinator Holmon Wiggins, the expectation is that Houston Thomas and Richie Anderson will be heavily utilized in pass sets, while Armstrong, depending on his development over the next three weeks, remains the outlier.
Houston Thomas is a College Station native, and while A&M did not offer him out of high school, he has a close relationship with third-year coach Mike Elko going back to his high school playing days, and, during his final season at UTSA, Thomas reeled in 34 receptions for 347 yards and 2 touchdowns, and enters his final collegiate season with the 5th most receiving yards from a tight end in career (916).
During the first two practices, Thomas has reportedly looked the part as a receiver, thriving in the seam given his size advantage and sure hands, which was captured by Texas A&M's media team this week. Similar to Alabama transfer wide receiver Isaiah Horton, Thomas's large catch radius and experience as one of UTSA's No. 1 receiving targets should make him one of starting quarterback Marcel Reed's top targets this fall.
Contact/Follow us AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: CameronOhnysty.

#follow #micah #riley

Texas A&M's 2026 season opener vs. Missouri State is just over three weeks away, while the Aggies have already completed two preseason practices since Wednesday evening. Overall, the takeaways have been varied, ranging from starting quarterback Marcel Reed's increased accuracy and confidence as a passer to junior wide receiver Terry Bussey, who bulked up this summer and improved as a route runner.
Sticking with Texas A&M's borderline elite wide receiver corps, former Alabama wideout Isaiah Horton brings much-needed size to a rotation built on NFL-level talent, led by Mario Cravers' elite twitch and quickness, paired with Ashton Bethel-Roman and Terry Bussey's track speed. After transferring from Mississippi State before the 2025 season, Craver reeled in 59 receptions for 917 yards and 4 touchdowns, developing immediate chemistry with Marcel Reed.
Reed and Isaiah Horton go back to their high school playing days in Tennessee, and while they have yet to play together at the college level, it's clear that after two practices, both players are on the same page. Horton's catch radius was on full display during Thursday's practice, captured by Texas A&M's media team after the senior wideout snagged Reed's well-thrown pass.
Horton is in line to earn the starting X receiver job, and, on paper, will open up the passing game for Reed, allowing Mario Craver to roam the middle of the field and allowing the redshirt junior to take more 50/50 shots downfield, which was not the case last season given the lack of size on the outside.
Losing star WR KC Concepcion, who led the Aggies in receiving yards and touchdowns last season, likely won't have a massive impact on new OC Holmon Wiggins' ability to push the ball down the field on early downs given his background as one of the top wide receivers coaches.

#season #wide #receiver #marcel

Seattle Seahawks starting quarterback Sam Darnold and No. 1 wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba arguably were the best QB-WR pairing in the NFL last season. It's partially why the Seahawks won Super Bowl 60. Their connection was once again fully on display at Wednesday's 10th training camp practice.
Smith-Njigba posted a league-leading 1,793 receiving yards last season. JSN was rewarded for his individual accolades by being named Offensive Player of the Year. Smith-Njigba has picked up right where he left off this offseason.
Smith-Njigba was downright dominant at Wednesday's practice, per ESPN reporter Brady Henderson, who was in attendance. "It was great to see him come alive," head coach Mike Macdonald said after practice. "Some of those in high-leverage situations, too. … There's defensive attention on where he's at at all times, too, so for him to be able to make those plays, it's great for the Seahawks, great for him."
Darnold has so many pass-catching weapons at his disposal. Cooper Kupp, Rashid Shaheed, and AJ Barner are proven threats. Sophomores Elijah Arroyo and Tory Horton are expected to take developmental steps forward. The running game has been revamped with the additions of Emanuel Wilson and Jadarian Price, and possibly a bigger role for George Holani.
Wednesday's practice was a reminder that the offense should still run through Smith-Njigba, though.

#darnold

Texas A&M's first preseason practice ahead of the 2026 season opener vs. Missouri State on Saturday, Sept. 5, took place on Wednesday evening, and similar to this time last year, quarterback Marcel Reed, entering his second full starting season, continued to receive substantial attention given the redshirt junior's need to take the proverbial "next step" as a pocket passer.
With 65% of the 2025 roster returning after the Aggies' first trip to the College Football Playoff last season, third-year coach added 17 players from the transfer portal, combined with all but one player from the 2026 signing class making their way to campus back in January. Several newcomers continued to look the part on Wednesday, while A&M's elite wide receiver rotation unsurprisingly flashed, especially junior Terry Bussey.
After landing Alabama transfer WR Isaiah Horton, who stands 6'4"and now weighs 215 pounds, the Aggies' receiver rotation, led by Mario Craver, is now built on speed, size, and physicality after nearly every wideout added weight this offseason, with Terry Bussey now weighing 205 pounds.
Texas A&M's starting running back job is still up for grabs, and redshirt junior Rueben Owens, who also gained weight this summer, will directly compete with rising sophomore Jamarion Morrow, who impressed the staff this spring and looks like the best one-cut running back on the roster.
Thanks to several beat writers in attendance, including Tony Catalina, Carter Karels, and Travis Brown, here are the top highlights from Texas A&M's first preseason practice.

#back #aggies

The Detroit Lions announced a pair of roster moves on Tuesday morning.
The Lions announced that it has re-signed Zach Horton, who signed with the Lions as an undrafted free agent in May of 2025. Horton was waived last year in roster cuts, but the Lions signed him to its 2025 practice squad and then to a Reserve/Future contract this past January.
The Lions waived Horton last Friday and signed tight end Anthony Firkser in a corresponding move.
Firkser exited Monday's training camp practice early to be evaluated for injury. Lions head coach Dan Campbell announced on Tuesday morning that Firkser had suffered a fractured fibula. The Lions placed Firkser on injured reserve on Tuesday morning.
Firkser joins rookie receiver Kendrick Law as Lions in injured reserve. Law suffered a season-ending ACL tear during OTAs.

#reserve #announced

The Detroit Lions have made another move to stabilize their battered tight end room.
Detroit announced Tuesday that veteran tight end Anthony Firkser has been placed on Reserve/Injured after suffering a broken fibula during Monday's padded practice. The Lions filled his roster spot by signing tight end Zach Horton.
The transaction was expected after Dan Campbell confirmed the extent of Firkser's injury before Tuesday's practice.
Firkser had quickly become a useful piece of Detroit's training camp offense.
The veteran tight end caught two touchdowns during Sunday's red-zone work and had earned opportunities with multiple offensive units before leaving Monday's practice with a leg injury. The broken fibula now sends him to injured reserve and removes another experienced option from a position already dealing with several health concerns.

#detroit #reserve

Tight end Anthony Firkser's return to the Lions turned out to be a brief one.
Firkser signed with the team on July 31, but his run on the active roster ended when the team placed him on injured reserve Tuesday morning. Head coach Dan Campbell said at his press conference that Firkser fractured his fibula.
When the Lions initially signed Firkser, they waived tight end Zach Horton in a corresponding move. Horton re-signed with the team on Tuesday to fill the spot opened up by Firkser's injury.
Firkser played for the Lions in 2023 and 2025 and returned to the team after being released by the Commanders in July.

#team #signed