Texas A&M coach Mike Elko will have a long list of crucial decisions in the coming weeks, as the Aggies sit at 4-4 and 1-4 in SEC play before facing South Carolina on the road for the first time since the 2024 season. This article will be published after Saturday's results, but Mike Elko will remain at a crossroads with plenty to consider.

One aspect of the roster that has not disappointed has been the 2026 freshman class, led by standout running back KJ Edwards, who has earned the starting job, while defensive linemen Landon Rink and Bryce Perry-Wright have both played 100-plus snaps and must be retained this offseason if the Aggies want to avoid a total roster collapse.

Whether Texas A&M defeats or loses to South Carolina, the season is still a failure given the massive preseason expectations after making the College Football Playoff last season, while senior quarterback Marcel Reed and first-year offensive coordinator Holmon Wiggins have been a bad pairing.

Per Pro Football Network analyst Cam Mellor, Bryce Perry-Wright, similar to Landon Rink, is one of the highest-rated freshman defenders and the 15th highest-rated Edge rusher (80.4) after appearing in all eight games, producing one tackle, one pressure, and five stops.

Bryce Perry-Wright and Landon Rink represent Texas A&M's future starting rotation, along with sophomore defensive tackle DJ Sanders and freshman pass rusher Tristian Givens, who has also impressed in limited action. Keeping all these players in the fold is priority No. 1 as the season winds down.