Texas A&M football saw Isaiah Horton, Brandon Arrington and Tamarion Watkins shine in the Maroon & White Game as Mike Elko wrapped spring.
Texas A&M football wrapped up spring practice Saturday with the Maroon & White Game, and Mike Elko left Kyle Field with plenty to sort through before fall camp opens.
For the Aggies, the afternoon wasn’t just about returning starters.
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It was also a revealing look at how quickly a wave of newcomers is catching up, including 17 transfer portal additions and nearly the entire 2026 freshman class.
One of the biggest takeaways was Alabama transfer wide receiver Isaiah Horton.
Horton finished as the top pass catcher in the spring scrimmage and delivered one of the day’s most memorable plays, hauling in a tough sideline grab in the first half that turned heads across the field.
For a Texas A&M offense searching for more explosive options around quarterback Marcel Reed, Horton’s emergence felt significant.
The freshman class made just as much noise. Former five-star cornerback Brandon Arrington looked comfortable competing at game speed and showed why he arrived with major expectations.
Arrington broke up a well-placed pass intended for fellow freshman Aaron Gregory, a play that highlighted both his instincts and ability to challenge the football.
At linebacker, the spotlight shifted after senior Daymion Sanford suffered a serious lower-body injury before halftime.
If Sanford is forced to miss the opening month of the 2026 season or longer, freshman Tamarion Watkins may have a real path to early snaps.
Though he still needs time in the weight room, Watkins consistently found the football and looked advanced from an instinctive standpoint. His background as a high school safety appears to be helping his transition.
Elko also pointed to safety Tylan Wilson and running backs KJ Edwards and Carsyn Baker as young players growing more comfortable in the system.
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“Our true freshmen were more comfortable with what we are doing,” Elko said. “There were some freshman flashes from guys like Tylan Wilson, Tamarion Watkins and Carsyn Baker.”
That’s the kind of spring update Texas A&M wanted. The Aggies may still be developing, but several newcomers already look capable of helping this fall.
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