​As we gear up for the 2026 football season, Aggies Wire is breaking down nearly every player on the Texas A&M roster. Throughout the preseason, each profile will highlight a player’s background, recruiting rankings out of high school, and projected role under head coach Mike Elko.Texas A&M’s run defense left plenty to be desired at times last season, and just as Elko made it a priority to overhaul the secondary with length and speed, he approached the linebacker room with the same intentionality. The staff has done a strong job building a youthful foundation, but they needed a veteran presence who could step in and stabilize the unit immediately. Enter senior Tulsa transfer Ray Coney.Coney’s importance grew even further once projected starter Daymion Sanford suffered a lower‑body injury during the Maroon & White Spring Game, sidelining him for an unspecified portion of the 2026 campaign. In his lone season at Tulsa, Coney was one of the most productive linebackers in the American Conference, recording 129 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, and a forced fumble. His breakout year earned him 2025 American All‑Conference First Team honors, 2025 Phil Steele’s American Conference First Team recognition, and a spot on the 2025 East‑West Shrine Bowl 1000 Watch List.There’s real optimism inside the program about what Coney can become in Elko’s system, and the Aggies will need that development to materialize quickly as they search for his running mate until Sanford returns to the lineup.Preseason Player ProfileHometown: Fairfield, OhioHeight: 6-2Weight: 240 lbs.Class in 2026: SeniorRecruiting Rankings (Class of 2023)National: No. 2179 (247Sports Composite)Position: No. 193 (247Sports Composite)Ohio: No. 79 (247Sports Composite)The former three‑star prospect was a multi‑sport standout at Fairfield High School, where he was named the program’s Defensive Player of the Year. He earned second‑team South Ohio district honors, was a first‑team Greater Miami Conference selection, and added second‑team all‑city recognition. A versatile athlete, he lettered in both football and basketball.Depth Chart OutlookLinebacker might be one of the most intriguing positions on the roster this season. It’s full of question marks, especially surrounding Daymion Sanford, who suffered a lower‑body injury during the Maroon & White Spring Game and is expected to miss a significant portion of the 2026 campaign. The one proven commodity in the room is transfer Ray Coney, who put together an impressive resume in the American Conference. The staff believes his production and instincts will translate cleanly to SEC play, making him the likely anchor of the linebacker group once fall camp begins.Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on X: @whosnextsports1.This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: P