Texas A&M's deep secondary could prove to be one of the top units in the Southeastern Conference in 2026, with a slew of returning stars and talented transfer portal additions looking to make a splash.
During Tuesday's media availability, head coach Mike Elko said this year's secondary is as deep as it has ever been, after ranking second in the conference with just 2,296 total passing yards allowed last season. Safeties Dalton Brooks and Marcus Ratcliffe return for their senior campaigns, while Dezz Ricks, Julio Humphrey and Tennessee transfer Rickey Gibson III lock down the cornerback position. Colorado transfer safety Tawfiq Byard also joined the Aggies in the offseason, one year removed from not allowing a passing touchdown in over 500 snaps with the Buffaloes.
While the secondary unit performed well in the program's run to their first-ever appearance in the College Football Playoff, Texas A&M struggled to create turnovers, tied for 131st in the nation with just two interceptions. The Aggies' defense also ranked 31st with 11 forced fumbles, which has been a point of emphasis this offseason, according to Brooks during this week's player availability.
Here are some players in Texas A&M's secondary to watch in 2026 in our overview of the unit for the upcoming campaign:
#2 Dezz Ricks (Alabama) - RS Jr., 6'1", 193 lbs
#transfer #ricks #availability
During Tuesday's media availability, head coach Mike Elko said this year's secondary is as deep as it has ever been, after ranking second in the conference with just 2,296 total passing yards allowed last season. Safeties Dalton Brooks and Marcus Ratcliffe return for their senior campaigns, while Dezz Ricks, Julio Humphrey and Tennessee transfer Rickey Gibson III lock down the cornerback position. Colorado transfer safety Tawfiq Byard also joined the Aggies in the offseason, one year removed from not allowing a passing touchdown in over 500 snaps with the Buffaloes.
While the secondary unit performed well in the program's run to their first-ever appearance in the College Football Playoff, Texas A&M struggled to create turnovers, tied for 131st in the nation with just two interceptions. The Aggies' defense also ranked 31st with 11 forced fumbles, which has been a point of emphasis this offseason, according to Brooks during this week's player availability.
Here are some players in Texas A&M's secondary to watch in 2026 in our overview of the unit for the upcoming campaign:
#2 Dezz Ricks (Alabama) - RS Jr., 6'1", 193 lbs
#transfer #ricks #availability
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