Texas A&M's 2026 O-line is in 'wait-and-see' mode before season opener

After Tuesday’s 11th preseason practice, third-year coach Mike Elko spoke to the local media for the first time since Saturday’s closed scrimmage, which, outside of a couple of clips released by Texas A&M’s media team, can’t be accurately graded by anyone but the coaching staff, as Elko and new OC Holmon Wiggins spoke at length about the progress the offense and defense have made.

Redshirt junior quarterback Marcel Reed has reportedly taken another step in his development as a reliable pocket passer, including his mechanics ranging from footwork to making quick decisions, while his improved accuracy was on full display, which was captured by the Aggie media team after Reed hit Alabama transfer wide receiver Isaiah Horton for a 30-plus-yard reception that was right on point.

Texas A&M‘s 2026 wide receiver room is absolutely loaded with the addition of Horton, who, paired with junior Mario Craver, Ashton Bethel-Roman, Terry Bussey, and freshman Aaron Gregory, provides Marcel Reed with the best wide receiver corps he’s ever played with.

However, among the record 10 players selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, four of Texas A&M’s 2025 starting offensive linemen were picked, which Elko and OL coach Adam Cushing prepared for, adding four SEC starting O-linemen who, combined with several returning players, make up the 2026 Aggie offensive line.

On Tuesday, Elko spoke about this group, which is completely new outside of senior center Mark Nabou, and while transfers Wilkin Formby, Tyree Adams, Coen Echols, and Trovon Baugh are expected to fill out the rest of the starting rotation, Elko is enjoying the ongoing competition.

“I think you can see a lot of things in practice. I think you can identify a lot of things just from years of experience doing it and knowing what it should look like. The biggest challenge you always have in fall camp is there’s not a lot of relative comparison that you’ve played with on a field in SEC football,” Elko said. “We’ve got two groups battling that are all relative unknowns. I think until you get to September 5 and start rolling it out there against competitive people, it’ll be a little bit of a wait-and-see.”

“I think you can see a lot of things in practice. I think you can identify a lot of things just from years of experience doing it and knowing what it should look like. The biggest challenge you always have in fall camp is there’s not a lot of relative comparison that you’ve played with on a field in SEC football,” Elko said. “We’ve got two groups battling that are all relative unknowns. I think until you get to September 5 and start rolling it out there against competitive people, it’ll be a little bit of a wait-and-see.”

While I personally expect all four transfers, along with Mark Nabou, to fill out the starting rotation, there are plenty of unknowns and ongoing competitions at both tackle and guard, knowing that Robert Bourdon and redshirt freshmen Lamont Rogers, Tyler Thomas, and Blake Ivy are all talented enough to contend for starting or key reserve roles.

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