Dec. 28, 2025, 6:02 a.m. CT

Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko, heading into this third season at the helm, is now focused on adding veteran talent from the transfer portal. Throughout the week, the Aggies’ recent portal losses now include tight end Theo Melin Öhrström and defensive linemen Rylan Kennedy and Solomon Williams.

Paired with senior edge Cashius Howell, senior defensive tackles Albert Regis and Tyler Odyedim, wide receiver KC Concepcion, and three offensive linemen, including left tackle Trey Zuhn III, all departing for the 2026 NFL Draft, Texas A&M’s 2026 roster will looked entirely different on both sides of the ball, which could be a good thing based on nagging issues that led to A&M’s 10-3 loss to Miami in the first round of the College Football Playoff.

For Elko and his staff, the positional focus will be offensive line, defensive line, linebacker, tight end, and wide receiver, and they likely need eight to ten transfer additions to feel safe heading into the spring season. So, before the transfer portal opens on Friday, January 2, what names stand out this early in the process?

On3’s AggieYell writer/insider Jaxson Callaway is one of the more trusted names regarding Texas A&M recruiting and transfer news, and gelling with our own reporting this week, Callaway listed Kansas State wide receiver Jayce Brown, UTSA tight end and College Station native Houston Thomas, and LSU guard, who was also a former Texas A&M commit, Coen Echols, as the three players that have been heavily connected to the Aggies thus far.

Jayce Brown nearly transferred to Texas A&M last offseason before ultimately returning to K-State. At the same time, Thomas, who Callaway notes is friends with Mike Elko’s sign, graduating high school together, is highly familiar with his skill set after facing UTSA during the 2025 season-opener.

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Echols, who, as I stated above, was a one-time Texas A&M commit in the 2024 recruiting class, could easily slot in at right guard given his versatility and SEC experience after logging 583 snaps for the Tigers. Landing all three players would be a perfect start to what could be an elite transfer class for Elko & Co.

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