1. If Texas A&M defensive coordinator Lyle Hemphill is ever going to turn things loose and attack, this should be the weekend. Even though Keelon Russell can really move, Alabama is 129th nationally in sacks allowed and 111th in tackles for loss allowed. The Aggies can’t allow Russell to sit back there and pick them apart, so they ought to take advantage of what appears to be an issue. In their two straight losses, Russell has been taken down nine times.
Of course, the Aggies are 130th in team sacks, so there’s that too.
2. Russell has been putting up strong numbers, but he’s also been turnover-prone. Marcel Reed has thrown six interceptions but hasn’t fumbled; Russell has thrown four interceptions and fumbled four times, losing all of them. That sounds like another reason to be aggressive defensively.
3. The Aggies will likely catch a break this week as Alabama star wideout Ryan Coleman-Williams will be out for this one. Even with his penchant for the dropsies, Coleman-Williams was off to a great start to 2026, with 23 catches for 415 yards (18 YPC) and 4 touchdowns. Now the Aggies, if they want, can put Dezz Ricks up against Lotzier Brooks, who has 26 catches, also 415 yards (16 YPC) and a score.
4. As the season has gone on, we’re starting to see some of the younger players take over from established veterans. KJ Edwards and Jamarion Morrow have taken the top two running back spots, and Aaron Gregory and TK Norman have moved up due to injuries and have played well. Kiotti Armstrong is now the top tight end and Bryce Perry-Wright has moved into the defensive end rotation. Coach Mike Elko said Monday that DJ Sanders will play more after a strong showing last Saturday. This is what you hope for when you have young talent — though you hope it doesn’t happen at least in part due to three losses.
5. After Brady Hart’s performance last week — and yes, I know it was just The Citadel — and word getting out that he’s now getting first team reps, a lot of people are going to start wondering whether the next move could be at quarterback. Hopefully the footsteps will push Marcel Reed to up his game.
6. When the Aggies gained the commitment of KJ Edwards last year, I said his elusiveness as top level. But I understated it, clearly. This cut, from last weekend’s game, is just unreal.
7. The Aggie basketball team got some good news today from an unlikely place: California. A total of 76 basketball players whose college eligibility would otherwise be up were granted a temporary injunction. With the decision, the plaintiffs in Glancey v. NCAA — which includes Aggie guard Jordan Pope — will likely remain eligible throughout the 2026-27 season.
8. On the other hand, LSU has given up on its effort to have former Celtics and Jazz guard JR Luis join the Tigers this fall. Smart move. If the Tigers had tried to force that issue, it would have led to them being thrown out of the SEC on their ear.
9. Two Aggie commits — linebacker Aston Whiteside and offensive lineman DeMarrion Johnson — visited elsewhere over the weekend. Whiteside went to Miami, while Johnson visited SMU. I think Whiteside is going to end up with the Hurricanes, but Johnson, while being tempted by SMU and Texas before that, seems to be content to stick for now.
10. Texas’ game with Ole Miss this weekend could be make or break for Coach Steve Sarkisian. He’s on the hot seat after having his top-ranked Longhorns lose two straight to unranked teams, something that has only been done two other teams. Texas’ offense has been terrible so far this year, and there are complaints that Sark’s scheme and his playcalling have become stale and repetitive, that he’s not adjusting to defenses and his quarterback isn’t reaching his full potential because he doesn’t have the freedom to adjust.
Sounds very, very familiar.
Our sponsor
10 Things for Tuesday is sponsored by Brent Campbell, Fighting Texas Aggie Class of 1998. Brent is a Commercial Real Estate Broker, serving all of Central Texas and specializing in sales, leasing & development. He leads a retail acquisition and sales team and was recognized by the Austin Business Journal as a Commercial Real Estate Heavy Hitter in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2023, 2024 & 2025.
In the last 22 years, he has closed deals with a total transactional value of over $400 million and has leased more than 4.75 million square feet. Brent currently serves as the president of the board of directors for Habitat Homes, Inc. and Pathways Youth and Family Services. He is currently on the Downtown Round Rock Task Force. He is a former president of the Heart of Round Rock Neighborhood Association and a former member of the Round Rock Zoning Advisory Committee, the Round Rock Business and Retention Committee, and the City of Round Rock Ethics Commission, which has led him to begin developing in Williamson and Travis County.
An Austin native, Brent lives in Round Rock where he and his wife have raised four boys. Brent works for Don Quick and Associates, Inc. in Round Rock and can be reached at brent@donquick.com.
Leave a Reply