It’s hard to find anything negative to say about Texas A&M’s loaded 2026 secondary, which coach Mike Elko described as an “SEC-level” unit, and through one preseason practice, transfer cornerback Rickey Gibson already grabbed his first unofficial interception, while veteran corners Dezz Ricks and Julio Humphrey, combined with the elite safety duo of Dalton Brooks and Marcus Ratcliffe, lead an extremely deep rotation.
Last season, the Aggies finished with the top 20 nationally in passing yards allowed during third-year coach Mike Elko’s first season as the primary defensive play caller, and after elevating Lyle Hemphill as the program’s new defensive coordinator, Elko is hoping that his secondary lives up to the hype, needing to allow less explosive plays, and increase the turnover numbers after recording just three interceptions last season.
Marcus Ratcliffe, who finished with 66 tackles and 3 pass breakups last season, is one of the most athletic NFL prospects on the roster, due to his length, instincts, and closing speed. Before A&M’s road loss to Texas last season, Ratcliffe allowed just 17 passing yards in 336 coverage snaps, and finished the season with an impressive Pro Football Focus coverage grade (81.7).
Paired with Dalton Brooks’ ascending skill set after recording four sacks and grabbing one of the Aggies’ three interceptions, and Colorado transfer safety Tawfiq Byard’s versatility, Marcus Ratcliffe comes in as PFF’s 9th-ranked returning safety ahead of the 2026 season.
The expectations for Texas A&M’s secondary will, and should be, higher than ever due to its NFL-level talent and combined coaching knowledge from Mike Elko, Lyle Hemphill, and the rest of A&M’s defensive back staff.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: PFF ranks Texas A&M star among Top 10 returning safeties
Reporting by Cameron Ohnysty, Aggies Wire / Aggies Wire
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By Cameron Ohnysty, Aggies Wire | USA TODAY Network
