What is the story about?
As we inch closer to another Aggie Football season, it’s time for another entry in the position previews series for 2026. This time we take a closer look at the defensive ends, where Texas A&M will once again rely on transfer portal talent to rush the passer.
Who did we lose?
- Cashius Howell came to Texas A&M as a highly touted pass rusher from Bowling Green back in Mike Elko’s first season in Aggieland. He blossomed into a star edge last year and led the team with 11.5 sacks. Howell was selected in the second round of the NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals, where he is impressing in camp.
- Howell led the Aggies by a good chunk in sacks, but the next man on the list, Dayon Hayes, has also moved on after exhausting his eligibility. Hayes had 4.5 sacks last season.
- A pair of defensive ends also moved on through the portal as Rylan Kennedy transferred to Florida State while Solomon Williams ended up at Cal. Kennedy contributed two sacks last season, and Williams had three TFLs.
Who do we bring back?
- Among the athletes returning for another season in Aggieland on the edges, Marco Jones has to be the player Aggie fans are most excited about. Jones flashed serious potential last year as a true freshman with 2.5 sacks.
- The Aggies also bring back a pair of transfers who contributed last year in Sam M’Pemba and T.J. Searcy. Both players could be called on to contribute more consistently in 2026.
What other names should we know?
- Anto Saka was the gem of this portal class for Mike Elko and company after transferring to Texas A&M from Northwestern. Saka is an incredible athlete and projects as a starter at end for the 2o26 campaign.
- The Aggies also added pass-rushing specialist Ryan Henderson through the portal over the offseason. Henderson notched seven sacks last season for San Diego State.
- Texas A&M added a trio of defensive ends from the high school ranks as well. I don’t expect Bryce Perry-Wright, Tristian Givens, and Samu Moala to see a ton of action, as the ends have a little more depth than the interior. However, Aggie fans should definitely keep an eye out for all three when games are in hand.
Overall Grade: A-
Replacing Cashius Howell’s production keeps this grade from being an outright A, but I am very excited about Marco Jones in his sophomore season, and Anto Saka looks poised to follow in the tradition of transfer portal edges being star players
under the tutelage of Mike Elko. I like the depth situation here better as well, with the experience coming from Sam M’Pemba and T.J. Searcy. I’m expecting a strong 2026 from this unit.
