SPORTS
After leading country in Scouting Combine invites, A&M slated for most prolific draft weekend in school history A4,5
Local indie vinyl store leads analog music community in Bryan, celebrates Record Store Day with exclusive releases B1
‘Aggies for a Cause’ gives players purpose
Colorful cleats with bigger meaning shine bright at annual Maroon & White Game
By Matthew Seaver Sports Editor
In Year 3 under head coach Mike Elko, Texas A&M football announced a special initiative for its annual Maroon & White Game: The “Aggies for a Cause” campaign, which gave 42 Aggies the opportunity to rep custom footwear endorsing a wide variety of organizations and causes they are passionate about.
So while both sides made highlight-reel plays in A&M’s iconic colors, it was their cleats — which spanned every spectrum of the rainbow — that popped most on the greenery of Kyle Field at 11 a.m.
“Yeah, I thought that was a cool deal,” Elko said. “I thought you saw a lot of kids
out there with some different designs and just some different things that are true to them, and I think that all plays into what today is about. I think getting them the opportunity to go out there in unique cleats to represent causes that are really important to them was a little cool thing that we were able to come across and do today.”
The first notable pair was a deep red set donned by redshirt freshman long snapper Gray Evans. The Houston native dedicated his cleats to Blood Cancer United, just over a year after having beaten the disease himself. Evans was diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkin Lymphoma in February 2025 and rang the bell after four months of intense chemotherapy. “As a cancer survivor myself, it’s awesome to represent all the people that have gone through blood cancer and are going through it and just be a light to them, show them that nothing’s impossible and that they can get through whatever they’re going through,”
Evans said.
The next cleat that stood out was a pair featuring a smooth gradient from black to yellow with a cross and writing that read “One&All.” Causing havoc in the Steelers-esque cleats was sophomore linebacker Noah Mikhail, who housed an errant throw from freshman quarterback Helaman Casuga for a pick-six in the first quarter. After the game, Mikhail mentioned how much the opportunity to voice his support meant to him.
“One&All is my church back in California that I go to,” Mikhail said. “While I was in high school, I actually put on a youth camp, and the youth camp donations went to the church. Those donations were for summer youth camps for kids who couldn’t afford it. That’s something I’m really passionate about, just, you know, preaching to [the] younger generation about God and even if they don’t have opportunities to pay for it, making that possible.”
Graduate student wide receiver Isaiah Hor-
ton’s cleats were also hard to miss. He terrorized the defense throughout the scrimmage in a lovely set of cleats that faded from blue to highlighter pink, a white “Aggies” script on one side and the Jack and Jill of America organization’s logo on the other. The Alabama transfer opened up about his philanthropic choice after the game and what the organization means to him.
“Jack and Jill of America, that was an organization I grew up in,” Horton said. “It’s an organization, and we give back. We do it for the community, you know? We grow up in unfortunate families, and we just, you know, teach them things and learn new things and things of that nature.”
While the final score from Kyle Field read 15-13 in the Maroon team’s favor, the opportunity for self-expression also stood out for every Aggie. And regardless of color or cause, every player who participated enjoyed the chance to support organizations or philanthropy that they hold deep ties to.
A&M seeks fifth straight SEC series victory
Aggies continue daunting road test in pivotal ranked matchup versus Gators
By Brody Vaughn Sports Writer
Coming off of its hottest run of the season, No. 7 Texas A&M baseball travels to Gainesville, Florida, to take on No. 21 Florida. Only half a game behind the Southeastern Conference leader No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs, the Aggies will look to keep their bats on fire versus the Gators.
A&M finished up a road series against LSU in sweeping fashion, with facets of the game firing on all cylinders. Games 1 and 2 saw the offense flex its muscles, combining for 17 runs against the defending national champions. Game 3 was won thanks to the pitching staff, with junior right-handed pitcher Weston Moss making his best start of SEC play with four scoreless innings and five strikeouts.
“It’s always great to win,” head coach Michael Earley said. “We won the series, but even in Game 3, if you’ve already won the series and you lose, it just leaves a sour taste in your mouth. So, I’m just excited to get
home.”
The top of the Aggies’ batting order has lived up to its MLB draft hype. Junior first baseman Gavin Grahovac has been a key piece in the Maroon and White’s recent 10-1 run in SEC play, smashing 10 home runs in that stretch and bumping his batting average from .328 to .362.
Golden Spikes Award-contending junior center fielder Caden Sorrell has been a steady source of offense all year long. Tied for first in the SEC with 59 RBIs and ranking third in home runs with 18 longballs, Sorrell has been a catalyst in one of the nation’s best offenses. Junior second baseman Chris Hacopian has flown under the radar most of the season, not because of bad play, but because of other sluggers in the lineup overshadowing his efforts. A 93-mph fastball to the face seemed to awaken the Maryland transfer, though, as he compiled five hits against LSU as well as a deep two-RBI rocket to left field in Game 3. The trio’s impact, along with the back half of the order, will be a thorn in the side of Flori-
pitching staff.
da’s
Left to right: Safety Marcus Ratcliffe’s (3)
No. 10 A&M travels to No. 24 South Carolina
Aggies seek fourth straight successful series in final regular-season road
By Trey Bohne Sports Writer
On Friday, April 24, No. 10 Texas A&M softball will open its final Southeastern Conference road series against No. 24 South Carolina, with postseason positioning and conference momentum on the line.
Rolling through SEC play, A&M swept in back-to-back series against both Ole Miss and then-No. 14 Mississippi State to extend a nine-game win streak. Meanwhile, South Carolina struggled to get its season started, losing five straight conference matchups before finally emerging victorious over Missouri on April 19.
“Just really pleased with what this team is starting to grow into and turn into,” head coach Trisha Ford said after defeating Ole Miss on April 12. “It’s taken us a while to get to this point … but we’re always going to strive to be better.”
Despite being ranked, South Carolina holds a lackluster conference record of 5-13, with only a single SEC series victory to its credit.
However, with a northpaw pitcher capable of painting the strike zone, the Gamecocks intend to spoil the fun for any dismissive Aggies.
Senior right-handed pitcher Jori Heard carries the weight of South Carolina’s pitching staff with almost 70 more innings in the circle over any of her bullpen counterparts. The Algonquin, Illinois native maintains an ERA of 1.64, with opposing batters holding a combined batting average of only .212.
After Heard, the Gamecocks turn to junior RHPs Emma Friedel and Nealy Lamb to lead their defense. With a similar number of circle appearances, the backup arms combine to produce only a fraction of Heard’s pitching production, each allowing over two more earned runs than Heard per appearance.
With an SEC record of 14-4, A&M defeated 5 of its 6 conference opponents, falling only to then-No. 1 Texas in Austin.
“It’s just putting the pieces togeth-
er,” sophomore catcher Ariel Kowalewski said after defeating Ole Miss on April 12.
“The whole season, we’ve had our ups and downs. We’ve faced some adversity … but just being able to, throughout the season, know that we’re growing and we’re always going to stick together and have each other’s backs.”
Junior first baseman Mya Perez and senior designated player Micaela Wark serve as the focal point of A&M’s offense, with 1 of the 2 leading the team in numerous categories, including batting average, slugging percentage, RBIs, on-base percentage and home runs.
Both halves of the batting duo have launched over 15 longballs each this season, with the next highest home run hitter, sophomore shortstop KK Dement, knocking nine. The Aggies’ leadoff hitter, senior third baseman Kennedy Powell, has proved why she belongs at the top of A&M’s batting lineup, leading the team with 66 hits and 17 stolen bases.
If an opposing pitcher can manage to get through A&M’s early batting order, very little relief is to be found. With five differ-
ent Aggies recording over 30 RBI, a single runner on base could spark an offensive explosion.
In the circle, the Fightin’ Farmers rely on co-aces sophomore RHP Sydney Lessentine and junior RHP Sidne Peters. The pitching pair has started 31 of the Aggies’ 46 games, serving a combined 199 strikeouts. This combination of top-end hitting power, lineup depth and a reliable pitching rotation has made A&M one of the most complete teams in the SEC as the regular season enters its final stretch.
“It’s a game of momentum,” Ford said after defeating Mississippi State on April 18. “We’ve trained for this … so, when we have the momentum, it’s so important for us to keep the momentum.”
As the postseason approaches, A&M has an opportunity to solidify its standing atop the SEC, while South Carolina looks to play spoiler at home.
Warm April conditions are expected in Columbia, South Carolina, as the Aggies look to extend their winning streak in a
Ultimate Maroon and White mock draft
What teams should select your favorite Aggies come draft weekend and why?
By Matthew Seaver Sports Editor
After having a program-record and country-leading 13 players from Texas A&M football invited to the 2026 NFL Combine, it’s obvious NFL scouts and gen eral managers alike admire what this potential set of Aggies could bring to their 53-man rosters. While not every Fightin’ Farmer is a guar anteed Day 1 starter, they can still offer value down the draft boards. Whether it’s filling a massive gap or adding depth in preparation for an impending free agency, this band of Aggies has the chance to leave a Maroon footprint on the NFL. Predicting ev ery player’s destination is certainly a tall task — 1 in 32.9 quintillion odds, to be exact — but it’s one I’m willing to tackle.
KC Concepcion: Buffalo Bills
With former offensive coordinator Joe Brady now calling the shots as head coach, the Bills could certainly look to bolster Josh Allen’s receiving room late in the first round. Combined with newly acquired DJ Moore and the underwhelming Keon Coleman, KC Concepcion has the chance to explode statistically and stylistically in Brady’s scheme, getting fed routinely by the 2024 MVP. Buffalo needs to capitalize on Allen’s prime, and the value for this pick is too good to pass up for Bills President of Football Operations and gen eral manager Brandon Beane.
Cashius Howell: New England Patriots
The Patriots have already proven they not scared of se players with lessarm length, and Howell is just England needs off the edge. While not the biggest name, the departure of K’Lavon Chaisson has left a massive hole at pass rusher in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Howell’s horrific measurables have moved him down the consensus boards, but the Patriots and Executive Vice President of Player Personnel Eliot Wolf don’t have the time or roster to be picky.
Chase Bisontis: Houston Texans
If the Texans want to keep CJ Stroud alive and, more impor tantly, effective, then they need to add some strength to the interior of their offensive line. A plus-athlete at guard like Chase Bisontis is just what Houston needs to protect its hopeful franchise QB. Who knows, maybe without line men blocking each other and sextuple-teaming the same defender, the Tex ans can keep Stroud upright.
Will Lee III: Washington Commanders
After reaching the NFC Championship in 2024, the Commanders saw a sharp decline in 2025 with the fifth-worst passing defense in the NFL. Adding an experienced plus-size corner like Will Lee III late in the draft would be excellent depth for new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones. “The Blanket” is also unafraid of creating con tact with opponents, matching Washington’s aggressive play style.
Trey Zuhn III: Cincinna ti Bengals
It’s no secret how bad the Bengals’ pass protection has been in recent years, and with veteran center Ted Kar ras not getting any younger, Trey Zuhn III could serve as an excellent understudy. Zuhn looked very competent in his snaps at center for A&M in 2025, and, with some time un der his belt, he could become a more-than-serviceable option for protecting Joe Burrow.
Dametrious Crownover: Philadelphia Eagles
lineman with a massive frame like Dametrious Crownover to sit and learn than Philadelphia? While they no longer have Jeff Stoutland coaching up the hogs, Crownover couldn’t ask for a better mentor at right tackle than Lane Johnson, who has to retire eventually. Developing in the City of Brotherly Love could transform Crownover into a formidable blocker on what is already one of the best-constructed rosters.
Tyler Onyedim: Detroit Lions
Did someone say biting kneecaps?
The Lions have been plagued by injuries on the defensive line in recent seasons, so adding Tyler Onyedim to the interior is just what Detroit needs. With a defensive tackle room consisting of Tyleik Williams and Alim McNeill, Onyedim could rotate in as part of defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard’s 4-3 front. Onyedim joining would also surely raise a Gig ‘em out of Lions head coach Dan Campbell ‘99.
What better place for a raw offensive
Nate Boerkircher: Los Angeles Chargers
It feels like Nate Boerkircher would fit perfectly on head coach Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers. While Oronde Gadsden II serves as Justin Herbert’s main vertical threat at tight end, Boerkircher could be utilized as a plus-blocker with reliable checkdown-worthy hands. A draft pick that could help keep Herbert upright and catch his passes, Boerkircher would be an excellent puzzle piece to add for new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel.
Taurean York: Jacksonville Jaguars
Despite trading its first-round pick this year in the Travis Hunter trade, Jacksonville still has 11 picks. And considering the departure of Devin Lloyd combined with Foyesade Oluokun’s inevitable regression, the Jaguars will need to use some of those picks to replenish their depth at linebacker. York’s intelligence and grasp on the game has the potential to fast-track him from special teamer to defensive contributor.
Albert Regis: New Orleans Saints
With defensive coordinator Brandon Staley’s 3-4 formation, the Saints are in dire need of a space-eating nose guard to clog the middle. After having a bottom-half run defense in 2025, adding a mauling defensive tackle like Albert Regis would bring some serious beef to the trenches in New Orleans. While he lacks pass rush upside, the Saints could look at Regis late on Day 3 as solid value considering how bad things have got-
Ar’maj Reed-Adams: Denver Broncos
Starting right guard Ben Powers is in the final year of his deal, and taking a late flier on Ar’maj Reed-Adams could give the Broncos some insurance in the trenches. Plus, if head coach Sean Payton wants to carry over momentum from last season, then bringing in the high-level experience of Reed-Adams could be crucial, especially if someone goes down for Denver.
Le’Veon Moss: Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders were dead last in rushing yards per game last season despite taking Ashton Jeanty with the No. 6 overall pick. Bringing Le’Veon Moss to the Las Vegas running back room would not only help Moss avoid nagging injuries and serve as an aggressive change of pace from Jeanty, but also potentially boost the Raiders’ deplorable running game. And new head coach Klint Kubiak needs to turn Sin City’s offense around ASAP if he ever wants to compete in the cutthroat AFC West.
Scooby Williams: Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys badly need depth at linebacker, and Scooby Williams fits the mold exactly of what first-year defensive coordinator Christian Parker is looking for. With size and athleticism extremely attractive for the position, Dallas could certainly take a swing on Williams on Day 3. He’ll be a significant addition to special teams, and with polished tackling, he might just solve the mystery of the Cowboys’ disastrous defense.
The pick is in: The Battalion’s SPORTS
Scouting reports on 13 Aggies with draftable
grades
By Mathias Cubillan Managing Editor
It’s that time of year when the X’s-and-O’sobsessed football cognoscenti gather around their TVs to watch hours and hours of names being read off notecards. That’s right, it’s the most wonderful time of the year: the 2026 NFL Draft. Texas A&M football has 13 play ers with draftable grades, slating the Aggies to have the most players picked in a single draft in program history.
KC Concepcion, wide receiver, firstround grade Pro comparison: Parker Washington
When KC Concepcion emphatically an nounced himself to the rousing Kyle Field crowd with an 80-yard punt return touch down on his Aggie debut, he also cemented himself as one of the premier wide receiver prospects in the country.
A compact 5-foot-11 5/8, 196 pounds, Concepcion is a loaded spring in shoulder pads, always ready to erupt for an explosive play. The Charlotte, North Carolina native tied for the Southeastern Conference lead in touchdown grabs with nine and housed two punts. That explosiveness doesn’t com promise his consistency, though, as Concep cion’s 78.7% rate of catches that went for first downs or touchdowns was good for third in the country.
Following years of lukewarm JAGs galli vanting around the A&M wide receiver room, Concepcion brought a cascade of apricity with his ability to separate at the top of his routes. The receiver uses his hands to worm his way out of press coverage and leverages his high school state champion track speed to stack corners through the stem. That at tention to detail — and unexpected physical ity to his game — led Concepcion to find success against NFL-level corners in Notre Dame’s Leonard Moore and South Carolina’s Brandon Cisse.
His detractors harp on one main issue in Concepcion’s otherwise well-rounded skill set: his hands. Concepcion has slight technical deficiencies, in particular jumping unneces sarily on passes across the middle and holding his hands too far apart, resulting in a “clap ping” form. However, his surprising tough ness at the catch point — nabbing two-thirds of his contested catch attempts in 2025 — and ability to contort his frame while in the air will mostly render the critique moot once he gets with an NFL receiver coach.
It’s no surprise that he’s already been linked to San Francisco, as is a rite of passage for ev ery draft-eligible speedy YAC threat who enjoys running crossers. But despite Concep cion’s pre-draft process being stunted due to a March knee scope, he profiles as a Shanahan scheme ‘Z’ receiver early on and a Day 1 re turn ace. Concepcion is not just the type of player teams bet on — he’s a person teams will believe in.
Chase Bisontis, guard, second-round grade
Pro comparison: Dominick Puni
While wide receivers, running backs and other skill positions gobble up the majority of the pre-draft buzz, the real ball knowers, Twitter GMs and all-22 film bros know that the interior offensive line is the secret sauce to a good football team. And despite not hav ing a single touchdown or highlight-reel juke move feathering his cap, Chase Bisontis has some of the most fun tape in the entire class.
An eldritch people-mover of the nth de gree, he marries special athleticism with un expectedly refined technique. Bisontis is a former member of The Athletic’s Bruce Feld man’s Freaks List, clearly evidenced in the way he uses his light feet and strong arms to demolish the edges in the run game.
At 6-foot-5 1/4, 315 pounds, the Don Bo sco Prep product’s wide base allows him to prevent the pocket from caving in, and he has a barrage of tricks to disrupt defenders, like the snatch-trap technique. Although there are reports of his herculean feats in the weight room, Bisontis needs to get functionally stron ger and drop his anchor against long-levered rushers, especially when ends get kicked in side on third down.
His sheer athleticism will let Bisontis be a scheme fit anywhere, and his experience be ing a right tackle as a true freshman will have O-Line coaches salivating. However, he needs to clean up the 19 career penalties, even if some are shaky calls based on his violent style, but Bisontis should slot into a starting guard spot Week 1.
Cashius Howell, edge rusher, sec ond-round grade
That man-on-fire intensity is what led Howell to an SEC second-best 11.5 sacks with a 28.8% pass rush win rate. The fifthyear senior uses his twitch and bend to slingshot around the edge, dipping beneath lastditch efforts from tackles to work his way to the quarterback. His lack of length caps his ability to get into opponents’ chests, but his violent demeanor allows him to find occasional success as a bull rusher, as well.
highly by NFL teams. At 6-foot-5 1/2, 245 pounds, Boerkircher has the frame and sand in his pants to put his hand in the dirt and block. The Nebraskan demonstrates the ability to dig out defensive ends and even reach on outside zone when set up in-line.
Despite his use at the next level likely being as an extra tight end in heavy sets, he was a surprisingly natural ancillary receiving threat for the Aggies. With strong hands and a
sive line who derives pleasure from cracking skulls. On draft weekend, one team is going to find that in Trey Zuhn III. A five-year player and four-year starter for the Aggies, Zuhn established himself as a wise-beyond-his-years leader for the Maroon and White.
The big Coloradan held down the blindside for A&M throughout his first three seasons before finally mixing in more at center when head coach Mike Elko and Co. started to re
Pro comparison: A T-Rex in a Ferrari
After spending the first half of A&M’s game in Baton Rouge, Lousiana, putting a freshman left tackle in a torture chamber for two sacks, the breakout clip of the game showed Cashius Howell talking incessant trash to the overmatched blocker.
tight end, Nate Boerkircher not only stepped in to be a reliable set of hands for the Maroon and White, he provided the 12th Man with a truly iconic moment in his last-second touchdown against Notre Dame that won the Aggies the barn burner.
Boerkircher is unlikely to take on a position of such pizzazz at the next level, but the rugged skill set he brings to the table is valued
be 25 years old come Week 1 — his ceiling is capped to little more than an auxiliary piece.
Trey Zuhn III, center, fourth-round grade
Pro comparison: Robert Hainsey
Every team that has ever been good at football has an absolute nail eater along the offen-
set blocking schemes and identify stunts and games from the defensive line. Zuhn has it in spades. The co-winner of the 2025 SEC Jacobs Blocking Trophy is particularly apt at ID’ing second-level blitzers and doesn’t get baited by creeper pressures or other modern defensive schemes.
Zuhn’s independent hands are mature for this stage of his career, and he excels at reset-
Battalion’s 2026 NFL Draft guide SPORTS
ting his mitts after two-hand swipes or crosschop moves from pass rushers, a dexterity that played no small role in his domination of LSU’s TJ Dottery. However, his length prohibits him from playing — save for a spot start here and there — on an island, and he struggles to run the rusher around his quarterback from the outside. His athleticism and footspeed will play at the next level, with him able to climb off game at tackle.
most pressures among starting defensive tackle tandems. As teams get more creative with trying to match personnel, a defensive tackle who can hold the world on his back in the run game to keep the math equation clean is invaluable. Insert Albert Regis. A barrel-chested, 6-foot-1 3/8, 295-pound tank, Regis is the sawed-off behemoth in the middle of a line that can rotate in on Day 1. The La Porte
In a league that’s getting heavier on offense, having a 6-foot-1 1/2 corner with nearly 33inch arms is a luxury to match up with the throwback-style “X” receivers that are repopulating league receiving rooms. His change of gears is less than ideal, though, and he often struggles to plaster in-breakers, which will have to improve in a league run by “dagger” concepts from the X. Lee is a useful player to have on the back
Albert Regis, defensive tackle, fifthround grade Pro comparison: A sentient kettle bell NFL teams put a priority on the interior of the defensive line. The final four teams standing in the league last season had the four
on an island every Sunday.
Equipped with “go go gadget” arms and equally long legs, “The Blanket” can make up a step of separation with his length alone. Like most big corners, his speed tops out in the 4.5s, but play callers will line him up in press to let his physicality win. He is a pitbull in press, throwing his punch into the chestplate of receivers and ruining route timing.
ry for the duration of their rookie contracts. Crownover has the athleticism and a bevy of SEC experience, he just needs the perfect set of hands to mold him at the next level to become a starting right tackle.
Taurean York, linebacker, seventh-round grade
Pro comparison: Honey, I shrunk the Blake Cashman
There is a Japanese concept called wabi-sabi that’s centered around the idea of there being beauty in the imperfect, a grace to something’s small flaws that enhances the charm. Taurean York may have to hope that NFL teams are either huge fans of Japanese philosophy or the Central Texas-set sitcom “King of the Hill.” The glaring flaw with York is that he is going to play linebacker in the NFL at 5-foot-10 3/4 and 226 pounds.
York’s production is phenomenal, and his instincts and tape study make him a coach on the field; one could create a 40-minute cutup of the Temple native blowing up screen passes before half the offense knows its running one.
However, the size limitations can’t be ignored. According to Mockdraftable’s database, York has third percentile height and first percentile arm length and hand size. The lack of length flashes most when he has to wrap up, where if his pursuit angle isn’t perfect, he doesn’t have the body to make up the difference against NFL athletes. Not impossible to overcome, but York’s margin for error is narrow.
York has a knack for the big moments, though, with some of his best work having come against Texas in the Lone Star Showdown and versus Auburn in a must-have game early in the season.
His toughness and leadership are on full display against the run, where he not only organizes his teammates before the snap, but drops his pad level and can take on pullers without ceding ground.
Defensive coordinators — who will fall in love with his chalkboard work throughout the process — won’t ever want to see the back of York’s jersey in the passing game. When used as a zone dropper, his IQ will carry him enough to be serviceable, but his lackluster acceleration and fluidity make man coverage a big ask. York’s best role at the next level is as an early down disruptor aimed toward the line of scrimmage on blitzes and stunts.
Armaj’ Reed-Adams, guard, seventh-round grade
Pro comparison: ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin
Best known for parading around the SEC with a folding chair hoisted over his head, Armaj’ Reed-Adams willed himself into becoming one of the faces of the program. A former Kansas Jayhawk, the right guard embodied Elko’s G.R.I.N.D. mindset immediately upon arriving in Aggieland.
Reed-Adams’ playstyle is best described as the kid that hit his growth spurt faster than everyone else in Pop Warner. There’s not a ton of agility in his arsenal, and he uses his size to barrel into defenders in the run game, but when asked to move laterally, his game is plagued with a certain carelessness. Scouts attribute that exact sloppiness to his weight, which has been as high as 400 pounds, according to The Athletic’s Dane Brugler.
The concerns with agility in space are real, but there is a reason he was thought of as a potential Day 2 pick in 2024: When operating in a phone booth, Reed-Adams is a road grater. With heavy hands and a propensity to lower his pad level, he can uproot defenders as a puller in the run game.
A seasoned veteran with 57 career games under his belt, Reed-Adams would bring an edge to the backend of any roster. The DeSoto native would provide instant value as a gap-scheme run blocker and teams will hope that his personality — and his easy transition to SEC play — will outweigh any concerns about balance and agility in pass protection.
Scooby Williams, linebacker, seventh-round grade
Pro comparison: Chris Board
The Robin — if he played like he was on methamphetamine and had an attention-deficit disorder — to York’s Batman, Scooby Williams is a super fun linebacker to watch. With serviceable size at 6-foot-2 1/4, 231 pounds, Williams glides around the field hunting ball carriers.
Williams dealt with injury issues in college and definitely takes some creative liberties schematically, but he functions as a torpedo. He can pierce his way through the line to chase backs and has the range to be a quarterback spy. Tackling and strength is a problem, but his pursuit angles are direct.
neath his pads when he plays too tall. It also means that when he doesn’t win on an island right away, his foot redirection to stop counter moves is robotic.
Every year, there is an all-theoretical offensive tackle in the NFL Draft. Jordan Mailata had never played a down of football and became an All-Pro, while the Blake Freelands of the world are kept in swing tackle purgato-
The only issue? He has basically never played special teams before. Just a slight problem. Still, his athleticism and projected role at the next level require him to be a four-down player, so it’s something teams will coach him to do immediately if he wants to stick on a roster. Expect Williams to be deployed similarly to how the New England Patriots use Brendan Schooler.
Graphic by Zoe Rich — THE BATTALION
Review: ‘Draft Day’
More than a decade later, still the most guy movie I’ve ever seen
By Isabella Garcia Senior Opinion Columnist
Rating: 3.5/10
Spoilers ahead for “Draft Day.” Not that it would be any more enjoyable otherwise.
Despite the title, it took me over an hour to realize that most of the drafting in Ivan Reitman’s “Draft Day” happens well before the draft actually begins.
Starring Kevin Costner as Sonny Weaver Jr., the general manager (?) of the Cleveland (?) Browns (?), we follow him as he navigates the pressures of choosing the team’s next “pick” (?) on the day of the NFL Draft.
From the outset, Sonny is accosted by potential players and what I can only assume are other GMs — certainly too many to keep track of — and we’re made to feel the highstakes environment as echoed through the periodic presence of a timer ticking — just like in a real football game, wow!
As if this wasn’t enough, Sonny must also grapple with the completely harrowing news that his situationship, Ali — played by a waytoo-young-for-him Jennifer Garner — is pregnant. Can you believe it? A war on all fronts.
Seriously, though, what was with Jennifer Garner’s character being so clearly scripted for a male audience?
Besides the fact that Ali — who doesn’t even have a last name, ahaha — is almost 20 years younger than Sonny, she excuses his gruff reactions and emotional unavailability because she’s a shitty person too! She’s not like the other girls, those “Mom Of The Year” types: She’s a lawyer, she’s never packed a lunch and she even eats barbecue chips. Goddammit, the one thing she understands is — you guessed it — football; nay, she is football.
Thank you, Reitman, for really showing the pick-me girls how it’s done.
The rest of the plot consists of intense staring and phone calls preceded by dramatic shots of the respective team being represented, with Ali sporadically strutting in her high heels and putting Sonny in his place.
I have no idea who the Browns or any of the other teams are, but it’s okay because Reitman subtly lets us know that Cleveland is the underdog we’re supposed to root for. They “don’t have beaches and beautiful weather” or “hot babes roller-skating all over.”
But you know what they do have? Football. Oh, yeah.
It would appear, however, that Reitman had enough of this obvious hand-holding and decided to balance it out with the ensuing convoluted yet painfully cliche mess that is the rest of this story. You know, for the real football intellectuals.
I’ll be forthcoming in admitting that this is absolutely not my type of film — sorry, movie — and I have never watched a football game in my life. Nonetheless, I like to think I’m competent enough to follow a basic plot, but it became immediately evident that this would not be such an instance.
If you’re walking into “Draft Day” with as little exposure to this overrated nonsense as myself, fear not, you’re given enough context to understand the essentials:
Players don’t try out for a team and then get drafted by said team; they’re chosen from a pool of legit all college players that scouts somehow have the resources to sift through.
Jennifer Garner is hot.
There are multiple rounds. Why? I don’t know. Not like guys can usually do this in any other aspect of their lives.
In addition to coaches, teams also get a general manager, but this is not to be confused with the owner. Neither does this include the at least seven other men who intently nod in approval around outrageously huge tables whenever the ones on the phone need to make a decision. Because, you know, how else are you supposed to appease all these macho, territorial men?
Everyone’s name sounds like the same three derivations of Joe Conner, but that’s irrelevant because love was the real main character all along.
When players get drafted, the order in which their names are called somehow correlates to their paychecks. Because this is not a bunch of people who have dedicated their entire lives to training and pushing themselves to their breaking points; clearly, this is middle school, and everyone knows only the sucky kids get picked last.
Even though the teams and their respective managers draft players from their offices (headquarters?) across the country, the NFL Draft itself is in New York City. Jennifer Garner is seriously hot. Worth repeating for obvious reasons.
The general managers, owners and whoever else feels like they have a say engage in heated exchanges with other teams prior to the draft actually starting, sort of like a mini-draft. Why they don’t just do this during the actual draft is beyond me and seems totally inefficient. Maybe they can’t get it right the first time, so they need some practice. Shocking.
Throwing things out of anger is ultimate masculinity — just like in football! See what Reitman did there? Peak writing.
Opinion: ‘The two-percenter plague’
Make Aggieland redass again!
By Noah Ruiz Associate Sports Editor
Ever since I first heard the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band blare that glorious “ Aggie War Hymn” we all know and love when I was in elementary school, I was hooked on everything Texas A&M. But above all else, I looked upon the largest student section in the country with awe, dreaming of the day I could don my own overalls and “Whoop” my heart away — well, so long as I was a junior.
When those dreams became a reality, and I painted my maroon-clad passion into a pair of old denim suspenders, I knew I belonged among a student body of legend, the one my dad talked about in the late 80s and early 90s that had every single Aggie standing tall and proud for those battles being waged on the gridiron.
But imagine my redass shock when I saw the very action that I had known to be a cardinal sin my whole life: booing an opposing team or a bad call on the field. Or worse than that, not staying until the end of a game and leaving early. Or even — God help me — sitting during a football game.
Now I get it, watching the boys who show the “real old fight” get belted is an unsettling scene — trust me, I remember that 2017 game versus UCLA. Even so, ever since 1922, we Aggies have spread our university’s name worldwide by our willingness to step into the fray should need
be. Why else would we stand the whole game if not to uphold the traditions of old?
While I understand the possible eyerolling and dismissal of these sentiments, at the same time, how else do we set ourselves apart from other universities besides perpetuating the practices that generations of A&M students have done before in the confines of Kyle Field?
Every stadium I have ever been to pales in comparison to what we have in Aggieland. Sure, we have one of the largest non racing stadiums in the world sitting right outside from where we grab our after-class Chickfil-A and hear the piano play in the MSC Flag Room, but it goes further than that.
There’s a reason why A&M’s winningest head coach R.C. Slocum lost just 11 times at home in his 13 years as the boss of Aggie football, and it wasn’t just the Wrecking Crew’s defense. Students gathered in the maroon and white coliseum that seated just 82,000 people at the time and screamed their throats raw as visitors were left dazed and confused, wildcats and yells echoing throughout the horseshoe-esque arena.
I’ve seen the detrimental effects of the two-percenter plague firsthand, and the worst symptom is enough to scare anyone into staying put no matter what: regret.
For example, the LSU Tigers were so sure of their victory in 2018 that former head coach Ed Orgeron was already soaked in Gatorade before quarterback Kellen Mond had seemingly thrown the game away with an interception in the final seconds, prompting A&M fans to take up anchor and
leave their sports sanctuary.
And many did leave, and that many would have that aforementioned regret in their hearts after the miracle that occurred upon that fateful November day.
Mond, as it turned out, had his knee down before “ending” the contest, opening the door for an insane, seven-overtime 7472 thriller in which the Aggies emerged victorious from the highest-scoring game in FBS history and deserters weren’t allowed back in the stadium.
This phenomena is not restricted to just the football field, but all throughout our athletic venues.
Take last year, for example: Baseball was in the worst slump I had ever witnessed in my then-21 years of life, after starting off as preseason No. 1 and eventually dropping out of the rankings entirely and missing the postseason.
This was a more reasonable time to jump ship, I suppose, especially on April 12, 2025, when A&M trailed 12-2 at the bottom of the sixth inning to South Carolina, on the precipice of a run-rule defeat at home. My family was in town for this game, and just like he told me at that LSU game all those years ago, my dad reminded me that Aggies stay until the end.
Opinion: Who is my 2026 NBA MVP?
The committee will vote for an athlete who isn’t the true MVP, but it should be Wembanyama
By Dylan Fonville Sports Writer
Picture this: It is May 2026, and NBA commissioner Adam Silver walks on stage to announce the winner of the NBA’s MVP.
Well … who is it?
Would you say it’s 2025 MVP winner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the current leader of the Kia MVP Ladder? Or maybe Nikola Jokic, who’s second on this list but clearly no stranger to the award, as he owns three of them.
You could be like the many fans and respective committee members who might have voting fatigue and want someone new to win, like current third-placed Victor Wembanyama in just his third season or fourth-place Luka Doncic, who has yet to win the award even considering all of his astonishing scoring accomplishments. Or maybe, just maybe, your vote is irrevocably cast for Cade Cunningham, to which I’d say you’re just a Detroit Pistons fan.
Many will continue to debate their frontrunners until the unveiling ceremony, but it’s kind of already set in stone. The committee chooses its winner an entire month prior, locking in its pick right about … now.
NBA MVP? This may shock you, but it’s Gilgeous-Alexander.
“Woah, isn’t he first on the leaderboard?” you may ask, questioning my sanity. Yes, I know it seems like I’ve flipped your whole world upside down, but it’s true: Out of everyone on the list, he’s the fourth-mostjustified player to be up for the award.
To put it bluntly, Gilgeous-Alexander
third place? Although it’s not as exciting, it’s nonetheless true: Doncic is the third-best player in the running for the award.
Doncic’s scoring ability is second to none, as he’s truly the best offensive player in the league. Fun fact about the NBA: It has a Defensive Player of the Year award, but not an offensive award.
questionable free throws, his offensive ability is incredible and clearly the best on his team.
Does that make the MVP a substitute for offensive player of the year? No! It’s supposed to represent the most valuable player on the court, and Doncic can’t be the most valuable when he is one of the biggest defensive liabilities in the NBA. Doncic deserves to win this award in the future, but I can’t, in good conscience, put
Second place
Well, it’s time for my top two, and I think you may agree with them. Coming in at second place will be
A three-time winner of the award in question, Jokic continually proves himself as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He’s an elite scorer and is almost always the biggest presence on the court, averaging almost exactly the same stats as 2 of his 3
If that’s the case, why isn’t he the MVP? It’s simple: He doesn’t care enough about the game to take control of it. When it comes down to it, Jokic is simply working at a job he’s good at, not one he cares deeply about. He won’t dive out of bounds for a ball or track down a fastbreak; he’s
I can’t sway anyone important into choosing any which way, but I can explain the reasoning behind my personal MVP ladder rankings and why I feel the committee will get it wrong.
Fourth place
Starting off, who do I believe is the fourth-most-deserving player for the
And though a consistent scorer, he’s most notable for having bad foul calls go in his favor. In his defense, however, only missing seven games and managing to lead his team back to No. 1 in the Western Conference is seriously impressive.
Third place
Now knowing that my ranking differs greatly from that of the ladder, who is in
Local record store cranks up community
Setting the record straight
By Adhithi Shankar Life & Arts Writer
At Bryan’s local record store, shelves of vinyl, CDs and cassettes line the walls. A record spins slowly on a black turntable, and the whole room is perfumed with the distinct papery, musky aroma of antique album sleeves. While a fan-favorite destination in the community, the store is even more crowded than usual. It’s the third Saturday of April, and this means that the Bryan-College Station’s analog music community is celebrating Record Store Day.
Record Store Day is a nationwide event created to commemorate the culture of independently owned record stores across the country with special vinyl releases.
This year’s release lineup included Pink Floyd’s “Live from the Los Angeles Sports Arena” — a new collection of 16 recorded and remastered songs from its iconic April 26, 1975, concert — a deluxe version of Paramore’s “All We Know is Falling” and the 45th anniversary edition of Mötley Crüe’s EP “Live Wire,” among hundreds of other exclusive vinyl releases.
In the Bryan-College Station area, Record Store Day is exclusively celebrated at Curious Collections Vinyl Records & More, a family-run analog music store.
Owner Mary Beth Jean ‘16 takes great pride in being a pillar of the local analog music community.
“We are the only record store within almost 100 miles of this town that participates in this,” Jean said. “So this is a really big deal for us as an independent store here in this area.”
Curious Collections was conceptualized 10 years ago, when Jean was sorting through her late father’s storage units. Of the seven total storage spaces, two were packed with vinyl records, and the idea for her store was born.
However, running a small business wasn’t without its challenges.
“I’m a two-time cancer survivor, and I like to say my store survived as well,” Jean said. “So my store is a two-time cancer survivor and also a COVID survivor. It’s
been quite the interesting ride.”
Curious Collections has been hosting Record Store Day since shortly after its opening.
From then, it has expanded its festivities every year, especially with the introduction of a Friday night preview party with food trucks and entertainment.
Employee Jordan Hanson, who joined the staff almost four years ago, explained that a lot of care goes into preparing for Record Store Day and making sure the store has what customers want in stock.
“It’s busy for sure,” Hanson said. “I feel like there’s a whole lot of preparation and a lot of customer service, too. … The days before it is a whole bunch of unboxing, counting, making sure nothing’s damaged.”
On the day of the event, the line stretched beyond the entrance even before the doors opened at 7 a.m.
“We have a DJ that comes in, and we have drinks and food trucks,” Jean said. “We are very fortunate that we have that extra listening room on the side that we can literally transform into a Record Store Day room, and it allows us to have the extra space to display the albums.”
Christine Brown is a regular customer at Curious Collections. This Record Store Day, she waited in line in the early morning for new releases from singers Jeff Buckley and Bruno Mars.
“I used to collect records when I was younger, in high school and college, and that was kind of before the record resurgence,” Brown said. “My record player broke, and then I just kind of got out of it. And then records started being popular again, and I thought, ‘You know, I need to get back into this.’”
For Jean, that nostalgia is what makes vinyl so special; she believes that there is a relationship between artist and listener that modern streaming services can’t exactly replicate.
“I love the fact that when you put a record on, it’s a unique experience every single time,” Jean said. “So when you hear a record in a record player, it’s exactly like the artist is playing a personal concert for you in your living room. And that is not an experience you can get with any other music.”
From teenage bandmate to chart topper
By Tejas Murali Life & Arts Writer
Out of the unexpectedly bustling ‘90s Denton music scene, a band — and a musical journey — was sparked by two brothers. From selling out clubs and getting their debut single on the radio to reaching No. 1 on the United Kingdom charts and touring worldwide, Texas A&M Music Industry Relations Coordinator Toby Pipes and his older brother, Todd, have trodden the musician’s path with their band, Deep Blue Something, for decades.
Today, Toby spends much of his time in the College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts, or PVFA, recording studio, serving as a bridge between the music industry and students in a fitting continuation of his longtime immersion in music.
Rise to stardom
Toby was exposed to and worked with music from a young age; according to him, his parents were vocalists, and he would often record songs on four-track tape machines with Todd, making original tracks rather than covers.
Eventually, he was invited by Todd, who was earning his masters degree at the University of North Texas, to form a band in Denton: Deep Blue Something.
“We were called Leper Messiah first, from a David Bowie lyric in the song
‘Ziggy Stardust,’ but supposedly Metallica had a record called ‘Messiah’ or something, so there was confusion that we were going to be a metal band,” Toby said. “So we had a song, and we couldn’t think of a name for it to put on the set list, and [Todd] was like, ‘It sounds like a deep blue something.’ And something came up with a DJ in Dallas and we had to pick a name real quick, so we just picked the name on the setlist.”
Deep Blue Something went on to have its singles played on local radio stations and sell out clubs in the area, beginning its rise to fame.
“Now we’re playing shows that people that aren’t our friends are showing up to, and it’s cool,”Toby said. “After that and then years and years of touring, we got signed to Interscope Records, and it just took off from there. And then the biggest thing of all was when we went No. 1 in the U.K.”
Deep Blue Something’s single “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” was No. 1 in the U.K. for a week in 1996, in addition to reaching top10 status in the United States, Australia and several European countries.
“It’s awesome because with Second British Invasion, The Cure and The Smiths and New Order and all that stuff, those were my bands, and they’re all English bands,” Toby said. “And then we were right in the middle of Brit pop, so us making it to No. 1 in the middle of all that was a huge deal. It was like, ‘Where do you even go from there?’ It was almost more important to go No. 1 there than in America.”
According to Toby, one of the greatest takeaways from his time as a touring musician has been the people skills he gained from interacting with numerous individuals over the years.
“I think you kind of learn, especially with
touring and everything, how to get along with people and how you have to work with all different types of personalities,” Toby said. “And you have to realize that things, even though you’ve done them a million times, just come out of nowhere. This morning, though we’ve recorded [in the PVFA studio] a million times, for some reason we couldn’t get the headphones to work, and it took 30 minutes. But you just have to be calm.”
Bringing it to Aggieland
Toby has now lived in College Station for several years with his daughter, a freshman at A&M Consolidated High School. His current position at A&M is a unique role that only exists in a few other universities, according to Toby.
“It’s mainly a liaison and guide for the students who want to do this for a living,” Toby said. “And it’s bringing people in, like Lyle Lovett, that are producers, musicians, people that own studios or people that can help them out to get their foot in the door. And it’s to get them involved with performing and not just doing it in their dorm room because you’ve got to get out and do the thing.”
Toby plays a significant role in facilitating musical careers for interested students with the help of his own expertise in the music industry.
While part of the process is networking, another is maintaining and organizing the PVFA recording studio in the Liberal Arts and Arts & Humanities building, which is part of a relatively new music program at A&M.
“We got an awesome donation from the WoodNext Foundation, and so the whole
studio is about to be redone,” Toby said. “Since I got here it’s really taken off, because people weren’t really using this place that much, and now it’s become a big deal. So the foundation giving us that donation at this time is insane because people are going to have awesome new stuff.”
Besides instructional and organizational work at A&M,Toby helps coordinate several music-related events in the Bryan-College Station area, including an Aggieland Music Industry Summit featuring a panel with country musician Lyle Lovett, seasoned bassist Leland Sklar and other PVFA members. Nonetheless, he continues to be an active member of Deep Blue Something.
“Last week we played Vegas, next week we’ll play Louisville, Kentucky, then we play [in College Station] on the 30th and then we have a mini-tour,” Toby said. “And I think we’re going to Montenegro this summer and then North Dakota, and it’s just such random stuff. So I’m still flying out and playing with the band all the time, which everyone here is cool with because I can tell stories about how we’re really doing it.”
Toby said his goal is to help his department at PVFA grow through increased awareness and reach its full potential in extending musical opportunities to students.
“A lot of the students that are in the department now came here for a different reason and then found out this was here,” Toby said. “So it would be cool if people knew, ‘I want to learn how to be a performance major,’ or ‘I want to learn how to be an audio engineer,’ because they have such a great department for that at A&M, and I want for it to be known for certain things like that.”
Photos
courtesy of Toby Pipes
Toby Pipes and his band Deep Blue Something perform in front of a crowd.
Seasoned musician Toby Pipes brings decades of industry experience to aspiring Aggies
Photos by Tilly Hillje — THE BATTALION
Top to bottom: Records sit on a shelf during Record Store Day at Curious Collections on Saturday, April
18, 2026. Customers shop during Record Store Day at Curious Collections on Saturday, April
New location for meat science center approved
Texas A&M University System Board of Regents votes to move meat science center from RELLIS Campus to main campus
By Sam McMahan News Reporter
The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents voted to move the development of the new Meat Science and Technology Center from the RELLIS Campus to main campus and approved an added $18.76 million investment, bringing the total project cost to $133.36 million.
This project was relocated for several strategic purposes, including wanting to replace the aging Rosenthal Meat Science and Technology Center, bridging the gap between classroom instruction and real-world experience for students and incorporate more space and innovative technology, as the original construction plan was updated from 75,000 square feet to roughly 85,600 square feet.
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Marketing and Communications Katherine D. Hancock expanded upon the decision by the Board to relocate the center and how it aligns with A&M’s goals for its agricultural programs.
“The Meat Sciences and Technology Center is now part of an expanded strategic vision, serving as a foundational anchor
for a broader agricultural facilities sector at Texas A&M University,” Hancock said. “These facilities will be developed over time to advance innovation, collaboration and long-term capacity in agricultural research, teaching and industry engagement.”
The proximity to the Kleberg Animal and Food Sciences Center and other agricultural departments is intentional and designed to ensure students currently studying animal science, poultry science, agricultural economics and food science and technology will have further access to hands-on learning opportunities to increase their skills and gain a competitive edge as they prepare themselves for future involvement in the meat industry. Hancock emphasized the variety of programs will be a part of this new project.
“Several key public-facing programs of the Texas A&M Department of Animal Science and the Department of Poultry Science will be housed in the new facility,” Hancock said.
She also commented on how students and professionals will benefit from the relocation of this facility.
“The Meat Sciences and Technology Center will serve as a new home for existing programming that targets each of these groups, and it will empower Texas A&M faculty experts to expand these offerings in innumerable ways that support student and professional development in meat and poultry production,” Hancock said.
The new development will utilize modern research laboratories and equipment,
including robotics and artificial intelligence, classrooms, industry collaboration and a real meat processing floor. Hancock noted the specific applications in which the new facility will be used.
“The center will primarily focus on meat and poultry processing, applied research, teaching and extension,” Hancock said. “At roughly 85,600 square feet, the center will provide modern labs, classrooms, processing space for beef, swine, poultry, sheep and goats and spaces for hosting teaching events for the public and industry.”
The teaching events hosted at the new facility will include summer camps such as Barbecue Summer Camp, Camp Brisket and Beef 101, as well as events for Texas 4-H, an agricultural youth organization, and the National FFA Organization.
These programs will play a role in how the new center plans to help shape public understanding of meat production. With consumers becoming increasingly concerned with how their food is sourced and processed, transparency and education are becoming more important. Programs hosted at the new facility will not only help to train future professionals, but also provide opportunities for the public to learn about modern agricultural practices and food systems.
The financing for this project is supported by a system of funding channels, including revenue from AgriLife Research, A&M and private donor funds. These funds will help support infrastructural costs and the integration of advanced technology for
classrooms and labs. The large investment is indicative of the confidence industry leaders possess in the long-term importance of the meat industry within Texas and the United States and could prove critical to Texas producers, meat processing companies and the overall food supply chain.
Several challenges are currently inhibiting the sustainability and expansion of the meat industry. Critical workforce shortages, reduced herd sizes — especially in Texas — supply chain disruptions, environmental concerns, increased regulatory compliance and growing demand for alternative proteins are resulting in limited supply, high input costs and decreasing demand, making it less profitable for producers.
The new center is designed to address both these challenges and develop innovative ways to help producers, processors and packers adapt to the modern market and maintain an important industry. Hancock highlighted how the facility will assist producers and processors in advancing food solutions.
“The center will serve as a home for applied technology development and scientific innovation in meat and poultry processing, from harvesting to packaging,” Hancock said. “The center will also enable the development of new and streamlined processes for teaching and extension services — a comprehensive effort to train the next generation and deliver solutions to producers in Texas, the U.S. and the world.”
Steve Carrasco IV —
GALLERY: Aggies gather for Muster ceremony
