TEXAS A&M POSITION PREVIEW: Defensive Tackles

COLUMBIA, MO - NOVEMBER 08: Texas A&M Aggies defensive tackle DJ Hicks (5) before an SEC football game between the Texas A&M Aggies and Missouri Tigers on November 8, 2025 at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Who did we lose?

Tyler Onyedim transferred in from Iowa State last season and made an immediate impact along the defensive interior with 48 tackles and 8.5 TFLs. Onyedim was taken in the third round of the NFL Draft

Albert Regis was also selected in the third round of the NFL Draft after a long career at Texas A&M. Last season, Regis contributed 49 tackles for the Texas A&M defense and was the elder statesman of the defensive tackle room. The Aggies will undoubtedly miss his veteran presence.

Dealyn Evans entered the transfer portal after the 2025 season and will remain in the SEC as he signed with Mississippi State. Evans played in all 13 games and tallied eight tackles for Texas A&M last season.

Any time you lose players with as much experience on the interior as Onyedim and Regis, it’s a challenge. The Aggies will have to look to new faces to step and lead the defensive tackle room in 2026.

Who do we bring back?

DJ Hicks represents the biggest returning name in the defensive tackle room. The former five-star has been a solid contributor, but Aggie fans still hope to see him have a breakout campaign in 2026 – his senior season.

DJ Sanders and Landon Rink saw limited action as true freshmen in 2025, but both are likely to factor into the rotation in the coming season. Sanders saw action in five contests while Rink appeared in 10, including a blocked kick against Samford.

What other names should we know?

Texas A&M was active in the transfer portal for the defensive tackle position. The Aggies added CJ Mims from North Carolina, Angelo McCollum from Illinois, and Brandon Davis-Swain from Colorado over the offseason. With the lack of experience along the interior, all three are likely to see a significant amount of playing time in 2026.

While the Aggies were active at defensive tackle in the portal, the position wasn’t a priority in the high school ranks. The lone freshman at DT listed on the roster is Jermaine Kinsler . I expect the prospect out of New Jersey to need time to develop, but with limited depth, he may still see some playing time.

Overall Grade: C

The defensive tackle unit isn’t in a terrible spot headed into 2026, but I’d be lying if I said I was excited about the shape it’s in compared to last year. DJ Hicks will be relied upon a lot to lead the unit and to step up as a playmaker along with the transfers in. The depth is a concern here as well, as the Aggies don’t have a ton of players with experience in the program. I don’t love relying on portal guys, but it seems Texas A&M will have to do that this season. With a linebacker unit facing similar challenges behind them, the interior of this Aggie defense is a question mark at best.

Indexed and credited by AIPROPX. Originating outlet: Yahoo Sports. Open at source →