Texas A&M's 2026 season opener is just a mere two weeks away, as the Aggies will open the new campaign against Missouri State in Kyle Field, officially kicking off coach Mike Elko's third season at the helm. While it would take several articles to accurately recap A&M's previous 13 practices, including last Saturday's scrimmage, this Saturday's final media-viewing practice was certainly the most informative.
Instead of giving away most of what we saw on Saturday, it's always important to start from the beginning: After making the College Football Playoff for the first time last season, Mike Elko's offseason premonition that "10 to 12" players would be selected in the 2026 NFL Draft came true, as a record 10 starters were picked, including star wide receiver KC Concepcion going 24th overall to the Cleveland Browns.
Elko's premonition helped prepare for the offseason departures, as 65% of the 2025 roster returns, combined with 17 transfer portal additions and nearly 30 freshmen from the 2026 signing class. While losing 15 starters on both sides of the ball certainly looks like a rebuild, that is far from the case.
With key starters returning at every position, led by redshirt junior quarterback Marcel Reed, junior wide receiver Mario Craver, safeties Dalton Brooks and Marcus Ratcliffe, and linebacker Daymion Sanford, four of five team captains will be counted on to lead on the field and in the locker room.
On Saturday, all five players and several others stood out for the final time before the season opener, while a couple of position battles may have been decided as well. Here are three key takeaways from Texas A&M's practice on Saturday.
#texas #mike #opener
Instead of giving away most of what we saw on Saturday, it's always important to start from the beginning: After making the College Football Playoff for the first time last season, Mike Elko's offseason premonition that "10 to 12" players would be selected in the 2026 NFL Draft came true, as a record 10 starters were picked, including star wide receiver KC Concepcion going 24th overall to the Cleveland Browns.
Elko's premonition helped prepare for the offseason departures, as 65% of the 2025 roster returns, combined with 17 transfer portal additions and nearly 30 freshmen from the 2026 signing class. While losing 15 starters on both sides of the ball certainly looks like a rebuild, that is far from the case.
With key starters returning at every position, led by redshirt junior quarterback Marcel Reed, junior wide receiver Mario Craver, safeties Dalton Brooks and Marcus Ratcliffe, and linebacker Daymion Sanford, four of five team captains will be counted on to lead on the field and in the locker room.
On Saturday, all five players and several others stood out for the final time before the season opener, while a couple of position battles may have been decided as well. Here are three key takeaways from Texas A&M's practice on Saturday.
#texas #mike #opener
22 days ago
