Aggieland Illustrated Jan/Feb 2026 by Aggieland Illustrated Magazine

CHAMPS

16 AGGIE VOLLEYBALL WINS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Historic season ends in amazing fashion. BY

ROB HAVENS ‘88

CFP REWIND

Aggies come up short in first playoff appearance. BY

ROB HAVENS ‘88

NEW SIGNING DAY CLASS

29 high school recruits commit to play at Texas A&M.

TRANSFER PORTAL CLASS

Coach Elko & staff filled holes with talent from across the country.

ON THE COVER: Ifenna Cos-Okpalla raises the national championship trophy as the confetti falls in Kansas City. Photo courtesy of Aggie Athletics.

Howdy Ags!

This is an exciting issue as we celebrate the first-ever national championship for our women’s volleyball team! Coach Jamie Morrison and staff came to Aggieland with the goal of winning a natty, and that’s exactly what they did. In just three short years, he developed the talent we had, recruited the talent we needed, and led them to the promised land of NCAA volleyball. Attendance grew in Reed arena and fans traveled to show their support. Inside, we share the story of how the Aggies beat Nebraska and two other one-seeds to claim the title. Congratulations, coaches and staff, on an amazing accomplishment!

Inside this issue, we also feature the 29 new recruits that Coach Elko and staff signed to play here at Texas A&M. We also share the 16 new players that came to A&M via the transfer portal. We are so excited to see these guys develop under Elko and his staff.

We also look back at the Aggies’ first CFP appearance at Kyle Field. It was a heartbreaking loss, but now that we’ve had some time to reflect on the amazing season, we are grateful for all of the milestones the team made during the 11-2 season.

By the way, have you made it out to Reed to watch Bucky Ball? Oh, how things have changed since Bucky arrived on campus. It is the most entertaining basketball that we have seen in years! The team plays tenacious defense and highoctane offense. They have already beaten tu in Austin, and we are looking forward to all of the games ahead.

One last thing, my son’s father-in-law, and Aggie dad, Big Mike, was kind enough to share a picture from Antarctica wearing his Aggie colors and giving us a Gig’em. It’s not every day that you see Aggies near the South Pole!

Thanks & Gig’em!

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$1.5 MILLION KICK

After missing his first attempt, Aggie freshman Austin Roberts was given a second try for $1.5 million. It took place on the biggest stage that the Pat McAfee College Game Day contest had ever had, in front of a sold-out Kyle Field crowd chanting his name. Unfortunately, on a windy day that caused problems for Texas A&M and Miami kickers, the historic kick had the distance, but the wind pushed it just right of the goal post, and it was no good.Photo by Rob Havens ‘88

SO CLOSE, YET SO FAR

The Aggies fought a defensive battle with the Hurricanes in the First Round College Football Playoff game at Kyle Field. KC Concepcion stiff-armed a Miami defender after a 15-yard recepcion that got the ball down to the five-yard line with :39 left in the game. The catch gave the Aggies three chances to tie the game. Photo by Rob Havens ‘88

A VIEW TO A KILL

Senior Morgan Perkins stares ahead after putting away a kill in the tough fourset win over TCU in the second round of the NCAA Tourney. The Aggies would gig the frogs 23-28, 25-22, 25-23, and 29-27 en route to their first-ever national championship. Photo by Rob Havens ‘88

Traditions Club has a setting like none other in the Brazos Valley In the center of 900 acres, one will find the Jack Nicklaus and Jack Nicklaus II Design championship golf course that provides the perfect backdrop to the luxurious club amenities, home sites that range from a fourth acre garden site to sprawling esta home to the Texas A&M Me

www trad

MARTINEZ

WOMEN’S TENNIS

Mark Weaver and staff have reloaded again and are ready to make another run at a national championship. Currently ranked #2 in the country with four sweep victories to begin the season. Mia Kupres and Lu Perez anchor the talented squad with newcomers Violeta Martinez, Anna Perelman, and Tilde Stromquist already posting wins in the young season.

MEN’S TENNIS

Steve Denton and staff have assembled another strong team that is currently ranked #11 in the nation. The Aggies won their first three matches over UTSA, UTA, and Elon. #73 Alex Frusina led the way for the Aggies in the fall, posting a 9-5 singles record.

LEXINGTON

TIAGO

LUCCIANA

KHOLO

VIOLETA

FEDERIKO AGEE

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Bucky Ball is the most entertaining show in town! What Coach Bucky McMillan and staff have accomplished in their short time in Aggieland is unbelievable. The team is currently at the top of the SEC with a 5-1 conference record, including a win on the road vs tu. The team plays tenacious defense (ranked #2 in the conference), and they fly up and down the floor for 40 minutes, with a highoctane offense that features lots of threes and lots of points.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Joni Taylor and crew are 8-6 through 14 games and 1-4 in the conference. The ladies had a big win on the road, taking down Florida in Gainesville. Taylor is in her fourth year at Texas A&M. She was presented with a championship ring for her efforts in helping Team USA win the gold medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

SPENCER

GRIFFEN

SCOREBOARD

COACH JONI

CHANEY NY’CEARA

FEDERIKO

RASHAUN

LEMYAH

RYLAN

TEXAS A&M VOLLEYBALL

WINS

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

BY ROB HAVENS ‘88

On February 22nd 1980, in Lake Placid, New York, a team of amateur ice hockey players from the United States defeated a veteran team from The Soviet Union, which was widely expected to win their fifth-straight hockey gold medal, in what has been called “The Miracle on Ice”. Sports Illustrated named the game the greatest sports moment of the 20th century. Under the direction of Coach Jamie Morrison the Aggie Volleyball team had their own “Miracle” moment in Lincoln Nebraska in 2025.

When the Texas A&M volleyball team entered “The Bob” (Bob Devaney Sports Center) for the fourth round of the NCAA Tournament, few experts gave the Aggies a chance.

The Huskers had not lost a match on their home court since 2022, a 63-match home winning streak. With approximately 8,500 fans packed in the arena and 1.2 million watching on tv the Aggies had all of the odds stacked against them. But as the United States Olympic coach Herb Brooks famously said, “Great moments are born from great opportunities”.

Some fans hoped that the Aggies would push the mighty Huskers and maybe take one set, but as the

match began, the talented team from Lincoln got out to a 9-3 lead and looked poised to run away with the match. Coach Jamie Morrison called his first timeout and reminded the ladies to just be who they are. He reminded them that if they played their game, it was good enough to win.

The Aggies battled back with a great service stretch from Tatum Thomas and cut the deficit to 12-9. Nebraska would expand its lead to 15-10, but the Aggies would go on a 7-0 run to overtake the lead. Ifenna CosOkpalla would serve two aces and, paired with a Husker error, the Aggies were up 20-15. Nebraska would not go away and drew within one, 21-20, before Texas A&M would seal the first set victory with an ace from Maddie Waak, 25-22. The partisan Husker crowd was stunned as the Aggies took the first set.

The Maroon and White would carry that momentum into the second set and take down the Huskers 2522 to take a two sets to none advantage. The fivetime national champs would respond in the third set, claiming a 25-20 set victory.

The fourth set was a made-for-TV moment as the two teams battled back and forth. The Aggies would get out

to a 15-10 lead, but the Huskers clawed their way back into the match. In extras, the teams would take turns winning big points until finally Nebraska clinched the deciding point 37-35.

With the sold-out crowd going crazy and the Aggies giving up the 2-0 lead, it all came down to a fifth set for a trip to the Final Four. All the momentum had moved to the Nebraska side of the net, and all of the Aggies’ hard work came down to the next 15 points. The Aggies would take the early lead in the set, 8-6 as the teams swapped ends. The Aggies would extend that lead on a 4-1 streak which forced the Nebraska head coach to burn both of his timeouts.

The Huskers would fight back, and the teams were tied 13-13. The Aggies would grab the next point, setting up match point at 14-13. Senior Logan Lednicky would rise up and get the final kill to end the five-set thriller and give the Aggies the victory. As the Aggies rushed the floor to celebrate with their teammates the memory of Al Michaels’ infamous call “Do you believe in miracles? Yes” went through my mind.

Many people forget that in order for the United States hockey team to win the gold in 1980 they would have

to win one more game against Finland. The Aggies would need two more wins to take home the national championship. Kyndal Stowers’ 16 kills would lead the Aggies as they swept No. 1 Seed Pitt in the national semifinal 29-27, 25-21, 25-20.

The win over the Panthers set up a rematch of the regular season as Texas A&M would face the SEC Champion Kentucky Wildcats in the national championship final. The Aggies had faltered early in the season to the Cats 25-21, 22-25, 15-25, 25-27. On this night the Aggies would not be denied and powered their way to a straight set victory 26-24, 25-15, 25-20.

During the tournament the rallying cry for this group was “Why Not Us?” Our ladies believed they could do it and went out and did it! In the third round, they were two points away from elimination against Louisville and completed a reverse sweep to advance to the Regional Final. In just three seasons Coach Jamie Morrison brought home the program’s first National Championship. To him it wasn’t a miracle, it was what he expected to accomplish when he got here. But for the rest of us it was a dream season with an amazing ending! Congratulations Ladies, we are so proud of you!

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

PLAYOFF REWIND

BY ROB HAVENS ‘88

MIAMI 10 - TEXAS A&M 3

Texas A&M entered its first-ever CFP game with high hopes after capping off an impressive 11-1 regular season. Kyle Field was hopping as all of College Football’s premier sports desks (College Game Day, SEC Nation, and ACC Huddle with Jimbo Fisher) set up shop on the sidelines. The 12thMan showed up, and even though it was an early kickoff, the fans were electric on a windy day in College Station.

The first quarter was a defensive battle, and even though Reed fumbled the ball on the Aggies’ second possession, our defense was able to keep the Canes off the scoreboard. In the second quarter, Marcel found Mario Craver sprinting down the sideline for a 59-yard pass completion, setting up the Aggies in the redzone. Unfortunately, they weren’t able to punch it in, and a chip-shot 22-yard field goal by Jared Zirkel was blocked, ending the Aggie threat. The Canes would come up empty and miss two field goals in the second quarter, and the teams would go to the locker room tied at zero at the half.

In the third quarter, Miami would drive the length of the field to the Aggie three-yard line, but a big stop by Taurean York and Albert Regis on third down would force a field goal, which gave the Canes a 3-0 lead. The turnover bug reared its ugly head again on the Aggies next possession as Reed was intercepted and Miami defensive back Bryce Fitzgerald returned it to the Aggie 20-yard line. But the Aggie D would force another field goal attempt from 35 yards out that was no good.

With :33 left in the third quarter, the Aggies started a 16-play drive that would cover 67 yards and result in a Randy Bond field goal from 35 yards out to tie the game. Two plays later, Dalton Brooks would force a Miami fumble, and the Aggies would set up shop on their own 47- yard line with 7:19 to play. Unfortunately, the Aggies couldn’t take advantage of the turnover and were forced to punt again.

With the Canes buried deep on their own end of the field at their 14-yard line, the Aggies were in prime position to get the ball back and take the lead. But Miami running back Mark Fletcher Jr broke through the Aggie defense,

racing 56 yards to the Aggie 30. Just five plays later, the Canes scored a touchdown to take a 10-3 lead.

The Aggies had one final chance, and they cruised down the field as Marcel Reed used his arm and legs to get the Aggies to the Miami 19-yard line. Then he found KC Concepcion streaking across the field and caught him in stride for a 15-yard reception, giving the Ags first and ten inside the five. On first and goal, he completed a pass to Mario Craver, but he was out of bounds. On second down, he found Ruben Owens II, who got nailed on delivery as the ball rolled away. Then, finally, Reed found Theo in the back of the endzone, but Bryce Fitzgerald picked the final throw, ending the season for the Aggies. It was a heartbreaking loss, but after time and reflection, the Aggies definitely took a huge step in the right direction, and we are anxious to watch the program continue to improve and bring championships back to Aggieland.

ROB HAVENS ‘88

HIGH SCHOOL SIGNING CLASS 20 26

Chose A&M over Alabama, Oregon, and Penn State. Multi-sport athlete in football and track (100m & 200m). Played wide receiver and cornerback in high school. Invited to the Navy All-American Bowl. Son of former NFL linebacker LaVar Arrington. In his final three seasons of high school, he recorded 78 tackles and 68 receptions.

ARRINGTON CASUGA BECK

Chose A&M over Arkansas, Baylor, and Arizona State. He helped lead Carthage to two state championships in high school. He compiled 300 tackles during his last three years of high school and helped Carthage to an incredible 57-2 record over four years. Earned 2024 4A D2 UIL Football State Championship defensive MVP.

PETERS EDWARDS KREMPIN

BROWN

Chose A&M over Alabama, Auburn, and Arkansas. He is the son of former Aggie football player Reggie Brown and former Aggie Women’s Hoops player Kerrie Patterson-Brown. During final two seasons in high school, he had 147 receptions for 2,869 yards with 35 touchdowns. Also added 792 return yards with two touchdowns on special teams.

Chose A&M over Auburn, BYU, and Nebraska. No. 15 QB in the nation according to Rivals. In two years at Corner Canyon, he led the team to a 25-2 record with two state championships. He completed 302/449 pass attempts for 5,104 yards with 55 touchdowns. He also ran for 797 yards with 12 touchdowns.

COLLINS

EDWARDS

GREGORY

6’1” 189 HEIGHT WEIGHT HOMETOWN (H.S.)

MANSFIELD, TX (MANSFIELD TIMBERVIEW)

Chose A&M over Utah, Houston, and Arizona. No. 22 safety in the nation according to 247Sports. He played offense and defense in H.S., compiling 42 tackles his senior year. Also caught 23 passes for 423 yards with 5 touchdowns. He was a two-sport athlete in H.S., in football and track. Collins competed in the 100m, 200m, and 400m dashes.

5’10” 187 HEIGHT

CARTHAGE, TX (CARTHAGE)

Chose A&M over Alabama, LSU, and Arkansas. No. 3 running back in the nation according to 247Sports. Helped Carthage to a 57-2 record over his four high school years, including two state championships. Rushed for 2085 yards as a senior with 31 rushing touchdowns. Earned the 2024 offensive MVP of the state championship game.

Chose A&M over Tennessee, Auburn, and Washington. Invited to the Navy All-American Bowl. Multi-sport athlete in H.S. (football, basketball, track). No. 6 defensive end in the nation according to 247Sports. Helped lead Carver to a 38-5 record in his last 3 years of H.S., including a state title his junior year. Posted 80 tackles and 9 sacks as a senior.

6’2” 177 HEIGHT WEIGHT HOMETOWN (H.S.)

AUGUSTA, GA (DOUGLAS COUNTY)

Chose A&M over Alabama, Auburn, and Arkansas. Invited to 2 Navy All-American Bowls, Under Armour, and Polynesian Bowls. He was a long jumper on his high school track team. No. 10 wide receiver in the country according to 247Sports. Collected 163 receptions for almost 3,000 yards in high school. Added 82 tackles on defense.

5’10” 174 HEIGHT WEIGHT HOMETOWN (H.S.)

DETROIT, MI (DESERT EDGE, AZ)

Chose A&M over Alabama, Penn St, and Arizona. Ran 100m, 200m 400m in high school and competed in high jump and long jump. No. 11 cornerback in the nation and the No. 1 prospect in the state of Arizona according to ESPN.com. Helped Desert Edge to a state title his junior year. Compiled 158 tackles and four interceptions in high school.

Chose A&M over Notre Dame, Missouri, and Stanford. Played basketball and football in high school. No. 12 tight end in the nation according to 247Sports. Helped Waukee to three state playoff appearances as he caught 48 passes for 636 yards and eight touchdowns. Averaged 18.3 points per game on the basketball team his junior year.

HOUSTON, TX (THURGOOD

Chose A&M over Auburn, Washington St, and Colorado. No. 11 athlete and No. 14 tight end in the nation according to Rivals. He helped Thurgood Marshall to three straight state playoff appearances. He threw for over 4,000 yards on 279 completions with 42 touchdowns. He also ran for 1,283 yards with 17 scores.

Chose A&M over Michigan, Notre Dame, and Alabama. Multi-sport athlete (track, basketball, baseball). No. 13 linebacker in the nation according to ESPN.com. He helped lead Port Arthur to three district championships. Set a school record for most tackles in a career with 456. He had 55 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, and forced four fumbles.

Chose A&M over Auburn, Arizona, and Cincinnati. No. 13 defensive tackle in the nation and the No. 3 prospect from New Jersey according to ESPN.com. Helped Bergen Catholic to a 30-5 three-year ledger. Compiled 64 tackles, nine tackles for loss, and three sacks in high school. Was named MVP at the 2024 Under Armour Camp.

KREMPIN

Chose A&M over Texas, LSU, and Michigan. No. 20 offensive lineman in the nation according to 247Sports. Helped lead Prosper to a 43-9 record over three seasons with three straight appearances in the state playoffs. Allowed only 2 sacks in 37 consecutive starts at left tackle. He earned the Texas UIL District 6-6A Offensive Line MVP.

McKINNEY

Chose A&M over Houston Christian and Missouri Southern State. He is the son of former Aggie football player and NFL offensive lineman Steve McKinney and the nephew of former Aggie and NFL player Seth McKinney. Helped pave the way for an offense that totaled nearly 2,000 rushing yards and 1,500 passing yards over two seasons.

Chose A&M over Clemson, Stanford, and Boston College. Played both sides of the ball in high school with 110 tackles and eleven sacks as a senior. Rushed for 94 yards and two touchdowns as a fullback. No. 21 linebacker in the country according to Rivals. He was named the 2025 Greater Cleveland Conference Defensive Player of the Year.

Chose A&M over Alabama, Washington, and UCLA. Invited to the Under Armour AllAmerica Game and the Polynesian Bowl. Played basketball and football in high school. Listed as the No. 29 overall prospect in California by ESPN.com, in 40 career games in high school, he recorded 193 tackles and 18.5 sacks.

Chose A&M over SMU, TCU, and Arizona St. No. 49 offensive tackle in the nation according to ESPN.com. Helped lead Ridge Point to a 40-9 record over four years in high school. Named two-time first team all-district and to the Whataburger Super Team. Dave Campbell named him the No. 1 lineman from the Houston area.

SHREVEPORT,

Chose A&M over Memphis and Maryland. No. 3 kicker in the nation according to 247Sports. Hit a career-long 56-yard field goal as a senior. He had 18-22 field goals, 76 of 84 PAT’s and registered 78 touchbacks on 97 kickoffs throughout his career.

Chose A&M over Auburn, Clemson, and Miami. No. 3 defensive tackle in the nation according to ESPN.com. Helped Buford post a 37-5 record with consecutive 6A state semifinal appearances and a 13-0 senior season. Invited to the Navy All-American Bowl. Had 202 tackles with 23.5 sacks in his high school career.

No. 11 punter in the nation by Kohl’s Professional Camps. Helped Montgomery to consecutive playoff appearances. Earned All-America Honorable Mention honors by Kohl’s Professional Camps. Named UIL Texas District 8-5A First Team punter. Averaged 48.3 yards on 39 punts, pinning 22 kicks inside the 20-yard line throughout career.

ROSEBOROUGH

(H.S.)

Chose A&M over Florida State, Texas, and Alabama. No. 6 offensive tackle in the nation according to 247Sports. Helped Clearwater to 22 victories, including consecutive district championship titles and three straight FHSAA playoff appearances.

Chose A&M over Indiana, Illinois, and Arizona State. No. 6 cornerback nationally, according to ESPN.com. He helped Central Catholic to a 57-7 record in four years in high school, which included four consecutive Region 10 titles. He also won the state long jump title in his sophomore and junior years.

Chose A&M over Alabama, Cal, and Arizona. No. 5 tight end in the nation according to ESPN.com. Helped Mesa to a 6A AIA State Championship quarterfinal appearance as a senior. He had 54 catches for 703 yards and six touchdowns while at Mesa. Invited to the Polynesian Bowl.

Chose A&M over Alabama, TCU, and SMU. Invited to the Navy All-American Bowl. Played basketball and ran track in H.S. Won the Texas District 20-5A 100m and 200m championships with times of 10.16 and 21.48. No. 23 WR in the nation according to Rivals. Caught 81 passes for 1,764 yards and 35 touchdowns during the final 2 seasons.

WATKINS

Chose A&M over Miami, Georgia, and Alabama. No. 28 linebacker in the nation according to Rivals. He helped Northwestern to a 50-5 four-year ledger, including a state title in 2024. He registered 152 tackles with 4.5 sacks and five interceptions in his high school career.

6’0” 187 HEIGHT WEIGHT

HOMETOWN (H.S.)

Chose A&M over Washington, Florida St, and Arizona. No. 26 wide receiver in the nation according to ESPN.com. He helped St John Bosco to a 44-7 four-year record, including three appearances in the state championship game and a title in 2022. He had 133 catches for 2,157 yards and 28 touchdowns throughout his career.

PASCAGOULA,

Chose A&M over Clemson, Alabama, and Auburn. Invited to the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game. No. 19 DB in the nation according to ESPN.com. Helped Pascagoula to three playoff appearances in four seasons. Registered 65 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, and 1 forced fumble as a senior. Also lettered in basketball and baseball.

6’0” 195 HEIGHT WEIGHT HOMETOWN (H.S.)

Chose A&M over Florida, Florida State, and Kentucky. No. 15 running back in the nation. Rushed for 539 yards and eight touchdowns his senior year. In his junior year, he rushed for 1,282 yards and 13 TDs. He signed the day after the early signing period, after flipping his commitment from Florida. Has size and speed running 100m in 10.6.

CA (ST. JOHN BOSCO)