It’s officially the offseason, and while recruiting is the focus, taking a deeper look into Texas A&M’s newly formed 2026 roster, ESPN recently named junior running back Rueben Owens as the program’s most “underrated” player, while college football analyst CFBudge recently released his list of all 16 SEC team’s “best defenders,” which can easily be debated for those of us who cover every SEC program.
Given the level of talent on both sides of the ball, it’s fair to say that Northwestern transfer edge Anto Saka stands out as a likely starter who is expected to make an immediate impact for a defense in need of an experienced pass rusher after losing unanimous All-American edge, Cashius Howell, while former Colorado transfer safety Tawfiq Byard did not allow a passing touchdown in over 500 coverage snaps last season.
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However, CFBudge did not go the transfer route, choosing senior safety Dalton Brooks as Texas A&M’s “best” defender, given the former four-star athlete’s versatility, but compared to fellow safety Marcus Ratcliffe, senior linebacker Daymion Sanford and defensive tackle DJ Hicks, it’s hard to say if Brooks is really the Aggies‘ top defender given his need to improve as a tackler and run defender.
Last season, Brooks ended the year with a career-high 62 tackles, four sacks, and an interception, earning an impressive 71.9 pass rush grade, 70.9 coverage grade, and a poor 44.9 run defense grade, per Pro Football Focus. Brooks, like every player, has plenty of room for improvement and will be a vital part of Mike Elko and new defensive coordinator Lyle Hemphill’s coverage and pass rush plans in 2026.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: CFB analyst names S Dalton Brooks as Texas A&M’s best defender
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