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, high school recruiting rankings, and projected role under head coach Mike Elko.
Texas A&M’s running back room is deep but relatively young entering 2026. Redshirt junior Rueben Owens II remains the most experienced option, while sophomore Jamarion Morrow is expected to push for a larger share of touches after logging 49 touches last season. Behind them, one of the most intriguing developments has been the emergence of redshirt freshman Tiger Riden Jr., who worked his way back onto the field after injuries and has quickly made a name for himself as a physical, downhill runner.
Strengths
Riden’s defining trait is power. He isn’t the type of back who will outrun defenders in space, but he is extremely difficult to bring down, and his yardage after contact is already one of the best traits in the room. At nearly 220 pounds, he brings a different physical profile than the faster, shiftier backs ahead of him.
- Elite power and contact balance
- Short‑yardage reliability, especially in goal‑line situations
- Pass‑protection upside thanks to his size and leverage
- A change‑of‑pace option who complements Owens and Morrow
- Physical presence that can help protect Marcel Reed as the offense moves toward more movement and rollout concepts
In an offense where Reed is expected to be on the move more in 2026, having a back who can stonewall defensive linemen and punish tacklers adds real value to the passing game.
2026 Role Projection
While veteran Rueben Owens II remains the leader of the running back room, Jamarion Morrow is positioned to earn a larger workload. But Riden offers something neither of them does. Pure power. At 5‑10 and 219 pounds, he gives the Aggies a bruising option when they need to change tempo or impose physicality late in games.
Expect Riden to be:
- A power option behind Owens and Morrow
- A short‑yardage and goal‑line specialist
- A lead blocker and personal protector on special teams
- A situational hammer in packages designed to wear down defensive fronts
Coaches have consistently praised how he looks since returning from injury, and 2026 could be the season Riden becomes one of the Aggies’ most important role players the kind of back who may not lead the team in touches but plays a critical part in winning downs.
Preseason Player Profile
- Hometown: DeSoto, Texas
- Height: 5-10
- Weight: 219 lbs.
- Class in 2026: Redshirt Freshman
Career Stats
- 2025-26: 11 carries, 45 yards, 4.1 average, 1 touchdown
Recruiting Rankings (Class of 2025)
- National: No. 439 (247Sports Composite)
- Position (RB): No. 33 (247Sports Composite)
- Texas: No. 63 (247Sports Composite)
The former four‑star prospect graduated as DeSoto’s career rushing record holder, earned 2022 state championship game Offensive MVP honors, and was named the District 11‑6A Offensive Newcomer of the Year in 2022. His résumé, paired with his physical skill set, makes him one of the most compelling young backs on the roster.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Previewing the 2026 season for Texas A&M RB Tiger Riden