'There is a genuine energy around the program': Texas A&M head coach previews season
Before he leads the Texas A&M football program on the gridiron this fall, second-year head coach Mike Elko appeared at the Fort Worth Stockyards to talk ball on Coach's Night with the Fort Worth A&M Club on Tuesday night.
Elko led the Aggies to a record of 8-5 (5-3 in SEC) in his first season in Bryan-College Station, Texas, which marks the first eight-win season for the program since 2021. The 2024 campaign had a fair share of good moments, but some aspects need improvement this season if Texas A&M wants the 12-team College Football Playoff.
"We're really proud of the foundation that we've laid in the first year here for what Texas A&M football is and where it's going."
The South Brunswick, N.J., native recruited tremendously in the offseason by bringing in top-rated athletes like former NC State wideout KC Concepcion, who is projected to make an immediate impact for the Aggies this season.
During his appearance at Coach's Night, Elko expressed his thoughts on the junior wide receiver and what he brings to the table for the offense this season, according to TexAgs.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle
"KC Concepcion has been exceptional... He could be a captain," Elko said. "He has been unbelivable with his work ethic, his commitment to doing things the way we want to do them. He has been a role model for our younger guys."
With targets like Concepcion, Mississippi State transfer Mario Craver Jr., Terry Bussey, Izaiah Williams and Ashton Bethel-Roman to throw to, it also takes a quarterback who can be accurate and find ways to get the ball to those targets.
Texas A&M has just that with dual-threat sophomore quarterback Marcel Reed, who has stepped up as a leader and continued to strengthen his game during the offseason.
"Marcel (Reed) has been great," Elko said at Coach's Night on Tuesday. "I don't think anybody really appreciates the development that Marcel made because a lot of his development happened at the end of the year when we didn't get the results we wanted. We have to finish those games and get the results, but if you're looking for signs of growth from the quarterback, those signs were there. We think we've got a really, really good quarterback this year."
When competing in the Southeastern Conference, it is integral to protect your gunslinger. It all starts up front for the Aggies this season, as the veteran group prepares to anchor the Texas A&M offense this season.
Elko had high praise for the group when talking with the Fort Worth A&M Club on Tuesday night.
"The roster starts with the offensive line, and any time you can talk about the roster starting with the offensive line, you feel pretty good about what you can accomplish," Elko said. "We return our top seven linemen. We're really excited about the veteran experience we have with that group ."
Along with an experienced offensive line, a talented wide receiving corps, and Reed at the helm, the running back room is just as dangerous. Ranked as one of the best groups in the SEC heading into 2025, the projected starter Le'Veon Moss is set to have an explosive season.
Moss suffered an injury last season that sidelined him from November until the end of last year's campaign. However, he seems to be recovering well and is undoubtedly chomping at the bit to get back on the field this fall.
"It's great to have Le'Veon Moss back and heathy. He looks awesome," Elko said. "He has done an unbelivable job of rehab to get himself to in position where he's running full-speed right now."
The defensive unit for the Aggies needed major rebuilding after losing Shemar Stewart, Shemart Turner and Nic Scourton to the 2025 NFL Draft. Players like senior Cashius Howell will play key roles in filling the holes on that side of the ball.
"When you lose a first-rounder and two second-rounders, it's not easy," Elko said. "I think Cashius Howell is the first guy that jumps out to you. I think Cashius is going to be an elite player."
Elko is leading the program in the right direction, both on the field and in recruiting. Texas A&M landed a huge commitment on Tuesday, as running back KJ Edwards, who ranks as the No. 2 player at the position in the country, bumped the Aggies to No. 2 in 247 Sports' recruiting rankings.
Earning one of the top recruiting classes in the country so far for 2026 is a testament to the work Elko and the company are doing to build the program back to its winning ways. More than that, they are building a welcoming environment with everyone focused on getting better.
"The feeling when you're around our team and around our players, they genuinely enjoy being in the building. They genuinely enjoy going to workout," Elko said. "There is a genuine energy around the program, and that's something recruits feel. There is a process of getting the program into a position where you can consistently win. We feel like all those indicators are pointing in the right direction."
The Texas A&M football program will begin this year's campaign on August 30 against UTSA. Kickoff from Kyle Field is set for 6:30 p.m. CT on ESPN.
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Dylan on X: @dylanmflippo.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
San Francisco Chronicle
an hour ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Senegal women's basketball team members denied US visas, prime minister says
The Senegalese women's basketball team has scrapped plans to train in the U.S. for the upcoming AfroBasket tournament in the Ivory Coast next month after several players and team officials had their visas denied, Senegal's prime minister said. Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko said on Facebook Thursday that the team would train in Senegal's capital, Dakar, 'in a sovereign and conducive setting.' The West African nation's federation said in a statement that the visa applications of five players and seven officials weren't approved. 'Informed of the refusal of issuing visas to several members of the Senegal women's national basketball team, I have instructed the Ministry of Sports to simply cancel the 10-day preparatory training initially planned in the United States of America,' Sonko said. The visa denials come amid a push by the Trump administration to have countries improve vetting travelers or face a ban on their citizens visiting the United States. Senegal wasn't on that list of countries and it was not immediately clear why the visas were denied. The travel ban includes exemptions for the World Cup, the Olympics and any 'other major sporting event,' though it's unclear what is considered a major event. The team is coached by Otis Hughley Jr., who previously led the Nigerian women's basketball team. He was the men's coach at Alabama A&M before resigning in March. Senegal, which was going to train in the U.S. from Sunday through July 3, has finished either first or second in four of the last five AfroBasket championships over the last decade and has won 11 titles in total. The tournament determines Africa's champion, which earns entry into the FIBA World Cup next year in Germany. ___
Fox Sports
an hour ago
- Fox Sports
Senegal women's basketball team members denied US visas, prime minister says
Associated Press The Senegalese women's basketball team has scrapped plans to train in the U.S. for the upcoming AfroBasket tournament in the Ivory Coast next month after several players and team officials had their visas denied, Senegal's prime minister said. Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko said on Facebook Thursday that the team would train in Senegal's capital, Dakar, 'in a sovereign and conducive setting.' The West African nation's federation said in a statement that the visa applications of five players and seven officials weren't approved. 'Informed of the refusal of issuing visas to several members of the Senegal women's national basketball team, I have instructed the Ministry of Sports to simply cancel the 10-day preparatory training initially planned in the United States of America,' Sonko said. The visa denials come amid a push by the Trump administration to have countries improve vetting travelers or face a ban on their citizens visiting the United States. Senegal wasn't on that list of countries and it was not immediately clear why the visas were denied. The travel ban includes exemptions for the World Cup, the Olympics and any 'other major sporting event,' though it's unclear what is considered a major event. The team is coached by Otis Hughley Jr., who previously led the Nigerian women's basketball team. He was the men's coach at Alabama A&M before resigning in March. Senegal, which was going to train in the U.S. from Sunday through July 3, has finished either first or second in four of the last five AfroBasket championships over the last decade and has won 11 titles in total. The tournament determines Africa's champion, which earns entry into the FIBA World Cup next year in Germany. ___ AP sports: in this topic
Miami Herald
2 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Syracuse Football Preview 2025: Can Fran Brown Sustain the Orange Success?
Syracuse fans have been teased a bit over the last few years, especially the ones who remember a time when the program was a Big East powerhouse. And yes, there was a time in the late 1980s when Syracuse was in the national championship discussion - Don McPherson is still one of my favorite college quarterbacks ever. But that was a long, long time now the Orange fans got to have a whole lot of fun last year under head coach Fran Brown. So, can Syracuse win on a regular basis, or was that just a one-off? X CFN, Fiu | CFN Facebook | Bluesky Fiu, CFN2025 Syracuse PreviewSyracuse Offense BreakdownSyracuse Defense BreakdownSeason Prediction, Win Total, Keys to Season It's been a while since the football program - and the basketball team, for that matter - was a major player. Take out newbies Stanford and Cal, and Syracuse joins NC State as the only ACC schools to not play in the conference championship since it started in doesn't mean the Orange haven't been good at times, but to put head coach Fran Brown's first season into perspective, it was just the second campaign since 2012 that finished with more than seven wins. Worse yet, even with the 10-3 season, Syracuse is just 76-85 since joining the ACC in 2013. Syracuse had to battle through two years of rebuilding under Dino Babers to get the everything-went-right 10-3 season of 2018. And then he had three straight losing seasons, rallied in 2022, and it was over in 2023. He always seemed to have the Orange just this close to turning it into something big, and he couldn't do stepped in and set the bar high from the start. Not only did he provide an instant jolt to the win column, but he made Syracuse one of the most fun teams in college football. There was a wild Holiday Bowl win, the passing game was the best in the country, and the team had the honor of screwing up Miami's season in one of the most important games of the College Football Playoff high-powered offense isn't going anywhere, the transfers are coming in late, and ...Syracuse will need a few breaks this time around. Nine of the 13 games last season were decided by one score, and that was with as light an ACC slate as reasonably possible. This year, swap out Ohio with Tennessee to open the season. Take out a trip to UNLV and add a date at Notre no trip to Cal, but there's a date at Clemson. There's no game against Stanford, but there's a road trip to SMU. And this time around, the Miami game is in Hard be prepared. Syracuse probably won't have as good a season, but it won't necessarily mean it'll be a step Brown appears to be a keeper who'll make winning a regular thing. But he has to keep it all going on … Syracuse Offense BreakdownSyracuse Defense BreakdownSeason Prediction, Win Total, Keys to Season © 2025 The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.
