Jan. 10, 2026, 1:22 p.m. CT

Texas A&M’s 2026 running back room will lose two veterans, including Le’Veon Moss and Amari Daniels, as head coach Mike Elko and running backs coach Trooper Taylor have not added a running back from the portal, which could change in the coming days or weeks. However, incoming redshirt junior Rueben Owens, who took over at the No. 1 RB after Moss’s injury, is the name to watch heading into the 2026 season.

The former five-star prospect, who chose the Aggies over the Texas Longhorns in the 2023 recruiting class, shot on the scene as a key reserve during his freshman season, rushing for 385 yards and three touchdowns, paired with 109 receiving yards. However, the 1-2 punch of Moss and Owens before the 2024 campaign, which served as Mike Elko’s inaugural campaign, took a back seat after Owens’ ACL injury during the preseason.

Sidelined for all but two games, Owens made a full recovery, and after Le’Veon Moss injured his ankle during the Aggies’ mid-season win against Florida, the El Campo, Texas native, who had already run for a career high 142 yards against Mississippi State, stepped up as the starter, leading the Aggies’ backfield to four consecutive wins.

However, his production dropped off during the end of the year, averaging 3.7 and 3 yards per carry in losses to Texas and Miami in the first round of the College Football Playoff. After the loss to the Hurricanes, who will now face Indiana in the National Title Game on January 19, Mike Elko stated that fixing the run game was the focus this offseason.

After losing four offensive linemen to the 2026 NFL Draft, the Aggies landed four likely replacements, including LSU tackle Tyree Adams and LSU guard and A&M commit Coen Echols. If the run blocking improves next season, Rueben Owens, who officially announced his return on Saturday, shouldn’t have trouble finding holes to run through.

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Aided by a deep running back room, featuring incoming sophomore Jamarion Morrow, sophomore Tiger Riden, and incoming freshmen KJ Edwards and Carsyn Baker, even if the Aggies don’t land a transfer back, this group is in solid shape.

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