Jan. 13, 2026, 5:30 a.m. CT
On Monday, Texas A&M senior safety Bryce Anderson, who entered the transfer portal early last month, withdrew his name and will officially return for a final season in College Station, which surprised even those of us with inside knowledge regarding transfer movement.
After landing standout Colorado transfer safety Tawfiq Byard, combined with the return of safety Marcus Ratcliffe and Dalton Brooks, Texas A&M’s 2026 safety rotation is one of the deepest in the country, but will Anderson remain at free safety, or possibly, take over as the team’s starting nickel with senior Tyreek Chappell departing after five seasons?
After missing all but four games this past season, Anderson has fully recovered from his head injury and will look to get back on the practice field this spring while continuing to add healthy mass training with S&C Tommy Moffitt. Standing at 5’10” and nearly 190 pounds, Anderson’s speed and ability in tight coverage have been a hot and cold issue throughout his career.
A former high school quarterback, Anderson has had to learn the safety position faster than most, earning a starting job during what most of us consider his best season in 2023, where he logged 626 snaps, recorded 55 tackles, 1.5 sacks, an interception, and four pass deflections, and finished with a solid 71.6 PFF coverage grade.
While his level of play, especially in coverage, declined during the 2024 season, it’s fair to say that Anderson might have been playing out of position in Mike Elko’s defense and might be better suited to nickel in 2026. Possessing a similar size to Chappell, Anderson will likely compete with Jordan Shaw, who finished with a 71.0 coverage grade after his first season with the Aggies.
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