{"id":254318,"date":"2026-04-17T15:12:08","date_gmt":"2026-04-17T15:12:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/254318\/"},"modified":"2026-04-17T15:12:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T15:12:08","slug":"5-things-to-watch-for-at-aggies-spring-game-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/254318\/","title":{"rendered":"5 things to watch for at Aggies spring game 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

COLLEGE STATION \u2014 For the 15th and final time this spring, Texas A&M football<\/a> will take the field this weekend\u00a0for the annual Maroon and White game.<\/p>\n

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The Aggies kicked off spring practices March 20 and met three times a week. More than a dozen new players joined the team, putting in the final touches before everyone disperses\u00a0ahead of July’s fall camp.\u00a0<\/p>\n

At 11 a.m. Saturday, A&M will end the spring off in front of the 12th Man, in a format that follows traditional football rules. At a time when some programs are moving away<\/a> from spring games, the Aggies will once again scrimmage at Kyle Field.<\/p>\n

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MORE:\u00a0Texas A&M football: Jamarion Morrow shines, Marcel Reed stacking good days<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Landon<\/p>\n

Landon Rink (99) of Texas A&M pressures Marcel Reed (10) during the Maroon & White spring football game at Kyle Field on April 19, 2025 in College Station. (Photo by Tim Warner\/Getty Images for ONIT)<\/p>\n

Tim Warner\/Getty Images for ONIT<\/p>\n

The team was split into two, with captains picking the rosters. Quarterback Marcel Reed<\/a> and safety Dalton Brooks<\/a> picked the white team’s roster. Wide receiver Terry Bussey<\/a> and linebacker Daymion Sanford<\/a> represented maroon.<\/p>\n

Here are five things to watch for in Texas A&M football’s 2026 spring game:<\/p>\n

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Texas A&M football: 5 things to watch in Aggies spring game<\/p>\n

Marcel Reed and his progress<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Aggies quarterback has looked comfortable and confident while working with new offensive coordinator Holmon Wiggins<\/a> and quarterback coach Joey Lynch. After racking up 25 touchdown passes and six more on the ground in 2025, his mechanics look cleaner, and his on-field processing has looked sharper.<\/p>\n

While he won’t get hit in Saturday’s scrimmage, defenders will be coming after him. Does he continue that progress in an 11-on-11 setting?<\/p>\n

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A large part of the Aggies’ success this season will fall on his shoulders, and a good day on Saturday will be a small step in the right direction for Reed and A&M.<\/p>\n

How does the new-look offensive line hold up?<\/p>\n

After two consecutive seasons with familiar faces, 2026 will feature a new offensive line.<\/p>\n

The Aggies brought in four offensive line transfer portal additions and another three in the most recent recruiting class. What\u00a0it will all look like this fall remains to be seen.<\/p>\n

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Mark\u00a0Nabou Jr<\/a>., the lone returning starter, appears to be penciled in\u00a0at center, while former Alabama lineman Wilkin Formby<\/a> can likely slot into the right tackle spot. Former LSU Tiger Tyree Adams appears to be a favorite at left tackle, based on his SEC experience.<\/p>\n

Returnee Robert Bourdon and former five-star recruit Lamont Rogers<\/a> will compete for tackle spots; Blake Ivy and Tyler Thomas will battle for interior positions. Add former\u00a0LSU Tiger Coen Echols and South Carolina Gamecock Trovon Baugh<\/a>, and there are a bunch of names that factor into the Aggies’ pursuit of the best five offensive linemen.<\/p>\n

\"TK<\/p>\n

TK Norman (18) of Texas A&M in action during the Maroon & White spring football game at Kyle Field on April 19, 2025 in College Station. (Photo by Tim Warner\/Getty Images for ONIT)<\/p>\n

Tim Warner\/Getty Images for ONIT<\/p>\n

Young wide receivers with a chance to shine<\/p>\n

Based on what was seen in four full practices and nine total viewing periods, A&M’s young crop of wide receivers has a chance to be special.<\/p>\n

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Arguably, the spring’s biggest winner is former four-star freshman Aaron Gregory<\/a>, who has\u00a0made a highlight reel catch nearly\u00a0every time reporters were on hand. However, it hasn’t only been him.<\/p>\n

Freshman Madden Williams<\/a> has had strong moments, and\u00a0classmate Jayden Warren<\/a> has looked great as well. Redshirt freshman TK Norman has looked to have taken a step forward, becoming a more consistent pass catcher as his confidence has grown, and the same can be said of\u00a0Kelshaun Johnson.<\/p>\n

Reed is losing his top receiver and tight ends from a year ago, about 1,000\u00a0yards and more than a dozen touchdowns in production. Saturday could be a glimpse into which receiver can help fill that void with Mario Carver, Ashton Bethel-Roman and newcomer Isaiah Horton.<\/p>\n

Which pass rushers emerge?<\/p>\n

Last year’s spring game was a coming-out party for edge rusher Marco Jones<\/a>. The then-freshman was credited with five “sacks” in the game, ramping up excitement for his\u00a0Aggie debut. Jones finished with 2\u00bd sacks and 3\u00bd tackles for loss in 2025, playing in every game.<\/p>\n

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This season features two edge rushers \u2014 Anto Saka (Northwestern) and Ryan Henderson (San Diego State)<\/a> \u00a0\u2014\u00a0 who are expected to play key roles. Former four-star freshmen Tristian Givens<\/a> and Bryce Perry-Wright<\/a> have bright futures, but can they figure into the pass-rushing equation in Year 1, as Jones did?<\/p>\n

TJ Searcy<\/a> is entering his second season with the Aggies alongside Sam M’Pemba<\/a>. They will likely be needed to replace\u00a0Cashius Howell<\/a> and his SEC-leading sack production.<\/p>\n

How does the kicking game look?<\/p>\n

A&M was last in the SEC in field goal kicking last season (16 of 26).\u00a0That 61.5% FG percentage was more than eight percentage points worse than Alabama (69.5), which finished 15th in the conference and among the bottom 15 teams in the country. Missed kicks factored into the team’s two losses last season, each of which was by 10 points or fewer.<\/p>\n

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A key piece of the 2026 portal class is former Illinois kicker David\u00a0Olano. The graduate transfer has two career game-winning kicks on his resume, and went 20-for-23 on field goal attempts and was perfect 44-for-44 on point-after tries in 2025.<\/p>\n

The Aggies also added freshman Asher Murray<\/a>, who connected on 12-of-14 field goal attempts and tied a school record with a 56-yard field goal as a junior at CE Byrd High School in Louisiana. He also went 44-of-47 on\u00a0PATs.<\/p>\n

Reach Texas A&M beat reporter Tony Catalina via email at Anthony.Catalina@statesman.com.<\/p>\n

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