Texas A&M’s success in the transfer portal isn’t surprising, given head coach Mike Elko’s success since this time last season, landing impact starters/rotational pieces with a focus on “reloading” rather than “rebuilding.” This month, just a week after the 2026 transfer portal opened, Elko and his staff have landed 15 players, including Alabama star wide receiver Isaiah Horton, on Sunday afternoon.
Coupled with Illinois transfer defensive lineman Angelo McCullom, Elko is continuing to fill out the remaining holes on both sides of the ball. Horton, who played his first two seasons at Miami, transferred to Alabama before the 2024 season and quickly became quarterback Ty Simpson’s favorite target, connecting for over 500 yards and a team-high eight touchdowns.
After losing out on landing Auburn transfer WR Cam Coleman, who committed to the Texas Longhorns, securing Horton’s committment was crucial, gaining a true X receiver with the size at 6’4″ and the production to match will help starting quarterback Marcel Reed take another step as a pocket passer, and take attention away from returning wide receivers Mario Craver, Ashton Bethel-Roman, and Terry Bussey.
Even more interesting, Marcel Reed and Isaiah Horton have a history that goes back to their high school playing days, when they played together on the same 7v7 team, while Reed, a Nashville, Tennessee native, and Horton played HS football at nearby Murfreesboro (TN). GigEm247 beat writer Carter Karels provided a photo of both players after Texas A&M’s 2023 road loss to Miami, as the two veterans will now play together in 2026.
This new connection won’t just provide Marcel Reed more confidence as a passer, but help first-year offensive coordinator Holmon Wiggins put together a weekly gameplan that takes advantage of the roster’s talent level.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M QB Marcel Reed and new transfer WR share a history
Reporting by Cameron Ohnysty, Aggies Wire / Aggies Wire
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