COLLEGE STATION -- Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher held his weekly media availability on Thursday in advance of the opener against Northwestern State on Aug. 30. Here are a few notes from the first presser of the season. 

NCAA violations

After Tuesday’s USA Today report alleging that the Texas A&M coaching staff committed several NCAA infractions against former player Santino Marchiol, the players were pretty tight-lipped on their opinions on the report and emphasized that it wasn’t something that they were spending time thinking about.

However, quarterback Kellen Mond, who played with Marchiol at IMG Academy did express his disagreement with the allegations.

“I didn’t really know what he was talking about and I didn’t really agree with it but that’s kind of away from us and we’re just trying to tell everyone fo focus on winning a football game.” Mond said.

Fisher was also asked about the report and remains confident that his staff has done things the right way.

“We take [allegations] very seriously,” Fisher said. “We’re open to all inquiries and we are very open in our records and everything that we have. We feel very confident in the things in which we have done.”

Fisher ponders playing both quarterbacks in week 1

We’re a week away from the season-opener and Jimbo Fisher has yet to announce if it will be Nick Starkel or Kellen Mond to take the first snap of the season. Fisher continues to flirt with the idea of giving both of them playing time in the first game and determining the starter based on the quarterback that gives them the best chance to win the game.

“I’m not a guy that will say ‘you get two series then you get two series,’ but whoever we play will play according to what we have in that game,” Fisher said. “Because at the end of the day that’s still just as important of a game as the Clemson game.”

Fisher did mention that his decision will come down to two things: decision-making and accuracy.

“Somebody will have to start off the game, but right now I feel comfortable with both guys. Quarterback is down to two things: decisions and accuracy,” Fisher said. “Throwing the ball is important but you have to manage crisis and manage players and how they respond to you.”

In the meantime, both quarterbacks reiterated that they have maintained a healthy relationship throughout the battle and have elevated each others’ performance.

“It’s been really good, we’ve both been helping each other. We encourage each other, we fight with each other,” Starkel said. “He’s my brother, I’m not going to ever knock him or do anything dirty to him or ever hope that he fails. What type of person would I be if I wanted him to fail?”

Kingsley Keke slimmed down and will now play at both DT and DE

After playing primarily defensive tackle for the last two seasons, Kingsley Keke will shift to defensive end for the majority of the snaps. He will still play some tackle. Keke has taken reps at both of the positions in practice and said that he has enjoyed becoming more versatile.

“It’s been great [being able to play to play both] because it shows my versatility, especially with scouts, and they get to see that,” Keke said. “I like it, I’ve been playing well at both [positions].”

The decision to move Keke to the bookend was brought up after he focused on his diet in the offseason. Keke said that he started the offseason at 316 pounds but is now slimmed down to 288 pounds.

“It was my idea (to lose the weight) because I wanted to get my body fat percentage down and then the coaches talked about putting me at end,” Keke said. “I feel a lot better. I feel like I can go a lot longer. When the fourth quarter comes I can feel like I can keep going.”

Keke is listed as a first-team defensive end on the newly released two-deep. Landis Durham, who had 10.5 sacks last season, is on the other end.