Updated Friday, September 4, 2026. Texas A&M released its official Week 1 two deep on Monday, August 31 ahead of the Missouri State opener. Where the official chart lists co-starters, the OR is preserved below. This page is updated with each weekly release and after every game.
No. 8 Texas A&M is coming off an 11-2 season and its first College Football Playoff trip, and lost a program record 10 players to the NFL Draft. Marcel Reed is back at quarterback and has looked like the best player on the field in camp. The question is the offensive line, where center Mark Nabou Jr. is the only returning starter and four transfers or new starters surround him. Mike Elko said Monday the line could still change regardless of what the chart says.
Offense
| Position | Starter | Backup | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| QB | Marcel Reed | Brady Hart | Helaman Casuga |
| RB | Rueben Owens II OR Jamarion Morrow | Tiger Riden Jr. | KJ Edwards (Fr.), Carsyn Baker |
| WR (X) | Isaiah Horton (Alabama transfer) | TK Norman | Aaron Gregory (Fr.) |
| WR (Z) | Terry Bussey OR Ashton Bethel-Roman | Jerome Myles | Madden Williams (Fr.) |
| WR (Slot) | Mario Craver | Kelshaun Johnson | Jayden Warren (Fr.) |
| TE | Micah Riley OR Houston Thomas OR Richie Anderson | Kiotti Armstrong | — |
| LT | Tyree Adams (LSU transfer) | Lamont Rogers | — |
| LG | Blake Ivy | Isendre Ahfua | — |
| C | Mark Nabou Jr. | Coen Echols (LSU transfer) | Ashton Funk |
| RG | Trovon Baugh (South Carolina transfer) | Tyler Thomas | — |
| RT | Wilkin Formby (Alabama transfer) | Robert Bourdon | — |
Defense
| Position | Starter | Backup | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE | T.J. Searcy | Anto Saka (Northwestern transfer) | Ryan Henderson |
| NT | CJ Mims OR Angelo McCullom | Brandon Davis-Swain | — |
| DT | DJ Hicks | Landon Rink | Bryce Perry-Wright (Fr.) |
| Jack (EDGE) | Marco Jones | Sam M’Pemba | — |
| WLB | Daymion Sanford | Noah Mikhail | TJ Smith |
| MLB | Ray Coney | Jordan Lockhart | — |
| CB | Julio Humphrey | Brandon Arrington (Fr.) | — |
| CB | Dezz Ricks OR Rickey Gibson III (Tennessee transfer) | Adonyss Currie | — |
| Nickel | Jordan Shaw (Washington transfer) | Bravion Rogers | Bryce Anderson (not listed, expected to rotate) |
| SS | Dalton Brooks | Tawfiq Byard | — |
| FS | Marcus Ratcliffe | Myles Davis | Tom Tom Johnson Jr. |
Special Teams
| K / KO | David Olano (transfer); Colton Chmelar |
| P / H | Tyler White; Jared White |
| LS | Shea Freibaum; Boomer Graham |
| PR | Terry Bussey (chart lists ORs) |
| KR | Terry Bussey OR Jamarion Morrow OR Rueben Owens II |
Position Breakdown
Quarterback. Reed is the unquestioned starter and, by every camp report, the most improved player on the roster in accuracy, arm strength and decision making.
Running back. Rueben Owens II and Jamarion Morrow are co-starters, a signal of how the staff views Morrow in his second season. Freshman KJ Edwards made the two deep.
Receiver. Mario Craver is Reed’s primary target. Alabama transfer Isaiah Horton starts outside, and Terry Bussey OR Ashton Bethel-Roman at the other spot reflects the glowing camp reviews for Bussey, who also returns kicks. Three freshmen, Madden Williams, Aaron Gregory and Jayden Warren, are on the two deep.
Tight end. The most unsettled room on the roster: Micah Riley (blocker), Houston Thomas (receiver) and Richie Anderson are a three way OR, with 285 pound redshirt freshman Kiotti Armstrong fourth. New coordinator Holmon Wiggins is not asking this group to carry the passing game.
Offensive line. Nabou is the only holdover. Tyree Adams (LSU) and Wilkin Formby (Alabama) are the tackles, Trovon Baugh (South Carolina) is the right guard, and the surprise is Blake Ivy winning left guard over LSU transfer Coen Echols, who instead backs up Nabou at center. Elko said Monday he is still searching for his best five.
Defensive line. T.J. Searcy, Anto Saka and Marco Jones give the Aggies three edge rushers expected to match last year’s production. Inside, DJ Hicks starts at tackle and the nose is an OR between North Carolina transfer CJ Mims and Illinois transfer Angelo McCullom.
Linebacker. With Taurean York gone to the NFL, Daymion Sanford and Ray Coney take over, with Noah Mikhail and Jordan Lockhart behind them.
Secondary. Julio Humphrey is the undisputed starter at one corner. The other is Dezz Ricks OR Tennessee transfer Rickey Gibson III, the biggest surprise on the chart. Washington transfer Jordan Shaw took the nickel job that Tyreek Chappell held, the most important spot in Elko’s man coverage defense. Bryce Anderson is not listed but is expected in the rotation. Dalton Brooks and Marcus Ratcliffe start at safety.
Special teams. Transfer David Olano replaces Randy Bond at kicker. Tyler White returns as the punter.
The Bottom Line
Texas A&M has its quarterback, its edge rushers and most of its secondary. The offensive line, tight end and one corner spot are going to be decided on the field, and Elko has already said the line is not final. The opener is previewed at Missouri State vs. Texas A&M and the full slate is on our Texas A&M schedule. This page is updated with each weekly chart.