Ashton Bethel-Roman of the Texas A&M reacts after scoring a touchdown during the third quarter against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Kyle Field on November 15, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
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Holman Wiggins has spent the bulk of his coaching career leading college wide receivers. In his five seasons under Nick Saban at Alabama, Wiggins coached some of the best in the country, manning a receivers room that included the likes of 2020 Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith, Jerry Jeudy, Jaylen Waddle, Henry Ruggs III and John Metchie.
So, the first-year Texas A&M offensive coordinator knows receivers. Just don’t ask him to compare the current crop to anyone he’s seen at his previous stops, which also includes Memphis and Virginia Tech.
“You know they say comparison’s the thief of joy,” the 46-year-old Wiggins said Tuesday.
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Still, even Wiggins can admit he’s got a pretty good group to work with after being promoted from receivers coach and co-offensive coordinator to the main role on offense after Collin Klein left to take over at Kansas State.
“I think as we continue to build, that room is going to be pretty prolific in this offense,” Wiggins said.
Even with K.C. Concepcion gone after being picked in the first round of the NFL draft, head coach Mike Elko says the current group of receivers is the best collection of talent he’s had in his time at Texas A&M.
It’s led by Terry Bussey and Mario Craver.
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Bussey was one of the best high school players in the state, but he did it at tiny Class 2A Timpson in East Texas. After recording 17 and 18 catches, respectively, in his first two seasons with the Aggies as well as being used as a return man, he’s been one of the most talked about players in training camp for the progress he’s made.
“A lot of people have recognized Terry Bussey just in the fact of him having time on job, us using him in a bunch of different capacities,” Wiggins said. “A smart, tough, unselfish, dependable player that we can line up in a few different spots and he gives us the ability to sit there and put the ball in his hands, play without the ball, which I’ve been super intrigued about him.”
Craver nearly replicated Concepcion’s stats last year with 59 catches for 917 yards, including three straight 100-yard plus games to open the season before tailing off a bit down the stretch.
“Mario Craver has been lighting in a bottle, looking for him to continue to stack days and kind of be a little more balanced in what we’re doing,” Wiggins said. “He has this uncanny ability to color outside the lines, so trying to give him a few guardrails in that aspect.”
Ashton Bethel-Roman, the former Ridge Point High School star, also is back after his five-touchdown season a year ago and Wiggins pointed out that he’s improved his intermediate routes and should be more than just a vertical threat as a redshirt sophomore.
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Then, there’s the new guy that Aggies fans have been salivating to get a look at in a maroon uniform. Isaiah Horton was one of Texas A&M’s big gets in the transfer portal with the 6-foot-4, 215-pound receiver, who began his college career at Miami, leaving Alabama, where he led the Crimson Tide with eight touchdowns, for College Station.
“Of course, Isaiah Horton has been kind of the big name that everyone’s tossed around,” Wiggins said. “Big receiver, big catch radius. Really good ability to track the ball, getting him more consistent with attacking it.”
That’s a lot of options for a first-year offensive coordinator, but Elko trusts Wiggins make use of his embarrassment of riches.
“I think we’ve got a lot of weapons,” Elko said. “I think we’re trying to figure out creatively how to get the ball to the guys that we think can help impact the game. I think at those skill positions you’ve got a lot of capable people fighting and scratching for touches. I think Holman will do a really, really good job of finding creative ways to make sure we’re getting the ball in the right people’s hands.”
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