Under third-year coach Mike Elko, Aggie media are being granted access to three full preseason practices this month. The first practice took place on Saturday afternoon.
On its face, the rise of former wide receiver Terry Bussey stood out as the primary takeaway. Others included the Aggies’ loaded secondary, which features Tennessee transfer cornerback Rickey Gibson and former Colorado safety Tawfiq Byard, looks much faster and stickier in coverage.
Redshirt junior quarterback Marcel Reed is entering his second full starting season and needs to take another step in his development. Though he threw for a career-high 3,169 yards, 25 touchdowns and 12 interceptions last fall, frequent mental mistakes led to too many forced throws into coverage. Eight of his 12 interceptions came against defenses that ended the season ranked among the top 35.
This summer he added more muscle to his frame and worked with private QB coach Jeff Christensen. Through three practices, Reed has looked marginally improved in the pocket. He has made quick decisions, layered several throws and displayed more chemistry with Alabama transfer WR Isaiah Horton.
Overall, thanks to a collection of takeaways from myself and A&M beat writers in attendance at Saturday’s practices, here are three key takeaways from Aggies Wire.
Texas A&M’s revamped offensive line isn’t lacking depth
After losing four starting offensive linemen to the 2026 NFL Draft, the Aggies added four SEC starting offensive linemen and several rising players from the 2025 and 2026 signing class to the rotation for the 2026 season.
All four transfer additions could start, especially former South Carolina guard Trovon Baugh, who continues to look like the team’s run-blocker, He has kept Marcel Reed and backup QB Brady Hart clean throughout the week and continued his impressive play on Saturday.
Echoing most of the media in attendance, OL coach Adam Cushing will have a tough decision to make at left tackle, left guard, and right tackle given the consistent play from nearly every participating offensive lineman.
Junior WR Terry Bussey owned Saturday’s practice
Ask anyone in Aggie media about Terry Bussey’s performance on Saturday, and you’ll receive the same answer: domination. Making a handful of one-handed catches in traffic, Bussey’s added size this offseason has bolstered his confidence in coverage. Combined with his running pristine routes, he is finally living up to his five-star recruiting potential, in practice, at least.
Texas A&M’s 2026 wide receiver rotation is loaded, especially with the added size from Isaiah Horton, who is 6 feet, 4 inches and 215 pounds. Junior Mario Craver and Ashton Bethel-Roman’s track speed was extremely difficult for opposing defenses. Add Bussey’s enhanced play, and Marcel Reed has zero excuses outside of poor blocking if he doesn’t match, or better, his 2025 production through the air.
Texas A&M’s defensive newcomers continue to make noise
During Texas A&M’s second preseason practice, transfer cornerback Rickey Gibson leapt high for an interception that forced this writer to write a separate post due to the impressive nature of the play. Northwestern transfer edge Anto Saka continues to dominate, winning several one-on-ones with a simple bull rush to get in the backfield on Saturday.
Veteran cornerback Dezz Ricks will more than likely win the No. 1 CB job, but after Saturday, it’s clear senior corner Julio Humphrey and Rickey Gibson are neck and neck for the No. 2 cornerback job. As we know, competition creates a better on-field product. Overall, this secondary does not lack speed.
North Carolina transfer defensive lineman CJ Mims also stood out and is in line to earn the starting nose tackle job, generating several pressures and tackles for loss.
Lastly, freshman running back KJ Edwards is nearly matching what we’ve seen from junior Rueben Owens. Sophomore Jamarion Morrow burst through the first opening he saw for a 30-yard run, showing off his elite speed and upfield burst.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: 3 key takeaways from Texas A&M’s third preseason practice
Reporting by Cameron Ohnysty, Aggies Wire / Aggies Wire
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By Cameron Ohnysty, Aggies Wire | USA TODAY Network
