Texas' Phenomenal D-Backs Dominate NFL's Top Talent List
Texas A&M's revamped secondary still includes safety Marcus Ratcliffe, while Tennessee transfer CB Rickey Gibson is now in the fold.
Texas A&M coach Mike Elko and his revamped coaching staff will take the field for the first time in just six days, as the Aggies will open the 2026 spring practice season on a high note after finishing 11-2 and 7-1 in SEC play, while the program will welcome 17 players from the transfer portal and 25 of 26 signees in the 2026 recruiting class. Among the 17 transfer portal signees, Texas A&M's secondary looks like the team's strength on defense, adding former Colorado safety Tawfiq Byard and Tennessee transfer cornerback Rickey Gibson , who are both talented and experienced enough to compete for starting jobs this fall. However, the returning talent, led by cornerback Dezz Ricks and safeties Marcus Ratcliffe and Dalton Brooks, also takes center stage.
Under Mike Elko, who prides himself on being one of the top secondary coaches, with an impressive background as a long-time defensive coordinator, focused on developing corners and safeties for long NFL careers. After the 2026 season, Ricks, Ratcliffe, and Brooks are expected to be drafted high in the 2027 NFL Draft, while Byard and Gibson are expected to return. This week, Dave Campbell's Texas Football writer Mike Craven continued releasing his positional rankings, focusing on the top 10 players in Texas.
Like every list so far, two Aggies made the list, starting with Marcus Ratcliffe at No. 6, who recorded 66 tackles last season. A consistent safety in a Texas A&M defense that helped the Aggies start 11-0 and reach the College Football Playoff for the first time in school history.
Ratcliffe has been a stalwart in the secondary over his first two years as an Aggie after transferring from San Diego State when Mike Elko was hired. Ratcliffe was second on the team in tackles while recording at least five stops in eight of the 13 games. While a lack of speed at safety, outside of Dalton Brooks, was one of the reasons the Texas Longhorns defeated the Aggies at the end of the regular season, Ratcliffe is deemed to take another big step in his development, especially in deep coverage.