Texas A&M’s 2026 freshman class has received substantial praise from third-year coach Mike Elko, while senior tight end Micah Riley stated that this is “probably the most talented group of kids” he’s been around since transferring from Auburn. During the spring season, several newcomers stood out, especially wide receiver Aaron Gregory, cornerback Brandon Arrington, and defensive tackle Bryce Perry-Wright.
Through three preseason practices, all three players have flashed, and given the depth at cornerback, it’s hard to see a world where Brandon Arrington competes for a starting job, but he is more than talented enough to earn a spot in the rotation, knowing that Mike Elko and new defensive coordinator Lyle Hemphill are well aware that the new 5-for-5 rule places more pressure on the staff to get their younger players on the field as much as possible.
Rotations at nearly every position, especially given the talent level from the 2025 and 2026 signing classes, will keep starters fresh, especially along the offensive and defensive line, and given the ongoing battle for the No. 2 cornerback job between Tennessee transfer Rickey Gibson and senior Julio Humphrey, Brandon Arrington has a shot at winning the No. 3 or 4 CB job.
On Sunday, ESPN’s Billy Tucker named Brandon Arrington as the 10th-ranked freshman “poised to make an impact” during the 2026 season, predicting that the five-star defender will see the field much sooner rather than later.
“Arrington is one of the fastest incoming freshmen in the nation and even broke Olympian Noah Lyles’ San Diego County 200-meter record with a time of 20.35 in high school. Cracking the two-deep as a freshman under Mike Elko isn’t easy, but Arrington draws comparison to former Aggies corner Will Lee, and there’s opportunity for him to carve out a rotational role this year.”
Standing 6’2″ and, after adding more muscle to his frame, 201 pounds, Arrington’s NFL length and track speed will be tough to keep off the field, as the next three weeks of development this preseason will determine how many snaps he receives during the 2026 season.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M CB among ESPN’s ’51 freshmen poised to make an impact’
Reporting by Cameron Ohnysty, Aggies Wire / Aggies Wire
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By Cameron Ohnysty, Aggies Wire | USA TODAY Network
