Texas A&M senior safety reportedly climbing NFL draft ranks

Texas A&M's 2026 roster isn't lacking NFL talent, and while starting quarterback Marcel Reed receives much of the national coverage, junior wide receiver Mario Craver, defensive tackle DJ Hicks, and Northwestern transfer edge Anto Saka are the primary names that could end up being first-round picks in the 2027 NFL Draft, while another interesting veteran in the secondary is apparently a name to watch.

On Sunday, Texas A&M beat writer Tony Catalina revealed that, talking with multiple NFL personnel, incoming senior safety Dalton Brooks, who has been a starter for the Aggies since his sophomore season, is quickly climbing the ranks as one of the top defenders due to his versatility, coming off his breakout 2025 campaign as one of coach Mike Elko's most dependable starters.

Needing to clean up his tackling, Brooks still recorded a career high 62 tackles, four sacks, and an interception, as Elko regularly utilized his speed and athleticism in third down situations, acting as the fifth or sometimes sixth pass rusher, and returns to a loaded safety rotation that now includes Colorado transfer Tawfiq Byard, who did not allow a passing touchdown in over 500 snaps.

After seeing a record 10 players selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, Elko and his staff are confident that the 17 transfer portal additions and 26 signees from the 2026 recruiting class will blend well with the returning veterans, especially players of Dalton Brooks' caliber.

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