Elko targets another SEC defensive mauler as Aggies reload trenches. The portal's impact on Texas A&M's formidable front is just beginning.
Texas A&M's transfer portal run isn't slowing down.
With seven portal commitments already secured, momentum inside the Bright Complex suggests the Aggies are far from finished.
According to multiple industry sources, including AggieYell insider Jaxson Callaway, head coach Mike Elko and his staff expect another wave of portal movement later this week as they continue reshaping a roster built to contend in the SEC.
The blueprint is clear ... fix the trenches, then keep swinging.
Texas A&M has already addressed nearly every glaring need through the portal, landing two experienced offensive linemen and Colorado defensive lineman Brandon Davis-Swain.
But with multiple defensive front starters heading to the 2026 NFL Draft, Elko's top priority now is restocking the defensive line with proven, game-ready bodies, ideally two or three players capable of stepping into starting roles immediately.
That focus sharpened on Monday when On3 insider Pete Nakos reported that Kentucky transfer defensive lineman Jerod Smith II was on campus for a visit. Smith checks several boxes the Aggies are actively hunting: SEC experience, positional flexibility, and reliability against the run.
In his first season as a starter at Kentucky, Smith posted 27 tackles, 18 of them solo, and logged his first career sack. The raw numbers don't jump off the page, but the film and analytics tell a more revealing story.
Smith graded out as a strong run defender, earning a 75.9 mark against the run, while also flashing enough pass-rush ability to remain disruptive on early downs.
At 6-4 and 275 pounds, Smith fits the mold Elko prefers. He's a versatile defender who can slide along the front, play on the edge, or kick inside depending on matchups. That flexibility is critical as A&M continues building a defensive front designed to survive the weekly grind of SEC offenses.
Landing Smith would be another meaningful step toward stabilizing a defensive line that could look dramatically different in 2026, especially if junior defensive tackle DJ Hicks opts to return.
Even then, insiders caution that Smith won't be the last defensive lineman to pass through College Station this month.
Elko is stacking depth, competition, and experience. And if the Aggies close on another SEC-tested trench defender this week, Texas A&M's portal surge may be just getting started.