Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko has continued to prove that, no matter how the previous season ended, this time, falling to Miami in the first round of the College Football Playoff, his ability to land players from the transfer portal is only matched by a few programs, which continued this month. Since the portal opened a little over a week ago, Elko and his staff have landed 14 transfer commitments.
While some will say the Aggies have yet to secure a “splash” commitment, Northwestern transfer edge Anto Saka is highly regarded as an elite pass rusher, despite producing just three sacks last season. Still in the running for Auburn star wide receiver Cam Coleman, Alabama transfer wideout Isaiah Horton visited Texas A&M on Saturday and is also seen as a top target for the coaching staff, especially if Coleman commits elsewhere.
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After losing four starting offensive linemen to the 2026 NFL Draft, Elko and O-line coach Adam Cushing went to work, adding four likely replacements, starting with guards Coen Echols (LSU) and Trovon Baugh (South Carolina), while landing tackles Tyree Adams (LSU) and Wilkin Formby (Alabama) on Wednesday and Thursday.
Outside of securing commitments from tight ends Houston Thomas (UTSA) and Richie Anderson (Fresno State), Mike Elko’s focus on beefing up his 2026 secondary led to landing Colorado transfer safety Tafiq Byard and Tennessee transfer cornerback Rickey Gibson, who will both compete for starting or rotational spots next season.
ESPN writer Max Olson praised Texas A&M’s early success in the portal, noting that, even after losing so many veteran stars, including junior linebacker Taurean York to the NFL Draft, the focus on reloading rather than rebuilding has been impressive to watch.
This is what it looks like when a program is committed to keep competing. Mike Elko and his coaches were looking for experienced big men when the portal opened, and they have succeeded in winning quite a few battles for them.
Focused on the new transfer additions, Olson noted Anto Saka’s high standing among scouts and other personnel and highlighted the focus on experienced, versatile starters, as well as new kicker David Olano, who might finally fix the Aggies’ field-goal issues.
The Aggies have added four SEC starting offensive linemen via the portal to reload up front. They signed Saka, who had only three sacks this season at Northwestern but was considered one of the most talented pass rushers in the portal by personnel sources, to help replace Cashius Howell. Gibson and Byard are experienced starters who’ll bolster the secondary, and Olano converted two game-winning field goals for the Illini this season.
Barring Cam Coleman and Isaiah Horton’s decisions, the focus will shift to adding one or two more defensive tackles to shore up the defensive line.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: ESPN praises Texas A&M’s transfer portal success after 14 additions
