Texas A&M OL praises the Aggies' 'smart' and 'physical' D-line

This offseason, Texas A&M coach Mike Elko saw a record 10 players selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, including unanimous All-American edge Cashius Howell, and defensive linemen Albert Regis and Tyler Onyedim, who were picked in the second and third rounds, and are all expected to earn key rotational roles this fall.

Last offseason, Elko predicted that 10-12 players from his 2025 roster would be drafted, as the third-year head coach prepared for these departures, adding several veteran defensive linemen, including Northwestern transfer edge Anto Saka, and defensive tackles CJ Sims (North Carolina) and Angelo McCullum (Illinois), who are all expected to make significant impacts next season.

Replacing Howell's pass rush production after he racked up 11.5 sacks will be a tough ask, but Anto Saka, who stands 6'4" and nearly 260 pounds, is a favorite among NFL scouts and will likely earn the starting big defensive end job, while CJ Sims is in line to serve as Albert Regis' replacement at nose tackle.

While it's tough to grade Texas A&M's 2026 defensive line, the return of junior defensive tackle DJ Hicks, who recorded a career-high 26 tackles and three sacks last season, will make or break the Aggie D-line based on how much he progresses during his final season. However, taking it from a player who's faced this group in practice, transfer guard had nothing but praise for his newly formed group.