Texas A&M keeps star CB Dezz Ricks and key offensive starters, proving roster retention is the real SEC power move in 2026.
In modern college football, championships aren’t just won on Saturdays. They’re secured in December bank accounts and January negotiations.
Texas A&M understands that better than most.
Fresh off an 11-2 season and a 7-1 mark in SEC play - plus the program’s first College Football Playoff appearance - the Aggies faced the real offseason test in keeping the core intact.
In an NIL-driven, transfer portal-fueled era where more than 3,200 FBS scholarship players have explored new homes, roster retention is as valuable as any five-star signing.
And A&M delivered a quiet but massive win. Cornerback Dezz Ricks is coming back to College Station.
The former Alabama transfer has developed into one of the SEC’s most reliable cover men, and his decision to return for 2026 stabilizes a defense that needed continuity.
Ricks, entering his third season as a starter, allowed completions on just 40 percent of passes thrown his way last season. He added nine pass breakups and surrendered only two touchdowns in coverage, according to ESPN Research.
In a conference loaded with elite quarterbacks and wide receivers, that kind of production matters.
Keeping Ricks wasn’t just about stats. It was about leadership and experience.
While the Aggies hit the portal to reload defensively, having a proven lockdown corner gives the unit an anchor. Defensive coordinators sleep better when one side of the field can be trusted in single coverage.
Quarterback Marcel Reed also returns to pilot the offense after guiding A&M to its breakthrough season. Running back Rueben Owens II remains in the backfield, while wide receiver Mario Craver and center Mark Nabou Jr. also opted to stay.
That’s continuity at the most important spots on the field - quarterback, skill positions and the offensive line.
Look at the recent national champions. Indiana, Ohio State and Michigan all convinced veteran stars to run it back before hoisting CFP trophies. Experience wins in January.
In today’s revenue-sharing landscape, convincing players not to chase NFL draft grades or portal offers is as strategic as play-calling on third down. The price tag may be steep, but the payoff can be historic.
For Texas A&M, keeping Dezz Ricks and its offensive nucleus sends a clear message: this isn’t a one-year flash.
The Aggies aren’t rebuilding. They’re reloading ... and betting big on chemistry, continuity and another SEC title push in 2026.