Texas A&M is looking to capitalize on a huge 2025 with an even bigger 2026. There's a fair amount of production going out the door, but Mike Elko has done a great job of pulling in some key replacements from the portal to fill in those gaps.
The question is how many of those will be depth, and how many will be shining right from the get-go. We've already predicted how the lineup will shake out on offense, so now it's time to call our shot for the defense.
Let's take a look at how the unit for the Aggies will look when they take the field September 5 against the Missouri State Tigers.
Texas A&M's starting defense projection: Aggies' personnel can spell doom for the SEC
Defensive End: Anto Saka
This is maybe the transfer player that Aggie fans are most excited about, and for good reason. Saka is an absolute athletic freak at the position, but he hasn't yet been properly utilized. If he blossoms like fans think he can, it's going to be over for opposing tackles.
Defensive Tackle: DJ Hicks
It's finally time for Hicks to fully take center stage. Finishing the 2023 cycle as a top-10 overall player, Hicks hasn't yet lived up to that level of hype, but now reunited with the coach who recruited him in Elijah Robinson, he might be about to break out. Consistency will be key for him.
Defensive Tackle: CJ Mims
If Saka is the most hyped transfer, Mims might be the most slept-on. He is a bit undersized for the NFL level, but some analysts have allowed that to unnecessarily cloud their evaluations of how good he can be. He was highly productive last year for North Carolina, and he'll be a problem for SEC lines.
Defensive End: Marco Jones
Jones showed some flashes last year, and the talk around him has only increased since that point. The chances that he replicates Cashius Howell's sack numbers from last year are slim, but he will be a feature player for this defense by the time the year comes to a conclusion.
Linebacker: Noah Mikhail
Mikhail was the defensive breakout player of the spring game thanks to his heavy-hitting play and a pick-six that put his full athletic gifts on display. Pass coverage deep downfield was a concern in that outing, but he's growing into his own quite well all around— expect to see him as a big time contributor this season.
Linebacker: Ray Coney
Coney's experience is a great backstop for losing Daymion Sanford, who would be in this spot if we were assured of his health. While he recovers, though, the Tulsa transfer will be the man of the hour in this spot. If he can adjust to the speed of the game in the SEC, then he'll be a key cog in the Aggie defense this season.
Cornerback: Dezz Ricks
No surprises here: despite missing the spring with an injury, Ricks has his spot on lockdown. The former five-star player will be even better this season for an Aggie secondary that will be the strength of the team once again. Ricks is the leader of the unit, without a doubt.
Cornerback: Rickey Gibson
I was back and forth here between Gibson and true freshman Brandon Arrington, who appears to have taken to the position far more quickly than anyone thought. Gibson's experience will probably win out, but expect to see both players get a lot of run— this is a good problem to have.
Safety: Dalton Brooks
Now a team captain, Brooks, donning number 7, is in line for a big year. He can be aggressive at times and overpursue plays, but if he can rein that kind of thing in, then his name will be shooting up draft boards. He has all the physical talents you could want out of the position— it's time to fully leverage those in 2026.
Safety: Tawfiq Byard
This was another tough call, as Marcus Ratcliffe has been a staple for the Aggies and is another team captain. However, I liked what I saw out of Byard too much to leave him on the bench: he is exactly the kind of player that the Aggies need to shore up their run defense from last year, which got gashed far too much.
Nickel: Bryce Anderson
Putting Anderson back at the nickel spot should be a big win for the Aggies. He thrived there in his true freshman year, so in his final season of eligibility, he will make some noise as well.
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