North Carolina A&T Aggies Reload with Massive Recruiting Haul, Targeting Size and Physicality for the CAA

GREENSBORO, N.C. — A major rebuild is underway at the North Carolina A&T Aggies, a rebuilding HBCU program, as head coach Shawn Gibbs and his staff unveiled a massive National Signing Day haul designed to reshape the team in the trenches and on defense.

The Aggies announced the addition of 38 newcomers, including 21 high school signees and 17 transfers, a blend that signals both a long-term foundation and an immediate push for experience. This reflects a program intent on closing the gap in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) after a season in which A&T showed it could match opponents' speed but struggled with size and consistency, particularly on defense.

"We wanted to focus recruiting efforts within the state and bordering states," Gibbs said. "We feel good about the homegrown talent we've been able to find."

The Aggies' recruiting class spans the Southeast, with 16 players from North Carolina, 8 from South Carolina, and 7 from Georgia. They also reached into the Northeast and the Washington, D.C./Maryland/Virginia region, landing 3 players from each area.

Gibbs tied this geographic strategy directly to the Aggies' conference reality, noting the importance of recruiting in the Northeast because several CAA programs are located there, and A&T will see multiple opponents from that region on its 2026 schedule, including Rhode Island, Bryant, New Hampshire, and Albany.

Beefing up the Trenches

A&T's staff prioritized size across the roster, especially in areas that can affect every snap. Offensively, the Aggies added 8 offensive linemen, signaling a clear emphasis on protection and physicality.

Among the notable additions is Andre Oben, a 6-foot-5, 290-pound redshirt junior transfer from Monmouth who began his college career at Purdue as a three-star recruit.

The line haul also includes Desmond Jackson, a 6-foot-4, 305-pound transfer from Coastal Carolina who hails from Winston-Salem, and Que'shon Sapp, a former four-star recruit out of Georgia who adds proven size to the interior.

Rebuilding the Defense

The Aggies' defense ranked last in the CAA in both scoring defense and total defense last season. The response was to bring in 22 defensive newcomers, a heavy investment aimed at raising the unit's floor quickly while developing longer bodies for the league's weekly matchup problems.

One headliner is Ben Boulware, a 6-foot-5, 305-pound interior defensive lineman from Winston-Salem's Oak Grove High School. Boulware is listed as a three-star recruit and was noted as having Power Four offers, giving NCAT a physically imposing piece in the middle as it works to become more disruptive at the point of attack.

"We wanted to focus recruiting efforts within the state and bordering states. We feel good about the homegrown talent we've been able to find."

The Aggies won't be waiting until fall to begin the transition, as 22 of the 38 signees are already on campus for the spring semester. This gives the staff a spring runway to install, evaluate, and reshape depth charts before the opener.

Even with the large class, Gibbs made clear the work isn't finished, as A&T is still searching for "a couple more edge rushers," plus a long snapper and possibly a running back as the roster continues to take shape.

North Carolina A&T opens the 2026 season on Aug. 29 at home against HBCU rival Morgan State. The Aggies are betting that this wave of newcomers is the start of a different-looking program—bigger, deeper, and built for the weekly grind ahead.

Originally reported by HBCU Gameday.