Everything Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko had to say at Coaches' Night on Wednesday night
During this part of the football calendar, there's not much happening beyond recruiting updates. However, coaching events offer valuable insights into the team's progress following spring training.
For Texas A&M, lingering questions remain after last season's conclusion and a vanilla Spring Game. While the team is still searching for breakout stars, the Aggies boast plenty of experience on both sides of the ball.
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The offensive line is set to return all five starters, providing a strong foundation for the unit. With a deep running back room and a playbook tailored to quarterback Marcel Reed's skill set, the offense looks promising. While wide receiver and tight end positions are still being finalized, the talent pool remains deep.
Defensively, the secondary brings valuable experience, bolstered by the addition of cornerback Julian Humphrey. However, the defensive line faces its biggest challenge after losing three key players, Shemar Turner, Shemar Stewart, and Nic Scourton, to the NFL. Seniors Cashius Howell and Albert Regis will lead the charge, with hopes that emerging talent will step up.
On Wednesday, Coach Mike Elko addressed the Brazos County A&M Club at Coaches' Night, highlighting the program's transformation:
Coach Elko comments on the journey to this point
"It's been a long journey to get here to Texas A&M. A year ago I stood on this podium for my first Coach's Night at Texas A&M. One year later, we've had tremendous progress into building the program you want to see."
The Texas A&M football program is taking the next step forward
"We are building the foundation of a championship level program. One of the biggest things we had to do was change the culture of what Texas A&M football is all about."
Coach Elko comments about the talent on the roster
"When you look at the current roster, we project to have more NFL Draft picks on this 2025 roster than we've had in a long time. We project anywhere from 10 to 12 players to hear their name called in the 2026 draft."
Coach Elko believes his defense will be better that last season
"We bring back eight starters on defense. It was well documented that we need to finish seasons better. That group is really hungry to go out and play the level of defense Texas A&M fans deserve."
Coach Elko comments on Marcel Reed's development
"Marcel Reed's development is what I'm most excited about. His development as a leader and in the passing game is important. He was a great player last year, but you'll see a significantly better version of him this fall."
Coach Elko is ready to get his team back on the field and play at a high level for the whole season
"We're excited to go out there and finish... We didn't finish the way we wanted to in November. That has been our mantra this offseason."
Coach Elko sees something special happening in Aggieland and everyone wants to be part of it
"Success is never linear. We are on course for where we want to be. I'm proud of our retention. We didn't lose starters in the portal. We're not losing coaches. There are signs that something really special is about to happen here"
Coach Elko speaks on the resilience of his roster
"The core of our roster has battled through a lot of adversity here. They're here because they believe in Texas A&M. They believe in what we're building here. I believe we have kids who are truly committed to Texas A&M and what it stands for."
Coach Elko highlights the continuity of his roster
"When you bring back 16 starters, our conversations start at a much higher level in Spring camp. We can hit the ground running at a much higher pace in year two."
Coach Elko knows how last season ended and is committed no to repeat that
"We all understand how we finished the year. We played three bad games of defense to finish the year. We're all aware of that. That's not how we play defense at Texas A&M. We have to have a better commitment for getting the job done at a higher level."
Coach Elko comments on the team's schedule
"We all understand how we finished the year. We played three bad games of defense to finish the year. We're all aware of that. That's not how we play defense at Texas A&M. We have to have a better commitment for getting the job done at a higher level."
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M Football: Coach Elko provides key updates at Coaches' Night
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