ESPN previews Texas A&M's 2026 spring season, players to watch
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Texas A&M’s position as an ascending national powerhouse took another step in the right direction after coach Mike Elko sent a record 13 players to the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, who all improved their draft status thanks to impressive workouts, including four 2025 starting offensive linemen.
As we enter the first week of March, Texas A&M’s 2026 spring football season kicks off with its first practice on Friday, March 20, and will conclude on Saturday, April 18, with the annual Maroon & White Spring Game. Amid 17 additions from the transfer portal, Elko made a litany of staff changes after OC Collin Klein officially departed to become Kansas State’s new head coach, coupled with defensive coordinator Jay Bateman leaving for a lateral position at Kentucky.
Opting to elevate five coaches to new positions, including WR coach Holmon Wiggins as the program’s new offensive coordinator, and Lyle Hemphill taking over as defensive coordinator, Elko’s decision to promote veteran assistant Joey Lynch as the new quarterbacks coach was immediately deemed controversial, given the importance of of starting QB Marcel Reed improving after throwing four interceptions during the final two games of the 2025 season.
On Monday, ESPN’s official SEC spring football preview details the “Key storylines, players to watch” for all 16 teams. While several new coaches in the conference, including Kentucky coach Will Stein, will receive more national focus, Mike Elko’s third season at the helm is widely considered his most important season yet.
Among the 17 transfer additions, former Alabama wide receiver Isaiah Horton is the focus within the article, joining speedster Mario Craver, Ashton Bethel-Roman, and Terry Bussey, as star wideout KC Concepcion is headed to the NFL Draft. While Concepcion and Craver combined for nearly 1,900 yards and 11 touchdowns, Horton’s 6’4″ frame combined with Craver’s track speed should produce more explosive plays.
“Who will break out at wide receiver this season? Last season, adding KC Concepcion and Mario Craver through the portal dramatically changed the A&M offense because of their big-play potential. The Aggies retained Craver, who had 917 yards last season, but they’ll be looking for someone to replace Concepcion’s 61 catches. The Aggies are very high on Ashton Bethel-Roman, who had 24 catches for 503 yards as a freshman and landed a big target in 6-4 Alabama transfer Isaiah Horton, who had 52 catches for 511 yards and eight TDs last season. Former five-star recruit Terry Bussey, a talented athlete and returner, has yet to make a big impact in the passing game.”
For ESPN CFB writer Dave Wilson, Marcel Reed is, and will continue to be, the player to watch this spring, needing to become a complete and reliable signal caller in the pocket, especially against complex defenses. Even after a career passing year, the Tennessee native has plenty of room to improve.
“Texas A&M’s season ended with Marcel Reed throwing an interception on the goal line, and the quarterback will return for his third season as a starter on a mission after making a leap last season, throwing for 3,169 yards with 25 TDs and 12 interceptions, adding 493 rushing yards and six TDs. Elko said he believes in Reed and thinks he’s ready to carry the Aggies where they want to go.”
Mike Elko’s belief in Marcel Reed isn’t artificial; he feels that his elite play in road wins over LSU and Missouri, paired with his record performance during the Aggies’ epic comeback win over South Carolina, is enough proof that another solid offseason should result in his starting quarterback taking another important step.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: ESPN previews Texas A&M’s spring football season, players to watch
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