Texas A&M's new edge rushers aim to fill big shoes
Texas A&M's 2026 offseason has been extremely productive, as head coach Mike Elko , entering his third season at the helm, knew that in order to make it back to the College Football Playoff after reaching the tournament for the first time in program history , avoiding a rebuild after losing 20-plus players to the transfer portal and 2026 NFL Draft was critical.
After two seasons, including his breakout 2025 campaign, unanimous All-American edge Cashius Howell declared for the draft and is considered a likely first-round pick, while star wide receiver KC Concepcion is also a name to watch as a potential first-round selection after leading the Aggies in receiving (919 yards) and 9 touchdowns, paried with two punt return touchdowns, dazzled scouts at the combine late last month.
However, Texas A&M's offense, which returns starting quarterback Marcel Reed , and now includes former Alabama star receiver, Isaiah Horton , will be widely discussed, but how Elko and his staff will replace Cashius Howell's production is the real question, leading to Northwestern transfer Anto Saka and sophomore edge Marco Jones stepping up to the plate.
After ranking transfer tight end Houston Thomas as the second-best TE in Texas, DCTF writer Mike Crave placed Saka and Jones in his top ten Texas-based edge rusher rankings, with the former Wildcats star coming in at No. 4.
"The 6-foot-4, 255-pound Saka was listed on Bruce Feldman’s annual “Freaks List” heading into 2025 and Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko hopes he can help Saka reach his ceiling and replace the departing production of Cashius Howell, who could be a first-round draft pick come April. Saka started 11 games but only recorded 13 tackles. He did get to the quarterback, compiling three sacks and four tackles for loss, but he needs to be more consistent to match his on-field play with his off-field hype."
While Saka's three sacks and four tackles for loss don't quite stand out, this was mainly due to a scheme issue, and, on paper, his fit in Mike Elko's system is borderline perfect. Built like an NFL starting edge, Saka's expectations continue to rise. Coming in at No. 9, Marco Jones recorded 21 tackles and 2.5 sacks in limited play during his freshman season, but, like Saka, possesses an elite frame with the length to become a standout pass rusher.
"A consensus four-star prospect who played well when given snaps as a true freshman. His upside is hard to ignore and his 6-foot-5, 258-pound frame means Jones can be an every-down defensive end in the SEC. With Cashius Howell gone and the need for big plays off the edge, Jones could be one of the breakout stars in the SEC in 2026."
Both players will be counted on not just to rush the passer but also to set the edge and help improve Texas A&M's run defense, which struggled immensely at the end of the 2025 season.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: DCTF ranks two Texas A&M edge rushers as Top 10 players in Texas
