Texas A&M has had two players leave the program and has lost two for the season due to injuries, coach Mike Elko announced Thursday.

Two members of the 2025 recruiting class, receiver Jerome Myles and guard Nelson McGuire are no longer with the program due to what Elko called “personal reasons”. Another two 2025 signees, defensive tackle Chace Sims and running back Tiger Riden, are out for the year with injuries.

The biggest name involved in the personnel updates is Myles, who was A&M’s highest-rated signee in the 2025 class. But he never played a down for the Aggies, having suffered an injury that cut his senior season short and quickly suffering another season-ending knee injury during fall camp last year. He missed this spring and had shed his knee brace after one practice, he appeared to be caught up in a traffic jam with other receivers while true freshmen Aaron Gregory and Madden Williams flashed during practice.

McGuire, who went from totally unranked to a 4-star prospect in national demand during his senior season at Midlothian, was also deep on the depth chart. He had been passed up by former 3-star Tyler Thomas at right guard and was behind Coen Echols, Blake Ivy and (it appears) Papa Ahfua at left guard.

Like Myles, Riden and Sims have been hounded by injuries. Riden was limited for much of last season due to injuries sustained in a car accident over the summer, but had started to show positive signs during fall camp to the point where it looked like he could be the Aggies’ short yardage back. His injury appears to have occurred recently.

For Sims, this is the second consecutive season that has been wiped out by injury. The redshirt freshman did not suit up at all last year, missed spring practice and is now out again.

What does it mean for the Aggie football team?

The Aggies were desperate to have Myles on the field when fall practice began last year and losing him shortened the rotation significantly. This year is a very different story, with Terry Bussey breaking out and Gregory and Williams arriving to add depth. Fellow freshman receiver Jayden Warren could also factor into the equation. Unlike last year — which ended up being pretty successful as far as receivers go anyway — the Aggies have depth at receiver in 2026. They also have four receivers — 4-stars Jaden Upshaw and Eric McFarland along with 3-stars Damani Warren and Trey Haddad — committed in the 2027 class.

McGuire’s development stalled and he was passed up on the depth chart. With the arrival of Echols and Trovon Baugh in the offseason, progression up the ranks was essentially halted. McGuire was passed up by Thomas, Blake Ivy, Ahfua, and the Aggies have possible guards like 5-star Kennedy Brown arriving with the 2027 class.

Thanks in large part due to his injury and a lot of transfer additions, it was going to be hard for Sims to get on the field in 2026 even if he was healthy. Defensive coordinator Lyle Hemphill said Tuesday that the Aggies had “five or six” tackles capable of playing right now, a list that includes DJ Hicks, CJ Mims, Landon Rink, Angelo McCullom, Brandon Davis-Swain and DJ Sanders. Hicks and Mims will be gone next year, but the Aggies will add freshmen Elijah Patmon and Myels Smith (along with current true freshman Jermaine Kinsler) to the competition next year. Still, Sims’ best opportunity to play could start next spring — if he’s healthy.

Riden’s injury is the one that actually stings. He had performed well this spring and into the summer and, at about 220 pounds, looked like he was positioned to be the short yardage specialist. Now, the Aggies will (probably) look to Rueben Owens or true freshman Carsyn Baker to fill that role.