Aggies aim to transform their struggling linebacker corps. Coach Travis Williams arrives with a proven track record for developing downhill defenders and recruiting talent.
Texas A&M's 2026 coaching staff is coming together quickly as head coach Mike Elko continues reshaping the program in his own image.
The Aggies will feature multiple new voices on both sides of the ball, signaling a clear intent ... fix what's broken, upgrade what's stagnant, and stop treading water.
On offense, continuity comes with a twist.
Holmon Wiggins has been elevated to offensive coordinator following Collin Klein's departure to become head coach at Kansas.
The move keeps familiarity in the building while allowing Elko to retain institutional knowledge rather than start from scratch.
Defense, though, required sharper action.
When Jay Bateman opted to leave College Station for a lateral role at Kentucky Wildcats, Elko moved fast, promoting Lyle Hemphill to defensive coordinator and immediately addressing the vacancy at linebackers with an outside hire.
That hire is Travis Williams, a move that says more about priorities than resumes.
Williams' most recent stop at Arkansas ended poorly. The Razorback defense struggled in 2025, and after Sam Pittman was fired midseason, interim head coach Bobby Petrino cleaned house, Williams included. That should be an easy red flag.
But Elko isn't hiring Williams to call defenses; he's hiring him to fix linebackers.
Williams has built a strong reputation as both a recruiter and a position coach, dating back to Auburn and UCF, and that's exactly where Texas A&M needs help.
The Aggies' run defense hasn't just been structurally unsound. Poor fits, missed gaps, and slow reads plagued the unit, and those issues point directly to coaching as much as personnel.
That's where Williams comes in.
His arrival should immediately bolster Texas A&M's presence in the transfer portal, especially on defense. Linebacker remains one of the most portal-active positions in the sport, and Williams' recruiting ties give Elko another proven closer on staff.
Even more importantly, his history of developing physical, downhill defenders aligns with what Elko wants A&M to become.
Elko isn't afraid to separate coordinator performance from positional value. Williams may not have thrived as a play-caller at Arkansas, but his strengths match the Aggies' most glaring weaknesses.
Texas A&M's staff overhaul isn't flashy. It's purposeful. And if the Aggies take a step forward defensively in 2026, this hire will be one of the first places to look.