Eight Aggies Garner Athlon Preseason Recognition
Jun 29, 2026 | Football
COLLEGE STATION – Eight members of the Texas A&M football team earned preseason recognition from Athlon, the publication announced.
Wide receiver Mario Craver and safety Marcus Ratcliffe led the group, earning All-America Second Team honors while also receiving All-SEC recognition. Offensive lineman Mark Nabou Jr. was named to the All-SEC Second Team, while wide receiver Terry Bussey earned second-team honors as a kick returner. Defensive end Anto Saka and safety Dalton Brooks were selected to the All-SEC Third Team, while cornerback Dezz Ricks and running back Rueben Owens II earned fourth-team recognition.
Craver enters the 2026 season following a standout junior campaign in which he earned FWAA All-America Second Team honors, All-SEC Third Team recognition and was named a Biletnikoff Award semifinalist. He ranked sixth in the SEC with 917 receiving yards on 59 receptions and four touchdowns, while adding 81 rushing yards and one score on 11 carries. Craver recorded three 100-plus yard receiving performances, including the program's first 200-yard receiving game in a road contest at Notre Dame. His 207 receiving yards and 86-yard touchdown reception against the Fighting Irish were the most by an FBS player against an Associated Press Top 25 opponent in 2025.
Ratcliffe finished seventh among SEC safeties with 65 tackles, while recording three pass breakups during his junior season. He posted a season-high eight tackles against Notre Dame and Mississippi State and recorded at least five tackles in eight games. According to Pro Football Focus, Ratcliffe earned an 80.3 grade, ranking sixth among SEC safeties.
Nabou Jr., a five-year member of the program, returns for his graduate season after starting 12 games along the interior offensive line in 2025. The Lynnwood, Washington, native helped anchor an offensive line that ranked third nationally in tackles for loss allowed (3.31), ninth in fourth-down conversion percentage (.706), 19th in scoring offense (33.8) and 23rd in total offense (444.5). During his career in Aggieland, Nabou has made 21 starts, primarily at center.
Bussey totaled 421 kickoff return yards on 18 attempts in 2025, averaging 23.38 yards per return. He also recorded seven punt returns for 62 yards, highlighted by a 48-yard return in the season opener against UTSA. The junior added 18 receptions for 195 yards and one score, connecting with quarterback Marcel Reed on a year-long 34-yard touchdown reception against Utah State.
Saka, a graduate transfer from Northwestern, has appeared in 33 career games with 11 starts. Additionally, the Baltimore, Maryland, native has recorded career 14.0 tackles for loss and 12.0 sacks. In 2025, he started all 11 games he played in, totaling 30 pressures across 196 pass-rush snaps while recording 4.0 sacks over a three-game span. According to Pro Football Focus, Saka earned an 84.1 pass-rush grade, ranking seventh in the Big Ten among players with at least 175 pass-rush snaps.
Brooks was selected in the spring as a team captain for the upcoming 2026 season. The Shiner, Texas, native recorded 62 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks in 2025. He also added one interception, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble a year ago.
Ricks enters his third season in Aggieland after starting each of the past two seasons. He ranked second on the team with six pass breakups, including four in SEC play, one at Notre Dame and one in the season opener. The Norfolk, Virginia, native also recorded 26 tackles, ranking second among the team's cornerbacks.
Owens II led the Aggies with 639 rushing yards on 119 carries and five touchdowns in 2025, while adding 130 receiving yards on 13 receptions. The El Campo, Texas, native made five starts, all against SEC opponents and recorded two games with 100-plus rushing yards (Mississippi State, 142 yards and Missouri, 102 yards).
Texas A&M opens the 2026 season on Sept. 5 against Missouri State at Kyle Field. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. and will air on ESPN.
FOLLOW THE AGGIES
Visit 12thman.com for more information on Texas A&M football. Fans can keep up to date with the A&M football team on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter/X by following @AggieFootball.
Wide receiver Mario Craver and safety Marcus Ratcliffe led the group, earning All-America Second Team honors while also receiving All-SEC recognition. Offensive lineman Mark Nabou Jr. was named to the All-SEC Second Team, while wide receiver Terry Bussey earned second-team honors as a kick returner. Defensive end Anto Saka and safety Dalton Brooks were selected to the All-SEC Third Team, while cornerback Dezz Ricks and running back Rueben Owens II earned fourth-team recognition.
Craver enters the 2026 season following a standout junior campaign in which he earned FWAA All-America Second Team honors, All-SEC Third Team recognition and was named a Biletnikoff Award semifinalist. He ranked sixth in the SEC with 917 receiving yards on 59 receptions and four touchdowns, while adding 81 rushing yards and one score on 11 carries. Craver recorded three 100-plus yard receiving performances, including the program's first 200-yard receiving game in a road contest at Notre Dame. His 207 receiving yards and 86-yard touchdown reception against the Fighting Irish were the most by an FBS player against an Associated Press Top 25 opponent in 2025.
Ratcliffe finished seventh among SEC safeties with 65 tackles, while recording three pass breakups during his junior season. He posted a season-high eight tackles against Notre Dame and Mississippi State and recorded at least five tackles in eight games. According to Pro Football Focus, Ratcliffe earned an 80.3 grade, ranking sixth among SEC safeties.
Nabou Jr., a five-year member of the program, returns for his graduate season after starting 12 games along the interior offensive line in 2025. The Lynnwood, Washington, native helped anchor an offensive line that ranked third nationally in tackles for loss allowed (3.31), ninth in fourth-down conversion percentage (.706), 19th in scoring offense (33.8) and 23rd in total offense (444.5). During his career in Aggieland, Nabou has made 21 starts, primarily at center.
Bussey totaled 421 kickoff return yards on 18 attempts in 2025, averaging 23.38 yards per return. He also recorded seven punt returns for 62 yards, highlighted by a 48-yard return in the season opener against UTSA. The junior added 18 receptions for 195 yards and one score, connecting with quarterback Marcel Reed on a year-long 34-yard touchdown reception against Utah State.
Saka, a graduate transfer from Northwestern, has appeared in 33 career games with 11 starts. Additionally, the Baltimore, Maryland, native has recorded career 14.0 tackles for loss and 12.0 sacks. In 2025, he started all 11 games he played in, totaling 30 pressures across 196 pass-rush snaps while recording 4.0 sacks over a three-game span. According to Pro Football Focus, Saka earned an 84.1 pass-rush grade, ranking seventh in the Big Ten among players with at least 175 pass-rush snaps.
Brooks was selected in the spring as a team captain for the upcoming 2026 season. The Shiner, Texas, native recorded 62 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks in 2025. He also added one interception, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble a year ago.
Ricks enters his third season in Aggieland after starting each of the past two seasons. He ranked second on the team with six pass breakups, including four in SEC play, one at Notre Dame and one in the season opener. The Norfolk, Virginia, native also recorded 26 tackles, ranking second among the team's cornerbacks.
Owens II led the Aggies with 639 rushing yards on 119 carries and five touchdowns in 2025, while adding 130 receiving yards on 13 receptions. The El Campo, Texas, native made five starts, all against SEC opponents and recorded two games with 100-plus rushing yards (Mississippi State, 142 yards and Missouri, 102 yards).
Texas A&M opens the 2026 season on Sept. 5 against Missouri State at Kyle Field. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. and will air on ESPN.
FOLLOW THE AGGIES
Visit 12thman.com for more information on Texas A&M football. Fans can keep up to date with the A&M football team on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter/X by following @AggieFootball.
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