As we gear up for the 2026 football season, Aggies Wire is breaking down nearly every player on the Texas A&M roster. Throughout the preseason, each profile will highlight a player’s background, high school recruiting rankings, and projected role under head coach Mike Elko.
The dirty work happens in the trenches, and the dirtiest work comes from the interior defensive line, where every snap feels like a sumo match in tight quarters. With Albert Regis and Tyler Onyedim gone, the Aggies entered 2026 with a significant void in the middle of the front. That’s why Texas A&M is counting on North Carolina transfer CJ Mims to help stabilize the position.
Mims played a rotational role with the Tar Heels, starting nine of the 12 games he appeared in. He posted
42 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, and a forced fumble, providing the kind of steady production the Aggies need as they reshape the interior of the defensive line. That reliability makes him an important early‑down option as A&M looks to rebuild its defensive tackle rotation heading into the 2026 season.
Preseason Player Profile
- Hometown: New Bern, North Carolina
- Height: 6-2
- Weight: 312 lbs.
- Class in 2026: Redshirt Senior
Recruiting Rankings (Transfer Class of 2025)
- Previous School: North Carolina
- Overall: No. 230 (247Sports)
- Position: No. 44 (247Sports)
The former three‑star prospect spent three seasons at East Carolina (2022–24) and was a one‑year letterwinner at North Carolina in 2025. Across 25 career games at ECU, he totaled 37 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, two forced fumbles, and one quarterback hurry. With the Tar Heels, he logged 371 snaps, adding valuable rotational experience within multiple defensive fronts.
Depth Chart Outlook
The interior defensive line should rotate early, just like defensive end. With the holes left in the middle of the front, it’s going to take a group effort to replace the production after losing both starting defensive tackles to the NFL. CJ Mims fits the profile of a true run‑stuffer and gives the Aggies an ideal early‑down interior defender to help keep SEC rushing attacks in check. Rotation will be the key early on, and the staff will lean on multiple bodies until someone settles into a full‑time role.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Previewing the 2026 season for Texas A&M DT CJ Mims
