Texas A&M’s 2026 defensive line room will be led by senior DL DJ Hicks, who enters his final season as the most experienced interior defender on the roster after Albert Regis and Tyler Onyedim declared for the 2026 NFL Draft. After finishing the 2025 season with 26 tackles and three sacks, the former five-star prospect is slated to improve in several areas, especially against the run.
From a depth perspective, sophomore defensive lineman Landon Rink, who, despite being a Texas legacy, has continued to put in the work this offseason, especially during the first eight spring practices. One of the strongest players on the roster, Rink fits in Mike Elko and new defensive coordinator Lyle Hemphill’s scheme, currently standing 6’2″ and nearly 300 pounds.
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A fellow 2025 recruiting class member, sophomore edge Marco Jones, has a bright future ahead of him and is expected to make a significant jump, currently slated to start at the Jack position as a hybrid linebacker/defensive end, and after Saturday’s eighth practice, Rink praised his defensive teammate.
“He’s going to be a first-round draft pick one day.”
Now, for those who are still surprised a Texas legacy chose the Aggies over committing to the Longhorns, playing under coach Mike Elko, who is entering his third season at the helm, was a no-brainer for the Cy-Fair grad, who is well aware of Texas A&M’s track record of developing and sending defensive linemen to the NFL.
“Coach Elko gets D-linemen drafted.”
From the transfer portal, Illinois transfer DL Angelo McCullum and former North Carolina defensive lineman CJ Sims complete a defensive line room that is deep enough to improve the interior pass rush and play much more consistently against the run.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: DL Landon Rink provides simple explanation for choosing Texas A&M
