Texas A&M has just added a big piece from the transfer portal that will not only figure in prominently to this upcoming year's offensive line picture, but ruffle the feathers of one of their biggest rivals. The recent addition of offensive lineman Coen Echols, who is transferring from LSU, is certainly a boon for a rebuilding offensive front, and one that many expected ever since his name popped up.
BREAKING: LSU transfer OL Coen Echols has Committed to Texas A&M, he tells @On3Sports
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) January 4, 2026
The 6’3 310 OL will have 3 years of eligibility remaining https://t.co/RlUbB6EMhS pic.twitter.com/DVoot6Hq3U
The simple reason why is that Echols, a Katy, Texas native, was committed to Texas A&M for quite a while before flipping his pledge to the Tigers after Jimbo Fisher's firing. He was one of several Aggie pledges that LSU was able to flip during that time frame, but the Aggies will have the last laugh here, it seems.
Texas A&M adds versatile interior OL Coen Echols after poaching former longtime commit from LSU Tigers
Echols can play at either guard or center, so he brings the kind of versatility that offensive line coach Adam Cushing clearly values. Echols will be a key piece in replacing Ar'maj Reed-Adams, Koli Faaiu, Dametrious Crownover, Trey Zuhn, and Rueben Fatheree.
While the Aggies will still be going big game hunting for a tackle replacement, Echols's addition will help solidify the interior of the offensive line with Mark Nabou returning and a possible final season from Chase Bisontis. The experience he has already gained with two seasons as a starter in the SEC will serve this offensive line well, as lack of snaps coming back was the biggest worry for the Aggies.
This will go a long way towards preserving the level of play that the Ags saw along the offensive front this past season. Texas A&M boasted one of the best and most experienced offensive lines in the country this past season, and while that experience is mostly headed out the door, the elite level of coaching that the Aggies are getting from Adam Cushing isn't going anywhere— and if they make one or two more additions like Echols, we could see a high level of play again in 2026.