Aggies secure All-Big Ten kicker David Olano from the portal, bolstering their special teams with proven clutch performance and a stellar 87% field goal success rate.
The Texas A&M Aggies have as of late dealt with what we well call some "instability'' at the position of kicker.
It appears that via the portal, they have just solved that problem.
According to a report from On3, the Aggies have signed star Illinois kicker David Olano following his visit to College Station this weekend.
Maybe it says something very positive a program when "kicker'' can be defined as a glaring need. And of course, the Aggies are coming off a College Football Playoff appearance, so the program under coach Mike Elko is indeed in fine shape.
But the two kickers on the 2025 roster are seniors, so there is a vacancy there.
Olano is a two-time All-Big 10 kicker with the Illini and just finished up his time there by kicking the game-winning 29-yard field goal in the Music City Bowl against Tennessee.
Olano (5-11, 180) was 20 of 23 (good for 87 percent) on field goal attempts this season and he was a perfect 44 of 44 on his extra points.
He owns Illinois’ single-game record of five field goals and 19 points, accomplished in a game against Purdue in 2024. And he's developed a habit of clutch game-winning kicks.
This should be a big upgrade from senior Randy Bond, who last year was just 12 of 19 (63 percent) on field goals.