Aggies eye Florida State's Edwin Joseph to shore up a vulnerable nickel spot, aiming for immediate impact in a crowded transfer portal race.
Texas A&M is headed into Mike Elko's third offseason with the same uncomfortable truth ... the portal isn't optional, it's the roster.
With the Aggies needing close to a dozen additions and the biggest priorities living in the trenches and especially the defensive line, the latest buzz suggests Elko may also be shopping for a plug-and-play defensive back who can immediately stabilize the nickel spot.
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According to a report from On3’s Marcus Benjamin, Texas A&M is among a group that includes Georgia, Mississippi State, and Texas pursuing former Florida State defensive back Edwin Joseph, who recently entered the transfer portal.
If that list feels like a pressure cooker, it is. Joseph has the kind of profile that can shift a secondary from surviving to dictating.
The Aggies are already bracing for changes in the defensive back room. Senior corner Will Lee III has declared for the 2026 NFL Draft, and senior nickel Tyreek Chappell is out of eligibility after five seasons. Losing Lee hurts, but the bigger headache is replacing Chappell's role, because the nickel is where modern defenses either hold the line or get shredded.
Former Washington transfer Jordan Shaw may be the next man up, but counting on an in-house solution alone is a gamble Elko doesn't have to take.
That's why Joseph makes sense. He started at nickel for Florida State in 2025 and put up production that travels with 37 tackles, three interceptions, and five pass deflections.
He also graded out as a strong run defender, and his Pro Football Focus marks - 76.6 against the run and 66.2 in coverage - paint the picture of a defender who isn't just a ballhawk, but someone who will actually stick his nose in the fan when the run game comes downhill.
And that matters for A&M.
One of the recurring issues in the Aggies' secondary last season was a lack of back-end speed outside of corner Dezz Ricks. At the same time, the run defense faded badly down the stretch, creating a nasty combo with not enough speed to close space on the perimeter and not enough physical consistency to keep runners from falling forward early in the down.
A player like Joseph, who's built for the nickel grind, helps on both fronts.
Joseph's goals are blunt and very portal-era honest. He's looking for a place to play, develop, and put himself in position to be drafted early, ideally in the first two days of the 2027 NFL Draft. He's said he plans to take visits, but none have been scheduled yet.
For Texas A&M, the pitch is simple ... immediate need, immediate snaps, and a defensive staff that can turn one strong season into a draft launchpad. The only problem? Everyone else in the race can sell the same dream - so Elko's got to close.