As the offseason heats up and Texas A&M builds toward the 2026 season, all eyes are on the Aggies' revamped roster. While recruiting chatter dominates the headlines, ESPN recently spotlighted junior running back Rueben Owens as the team's most "underrated" player. But college football analyst CFBudge stirred the pot by naming the SEC's "best defenders" for each program—and his pick for Texas A&M has sparked plenty of debate among those who follow the conference closely.

The Aggies are loaded with talent on both sides of the ball. Northwestern transfer edge rusher Anto Saka is expected to make an immediate impact, stepping in for unanimous All-American Cashius Howell. Meanwhile, former Colorado transfer safety Tawfiq Byard didn't allow a single passing touchdown in over 500 coverage snaps last season—a stat that screams elite. So why did CFBudge bypass the transfer portal stars?

Instead, the analyst turned to senior safety Dalton Brooks, a former four-star athlete known for his versatility. Brooks ended last season with a career-high 62 tackles, four sacks, and an interception, earning strong grades in pass rush (71.9) and coverage (70.9) from Pro Football Focus. But his run defense grade (44.9) and need to improve as a tackler raise questions. Compared to safety Marcus Ratcliffe, linebacker Daymion Sanford, and defensive tackle DJ Hicks, calling Brooks the "best" defender feels like a stretch—especially for a unit that's deep and hungry.

Still, Brooks is a vital piece of head coach Mike Elko and new defensive coordinator Lyle Hemphill's plans. Whether he's the top dog or not, his growth will be key to the Aggies' pass rush and coverage schemes in 2026. For fans and analysts alike, the debate is just getting started.