Texas A&M's preseason camp is set to begin this week, with the Aggies' first practice scheduled for Wednesday afternoon. Just four weeks remain until the season opener against Missouri State, and several key questions still need to be answered.
Mike Elko's second full season as head coach is underway, and the Aggies return 65% of their 2025 roster, combined with 17 transfer portal additions and a 2026 recruiting class featuring over 40 newcomers. Quarterback Marcel Reed, who set career highs last season with 3,169 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, will be under the microscope as he looks to take the final step in his development.
A running back-by-committee approach could be the winning formula for Texas A&M, given the unique skill sets of redshirt junior Rueben Owens and rising sophomore Jamarion Morrow. Both players possess different strengths, with Owens offering breakaway speed and Morrow excelling as a one-cut back. The competition between the two will head into fall camp as one of the closest battles for the starting job.
Texas A&M's new offensive coordinator, Holmon Wiggins, will likely incorporate 12-personnel looks into his game plan, featuring two tight ends on the field. This approach would serve as inline blockers during running plays, but Wiggins' background as a wide receivers coach suggests he may also utilize 11-personnel with three receivers to provide Marcel Reed with plenty of options in the passing game.
The Aggies' loaded wide receiver room, led by Mario Craver and Alabama transfer Isaiah Horton, should help Reed take the final step in his development. However, he'll be playing behind four new offensive line starters. The competition for the starting left tackle job is particularly heated, with LSU transfer Tyree Adams' injury history adding an extra layer of complexity.
LSU transfer tackle Tyree Adams' injury history could result in a heated battle for the starting left tackle job, but at guard, fellow LSU transfer Coen Echols and South Carolina transfer Trovon Baugh look like the starting left and right guards given their size, strength, and run-blocking prowess.
The Aggies' preseason camp is just around the corner, and Mike Elko's press conference on Tuesday will provide some much-needed clarity on the team's expectations. Will a running back-by-committee approach be the winning formula? Will 12-personnel be a significant part of new OC Holmon Wiggins' game plan? The answers to these questions will go a long way in determining Texas A&M's success in the 2026 season.
Source: Yahoo Sports
