As we gear up for the 2026 football season, Aggies Wire is breaking down nearly every player on the Texas A&M roster. Throughout the preseason, each profile will highlight a player’s background, recruiting rankings out of high school, and projected role under head coach Mike Elko.
Texas A&M senior safety Dalton Brooks has steadily climbed the depth chart, turning limited freshman snaps into a major role. After starting just one game early in his career, he earned 11 starts last season and now enters 2026 with 20 starts across 37 appearances. He’s positioned as one of the veterans expected to help lead the defense.
Brooks’ game mirrors former Aggie standout Donovan Wilson. Both share similar size, physicality, and a downhill style that shows up on every tackle. Brooks brings that same tone‑setting presence, consistently arriving with force and urgency.
He also produces. Last season he posted 62 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble, two recoveries, and an interception. His versatility surfaced on special teams as well, highlighted by a 48‑yard run on a fake punt.
Preseason Player Profile
Recruiting Rankings (Class of 2023)
The former four-star prospect was a standout at Shiner, leading the program to back‑to‑back UIL 2A Division I state championships in 2020 and 2021. He was a 2022 Dave Campbell’s Mr. Texas Football top‑10 finalist, the Texas Sportswriters Association 2A Offensive Player of the Year, and the District 13‑2A MVP in 2021. As a sophomore, he earned Offensive MVP honors in the state title game, later adding District 13‑2A Defensive MVP and first‑team recognition at running back. He was also a TSWA first‑team all‑state selection as a utility player and competed in track and field.
Depth Chart Outlook
The secondary now operates out of several formations, and starters can be labeled 1a, 1b, and 1c depending on what Mike Elko wants to roll out. Even with that flexibility, Brooks is a returning starter and will be one of the safeties on the field. Like Marcus Ratcliffe, his versatility ensures he’ll play the majority of snaps this season.
Photo Gallery
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on X: @whosnextsports1.
This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Previewing the 2026 season for Texas A&M safety Dalton Brooks
Reporting by Jarrett Johnson, Aggies Wire / Aggies Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jarrett Johnson, Aggies Wire | USA TODAY Network
