Texas A&M's 2026 season is already a massive disappointment six games into the new year, as the Aggies sit at 3-3 and 1-3 in SEC play before hosting The Citadel on Saturday afternoon. After making the College Football Playoff last season for the first time in program history, coach Mike Elko's questionable offseason decisions have directly led to this season's massive step back.
However, after a record 10 players were selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, including star wide receiver KC Concepcion going 24th overall to the Cleveland Browns and edge rusher Cashius Howell going 2nd-round to the Cincinnati Bengals after leading the SEC in sacks with 11.5.
Losing both star players has greatly affected starting quarterback Marcel Reed's passing game and
the Aggies' pass rush, two positions Texas A&M has developed at a high rate under its last three coaching staffs.
At least 40 former Texas A&M players are active in the NFL, including future Hall of Fame wide receiver Mike Evans, who could be playing his final season with the San Francisco 49ers.
Under former Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin, Mike Evans blossomed into one of the best wide receivers in program history in just two seasons with Heisman-winning quarterback Johnny Manziel, leading to his 7th overall selection in the 2013 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he would spend 12 seasons with the Franchise, setting or tying five NFL records.
During his two seasons in College Station, Evans caught 151 passes for 2,499 yards and 17 touchdowns, and ESPN's Bill Connelly ranked him the 34th-best college wide receiver over the last 50 seasons.
"It's not just that Evans was the best receiver in the SEC in the Aggies' first two years in their new league; it's that he brought his A-game precisely when he did. Against Alabama and eventual national runner-up Auburn in 2013, he caught a combined 18 balls for 566 yards and five scores."
Mike Evans made big plays against any opponent, and that continued in the NFL, where he has recorded 13,378 receiving yards and 111 touchdowns, including five games with the 49ers this season.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Former Texas A&M, NFL star as 34th best CFB WR in the last 50 years
