With No. 8 Texas A&M’s season starting tonight against Missouri State (6 p.m. central, ESPN), the Aggies will get their first look at several new transfers. Here are five of the most important:

Linebacker Ray Coney (Tulsa)

Replacing: Taurean York

York was a team captain and leading tackler for the Aggies each of the last three years. Coney made more solo tackles than York had total last year — in fact, nobody made more solo tackles in 2025 anywhere than Coney did (87). Coney started off slow in the spring as he acclimated to a new system, but had a strong summer and has the faith of the coach staff as the season begins.

Wide receiver Isaiah Horton (Alabama)

Replacing: KC Concepcion

Horton was second in the SEC in touchdown receptions last year with eight, trailing only one player — Concepcion, who had nine. While Horton replaces Concepcion in the starting lineup, they’re very different players. Horton is bigger and heavier at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds. In fact, he’s unlike any receiver A&M had last year, and they missed a physical presence on the outside. Horton was brought in to make the tough catches on third down and in the red zone, but has reminded people he can also stretch the field this summer.

DE Anto Saka (Northwestern)

Replacing: Cashius Howell

Saka won’t replace Howell alone, but he’s being looked to as the guy who will replace a lot of the All-American’s production when it comes to getting after the quarterback. He’s shown off his superior athleticism since arriving at A&M in the spring and now weighs 262 pounds, enough to be a three-down lineman in the SEC. The Aggies expect he’ll considerably improve over his 2025 numbers with the Wildcats: 13 tackles, four tackles for loss and three sacks.

DT CJ Mims (North Carolina)

Replacing: Albert Regis

The Aggies not only lost Regis to the NFL, but fellow defensive tackle Tyler Oneydim as well. That’s a lot of talent and production lost in the third round, so the Aggies went out and signed Mims, Brandon Davis-Swain and Angelo McCullom to help fill the gap. Mims actually out-produced both Regis and Oneydim at UNC, with 42 tackles. Regis and Oneydim took their games to another level last year, and the Aggies hope Mims can do the same.

OTs Wilkin Formby (Alabama) and Tyree Adams (LSU)

Replacing: Trey Zuhn and Dametrious Crownover

Ok, I said five. Sue me. They’re both offensive tackles.

Adams started eight games for LSU last year and did not give up a sack. Formby was one of the most-sought after tackles in the portal after starting 15 games for the Crimson Tide at right tackle and guard. Formby has bulked up to 320 pounds and has really impressed his new coaches, while Adams had little trouble brushing off a challenge from former 4-star Lamont Rogers on the left side.