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Big opportunity for A&M with elite OTs this weekend
With the change in the recruiting calendar, junior days in January and February are a good bit smaller than they used to be. A&M has the nation's second-ranked class for 2026, and Mike Elko already has 10 commits. What he doesn't have is any offensive linemen, which is definitely an issue. The line is going to have to undergo a major overhaul in 2026 as a lot of the current group runs out of eligibility, so, they need players. More precisely, they need elite players.
They'll have their shot with two of the very best, with 5-star offensive tackles Jackson Cantwell and Immanuel Iheanacho visiting tomorrow.
Cantwell is the prize, as he's not only the top offensive tackle in the class, he's the top player period. The Aggies have never signed the top player in the nation, though they've gotten the number two guy several times. Cantwell has largely kept his recruitment to the Midwest, but he has shown an increased interest in A&M over the past couple of months. I said that I wouldn't consider A&M to be one of the favorites for him until he showed back up on campus, and here he is. Now they have to capitalize on it. Cantwell's parents were both olympians, so the gene pool is clearly very good. But his dad went to Mizzou (and he's from Missouri), so they may have a leg up. Getting his undivided attention with a good visit is critical if A&M's going to get him.
Iheanacho is from the D.C. area and plays at Georgetown Prep, one of the elite private schools in the area. Prep is not known for good football; in fact, historically, they suck -- and I should know, I played against them. But Iheanacho is an absolute monster at 6-foot-7 and 340 pounds, and has surprisingly quick feet for someone his size. Iheanacho hasn't taken many trips, but has been to Florida, Alabama, Georgia and Oregon. This will be his first visit to Aggieland. Nearby Maryland really wants him, but pretty much all they can sell is proximity.
For people worried about the prep school thing, I'd just point out the the IAC has put players in the NFL before. In fact, it was where one of the greatest offensive tackles of all time, Jonathan Ogden, got his start. And Ogden and Lamont Rogers are two players with similar size to Iheanacho.
A&M is also hosting another big tackle, but he's from closer to home. Klein's Nicholas Robertson is also coming in to town, and he visited for the NMSU game this past fall. He may be more of a guard at the next level, but he gets his hands on people and moves them.
What does A&M still need from the 2026 class, anyway?
Here’s their current list of commits:
DB Markel Ford
DB Ryan Gilbert
QB Helaman Casuga
DT Trashawn Ruffin
LB Samu Moala
DE Jordan Carter
WR Aaron Gregory
TE Xavier Tiller
TE Caleb Tafua
WR Madden Williams
Here’s what they could have going into 2026 roster-wise, which is now a complete and total wild-ass guess thanks to the portal.
QB: Marcel Reed, Miles O’Neill, Brady Hart, Eli Marcos, Helaman Casuga.
If Casuga stays put, I think they’re done.
RB: Rueben Owens, Tiger Riden, Jamarion Morrow. So they will need at least one, and maybe two, backs.
TE: Theo Ohrstrom, Kiotti Armstrong, Eric Karner, Micah Riley, Xavier Tiller, Caleb Tafua. They should be good here, but Tiller had staffers from Florida out to visit him this week.
WR: KC Concepcion, Micah Hudson, Mario Craver, Terry Bussey, Jerome Myles, Kelshaun Johnson, TK Norman, Izaiah Williams, Ashton Bethel-Roman, Ernest Campbell, Aaron Gregory and Madden Williams.
I have absolutely zero faith that this group goes into 2026 in this form. But it gives you an idea of where things could be, or close to it.
OT: Lamont Rogers, Robert Bourdon, Jonte Newman, Marcus Garcia. Here’s why you need tackles, and they’ll probably need to add some in the portal as well.
OG/C: Mark Nabou, Chase Bisontis, Tyler Thomas, Josh Moses, Ashton Funk, Blake Ivy, Josh Moses, Nelson McGuire
Nabou and Bisontis, if they’re around, could provide experience and good to very good play. But they have a lot of questions otherwise. Getting a couple high-caliber guards in this class seems very important.
DE: Rylan Kennedy, Marco Jones, Kendall Jackson, Solomon Williams, Jadon Scarlett, TJ Searcy, Sam M’Pemba, Jordan Carter. They’ll know more about this group as the spring and summer go on, but they’d better be in serious pursuit of some bigger bodies.
DT: DJ Hicks, Dealyn Evans, DJ Sanders, Chace Sims, Rashawn Ruffin. They’ll need at least one more, but Hicks could go pro (or leave) with a good season and they don’t know how the youngsters will develop. So they’ll probably go portal shopping again.
LB: Taurean York, Tristan Jernigan, Jordan Lockhart, Noah Mikhail, Kelvion Riggins, Samu Moala. They may not need another linebacker, but I could see them going after one to start re-stocking for the next wave.
S/N: Dalton Brooks, Marcus Ratcliffe, Myles Davis, Jordan Pride, Rashad Johnson, Deyjhon Pettaway, Jordan Shaw, Bravion Rogers, Markel Ford. Barring transfers out or Brooks has a huge season and goes pro, this group may be done.
CB: Dezz Ricks, Julian Humphrey, Adonyss Currie, Jamar Beal-Goines, Cobey Sellers, Jayvon Thomas, Ryan Gilbert. This group will still be pretty young in 2026, so they’ll have to figure out what they think they have from the newcomers and if Ricks makes a big step forward.
In my opinion, looking at this, their big areas of need for the 2026 class moving forward are on both lines and running back.
Reports from Navy All-American practices
Rivals has several guys in San Antonio for the buildup to tomorrow's game, and the practices are usually more important than the game itself. Significantly more important. I've been able to get some reports on A&M commits and signees, and they're largely positive.
2026 commit Aaron Gregory has been one of the standouts amongst the receivers, who are mostly highly-rated 2025 players. He's impressed with his size, his sharp cuts and his ability to snatch the ball out of the air.
DE Marco Jones came in at 250 pounds and has looked really good. His agility is really good and he's done a nice job getting to the quarterback in one-on-one drills. It's to the point where, if A&M doesn't sign another guy out of the portal, I could see him playing next year.
OL Lamont Rogers is so massive that I originally thought he had to end up at guard (totally forgetting my Jon Ogden experience). But he's done very well in one-on-ones, stoning elite speed rushers. I've also seen a couple of videos where he gets in another shove well after the whistle, just to do it. A bully on the offensive line would be nice, and I think he's the next left tackle after Trey Zuhn. I could be wrong on that, and it wouldn't be the first time, but he sure looks the part.
TE Kiotti Armstrong is right where A&M wants their tight ends to be weight-wise, between 260 and 270 pounds. But the 6-foot-5 Armstrong looks slender even at that weight. He checked in with a nearly 7-foot wingspan, a 10 1/2 inch hand and a 36-inch arm. With A&M really needing pass-catching tight end, it's hard to imagine him not being on the field fast.
DT Chace Sims has been solid, but weighed in at 285 pounds. That's a little lighter than I was expecting. But, he'll be in College Station Sunday, so he can start to bulk up. As it stands now, he and DJ Sanders are going to have to play.
Biggest game in Reed Arena history tomorrow night
Fresh off an 18-point comeback win over Oklahoma, the No. 10 Aggies will host the No. 5 Alabama Crimson Tide tomorrow night at 7 at Reed Arena. This is the first time in program history that the Aggies have been in the top 10 and will host a top 10 opponent. Both teams are 13-2 and have two common opponents, Oregon and Purdue. Both lost to the Ducks (who lost by 31 at home to Illinois the other night), while A&M beat Purdue in Indianapolis and Alabama lost to them 87-78 in West Lafayette.
The status of point guard Wade Taylor is still unknown. Buzz will talk to the media later this afternoon, but I doubt he'll discuss it because he never does. We will probably have to wait for the SEC injury report later tonight.
