Texas A&M players speak to the media after first padded practice
Aggies WR Ashton Bethel‑Roman and S Marcus Ratcliffe detail their offseason focus as A&M pushes for more explosiveness and key defensive takeaways.
Spring has arrived, and with it, the first real steps toward the 2026 college football season. For Texas A&M, this stretch represents a soft rebuild. Not a reset, but a recalibration.
With new faces across the roster and subtle shifts on the coaching staff, establishing rhythm now is essential for a fast start in the fall. One of Mike Elko’s long‑term goals since arriving in Aggieland has been to modernize the offense, particularly at wide receiver. For years, the position carried the stigma that A&M couldn’t consistently produce or attract elite talent.
Last season went a long way toward burying that narrative. The Aggies brought in future first‑rounder KC Concepcion, who captured the 2025 Paul Hornung Award, and Mario Craver, who earned All‑America honors while nearly eclipsing 1,000 total yards of offense. Outside of the new addition of Isaiah Horton a player to keep an eye on is redshirt sophomore Ashton Bethel-Roman how had a breakout season last year and working to get better.
" I feel like during the off season, I took a lot of time while I was letting my body heal and stuff. I feel like I took a lot of time just watching other receivers in the league, that have somewhat of my play style of deep, you know, long ball take it, blow the top off type of receivers, and I just watched how they work, their shiftiness, and I try to apply it to my own game. " - Bethel-Roman On defense, the emphasis has been just as clear.