Texas A&M senior LB ready to dominate once he returns from injury

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

Under third-year coach Mike Elko, Texas A&M’s defense will seldom be an issue, given his extensive background as one of the top defensive minds, and even after promoting Lyle Hemphill as the program’s new defensive coordinator, Elko is expected to continue as the primary playcaller for the second straight season.

Before a record 10 Texas A&M players were selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, Elko and his staff landed 17 additions from the transfer portal, including edge Anto Saka, linebacker Ray Coney, safety Tawfiq Byard, and cornerback Rickey Gibson III, while senior linebacker Daymion Sanford is widely seen as the Aggies’ best defensive player going into his senior season.

During his breakout 2025 campaign, Sanford, who took over early in the year for Scooby Williams, who dealt with consistent injury issues, earned SEC Player of the Week twice, while his production ramped up, recording a career-high 57 tackles, and his ability as a third-down pass rusher resulted in 12 pressures and five sacks, combined with his first interception.

Sanford’s versatility makes him one of the more feared defenders in the SEC, but after sustaining a brutal lower-body injury during the Aggies’ Maroon & White spring game, it’s expected that the Katy (TX) native will miss the first half of the 2026 regular season after undergoing successful surgery.

In his place, sophomore linebacker Noah Mikhail and Ray Coney are expected to serve as the starters, while Jordan Lockhart and, possibly, transfer TJ Smith, represent the current depth at the position, placing pressure on Mikhail and Coney to step up before Sanford eventually returns. Tawfiq Byard will also likely come down to the box in certain situations, especially in run defense.

Whenever Daymion Sanford returns, Texas A&M’s defense will receive a significant boost to its College Football Playoff aspirations.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.

This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M senior LB ready to dominate once he returns from injury

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos