Texas A&M's offensive line will look very different this fall after losing five players, including four starters, to the 2026 NFL Draft, while senior center Mark Nabou will serve as the lone returning starter. Coach Mike Elko prepared for these departures by immediately entering the transfer portal and landing four SEC transfers, who will compete for starting jobs.
Focused on versatility, Elko and offensive line coach Adam Cushing will also look at players like Ashton Funk and Blake Ivy, who have continued to develop, and could compete for either guard spot, while Alabama transfer tackle Wilkin Formby, who started at right tackle for the Crimson Tide last year, is highly capable of playing at either tackle spot.
On Monday, during Mike Elko's first press conference in nearly two months, the third-year head coach discussed his offensive line strategy, stating that the loss of four starters and the program's trajectory after making the College Football Playoff for the first time last season meant adding "plug and play" talent to avoid a significant drop off.
"We were in a couple of unique spots, and we talked about this hopefully being the last year we're in this position with the portal."
"We looked at our roster and had Mark Nabou coming back, and outside of that, the oldest offensive lineman we had coming back was a sophomore... We felt it was important to add some experience to that position group."
Experience is vital to keeping an offensive line from crumbling under pressure, especially late in the year, and while all four O-line transfer additions can play at multiple spots, Elko praised Wilkin Formby's reliability, noting that, before naming the team's starting left and right tackle, the Alabama transfer can flourish at either spot, and even play at guard if needed due to his elite run blocking background.
"I think he's a right tackle. I think he's an elite right tackle. If you watch him block the elite edges in this league, he does it really, really well."
"We lost some really talented offensive linemen, and we also lost some leadership in that offensive line room... We felt Wilkin would be a guy capable of doing both, and we were really comfortable with the total package we were getting."
If Formby slots in at right tackle, it's assumed that LSU transfer Tyree Adams will start at left tackle, the position he played during his entire career with the Tigers.
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M transfer OL Wilkin Formby in line to start at right tackle