Among the three Texas A&M players who accompanied third-year coach Mike Elko to SEC Media Days this week, senior linebacker Daymion Sanford spoke at length about his recovery after suffering a lower-body injury during the Maroon & White Game that required surgery over three months ago.
Alongside redshirt junior quarterback Marcel Reed and senior safety Marcus Ratcliffe, Sanford was not wearing a walking boot or any exterior protection, which, on the surface, looked like a great sign that the star defender has made significant progress and could return to the lineup earlier than previously expected.
However, when asked about a potential return date, Mike Elko remains unsure, while Sanford sounded much more optimistic, telling On3's Carter Karels that Texas A&M's training staff and doctors have aided in speeding up his recovery, which could result in returning to the field before the second half of the 2026 season.
"It's been going along good," he told Karels. "I've been working with the training staff; we've got the best training staff and doctors in the country, and they've been doing a lot with me. So I've been doing pretty good."
Last season, Sanford exploded on the scene after senior linebacker Scooby Williams dealt with injury issues, ranking fourth on the team in tackles with 57, paired with 3.5 sacks, an interception, three pass deflections, and two forced fumbles. A 2026 team captain, the Katy (TX) native is widely considered one of the best and most important players on the roster, while his mental toughness has been vital in getting through this latest hurdle.
#texas #i 've
Alongside redshirt junior quarterback Marcel Reed and senior safety Marcus Ratcliffe, Sanford was not wearing a walking boot or any exterior protection, which, on the surface, looked like a great sign that the star defender has made significant progress and could return to the lineup earlier than previously expected.
However, when asked about a potential return date, Mike Elko remains unsure, while Sanford sounded much more optimistic, telling On3's Carter Karels that Texas A&M's training staff and doctors have aided in speeding up his recovery, which could result in returning to the field before the second half of the 2026 season.
"It's been going along good," he told Karels. "I've been working with the training staff; we've got the best training staff and doctors in the country, and they've been doing a lot with me. So I've been doing pretty good."
Last season, Sanford exploded on the scene after senior linebacker Scooby Williams dealt with injury issues, ranking fourth on the team in tackles with 57, paired with 3.5 sacks, an interception, three pass deflections, and two forced fumbles. A 2026 team captain, the Katy (TX) native is widely considered one of the best and most important players on the roster, while his mental toughness has been vital in getting through this latest hurdle.
#texas #i 've
4 months ago
