Texas A&M regressed to the mean after a hot start in the first year of the Mike Elko tenure. The Aggies won seven straight, punctuated by a comeback victory over LSU under the lights in Kyle Field, following the Week 1 loss to a Notre Dame squad that wound up in the national championship game four months later. They lost the final four against Power Four opponents, including to Texas at home in the return of the rivalry. 

“The reality is, we were probably somewhere in the middle and that’s where we finished,” Elko said in the spring. “It sucks, how we got there to some degree, but we put ourselves in position to get on some big stages at the end and we just didn’t handle them well or play our best football. It was the first time these kids have been in a situation where they were playing in those types of meaningful games and that requires a bit of learning curve.”

The Aggie faithful won’t allow much more time for studying. They want results. That’s why Texas A&M paid Jimbo Fisher the GDP of a small island to go away. The instant success for the Longhorns upon entering the SEC doesn’t help. After all, college football is only as fun as it is miserable for your rivals. Elko spent Year 1 establishing a culture and putting the “team” back into Texas A&M.

Accumulating talent is a massive factor in predicting college football success. Yet, no fan base in America [1]  better understands that it requires more than five-star talent to win football games to compete for championships.

The Aggies signed the top-rated recruiting class in recorded internet history in 2022 and went 12-13 over the next two seasons before replacing Fisher with Elko. Le’Veon Moss, safety Bryce Anderson, and tight end Theo Melin Ohrstrom are the only projected starters still on campus from that historic 30-man signing class.

Football is the ultimate team sport and, cliché as it sounds, culture wins championships. The locker room matters. Accountability counts. Ask any Aggie player who was on the team before and after the change at head coach about the switch, and the most mentioned word is culture.

“The accountability of the team was a lot different last year than it was my freshman year,” Reed said. “You could see everyone was trying to do the right thing and that brought us closer together. As well as giving us the discipline to go out there and play sound and be disciplined in what we were doing.”

Eight wins was a solid foundation for Elko’s Ags. Year 2 requires more. They settled on a quarterback in Marcel Reed and he received a whole offseason of first-team reps. The entire starting offensive line and the primary two backups return to power a rushing attack that’ll feature Le’Veon Moss, Amari Daniels, and Reuben Owens. They stocked the pond with top transfers at wide receiver and tight end. And Elko believes the defense will benefit the most from a second year in the system.

“I think we have to make the natural Year 1 to Year 2 jump,” Elko said. “I think that’s a critical component to what has to happen around here. I don’t think anybody truly appreciates how challenging it is in Year 1 to get everything up and running at the level you want it.”

Even an improved Aggie squad could struggle to improve on last season’s eight-win total. They must travel to Notre Dame, LSU, and Texas. The home slate includes Auburn, Florida, and South Carolina. The good news is that the 12-team playoff doesn’t require perfection and a 9-3 record against that gauntlet provides Texas A&M with a strong argument for one of the final playoff spots. Win 10 games and the case is closed.

And make no mistake, those are the expectations in Aggieland moving forward.

DCTF Take

Expect the Aggies to lean on the running game with Marcel Reed chosen as the future at quarterback. He’ll be joined in the backfield by a trio of talented running backs in Le’Veon Moss, Amari Daniels, and former five-star Reuben Owens. The offensive line returns all five starters, including left tackle Trey Zuhn and right guard Armaj Reed-Adams. The real question marks are on the defensive side of the ball for Mike Elko in Year 2. Texas A&M must replace defensive ends Shemar Stewart and Nic Scourton while improving against the pass. The 2025 schedule is tougher than it was in 2024.

Offensive Breakdown

Marcel Reed (1,864 passing yards, 15 TDs; 547 rushing yards, 7 TDs) emerged as the starting quarterback for Texas A&M when the dust settled on the 2024 season. Reed started eight games in 11 appearances and solidified himself as the future at the position in a second-half comeback against LSU that included three unanswered rushing touchdowns.

Reed is an undeniable runner of the football. He led all SEC quarterbacks with 4.7 yards per rush last season. The Aggies need him to improve as a downfield passer as a sophomore, something head coach Mike Elko feels confident about because of Reed’s familiarity with offensive coordinator Collin Klein’s system.

“I think we’ll see some big growth from him,” Elko said. “He was thrown into the fire and that taught him the urgency of preparation, the urgency of really locking in on all those little details. He now knows what it takes to be a successful quarterback at this level.”

To help Reed and the passing game, Texas A&M improved through the transfer portal at the wide receiver and tight end positions. KC Concepcion (North Carolina State) and Mario Craver (Mississippi State) will start at wide receiver alongside super sophomore Terry Bussey. Concepcion caught 124 passes for 1,299 yards and 16 touchdowns over two years in the ACC. Craver started three times as a true freshman for the Bulldogs last year and averaged 21.6 yards per reception. The lone loss was Noah Thomas, who transferred to Georgia.

The Aggies added three tight ends through the portal to team with the returning Theo Melin Ohrstrom. Elko believes all four have unique skill sets that Klein can use throughout the season. Amari Niblack (Texas) began his career at Alabama and is a weapon in the passing game. Nebraska transfer Nate Boerkircher is an elite run blocker.

“We had a lot of turnover in the wide receiver room and we needed to go out and build that group, and I think we did just that,” Elko said. “We’re really excited about the two transfers (Craver and Concepcion). Both of those kids are going to impact games.”

The running back room is a known commodity with the top four rushers from last year still on campus. Le’Veon Moss (765 rushing yards, 10 TDs) was having an All-SEC type season before an injury in the ninth game of the campaign. He’ll be joined in the backfield by Amari Daniels, E.J. Smith, and Reuben Owens. Owens only played two games last year because of injury. He’s a former five-star recruit who could be a breakout player if his body holds up.

Offensive line is the strength of the offense, a sharp contrast from the last couple of years of the Jimbo Fisher era. Left tackle Trey Zuhn and right guard Ar’maj Reed-Adams are all-conference caliber starters. Chase Bisontis returns at left guard, as do right tackles Dametrious Crownover and Reuben Fatheree II. Koli Faaiu is back at center and he’ll compete with Mark Nabou, who entered 2024 as the starter before a season-ending injury in Week 1 versus Notre Dame.

“Cohesion matters a lot up front and we have our top seven guys coming back this year,” Elko said. “That’s always a positive, especially coming from a group that played pretty good football last fall.”

Breakout Candidates

OL Mark Nabou Jr. – A former 12-game starter at left guard who successfully made the transition to starting center for the 2024 season before a season-ending injury in Week 1 against Notre Dame. He’ll compete with Koli Faaiu at center and be a swing guard to help spell Chase Bisontis and Ar’maj Reed-Adams.

TE Amari Niblack – The athletic tight end began his career at Alabama and will become the first football player in modern times to play for both Texas and Texas A&M. Niblack has caught 26 passes for 375 yards and five touchdowns in three seasons in the SEC. 

 

Projected Starters

QB          10            Marcel Reed    Soph.   6-2, 185               Nashville, Tenn. 

RB           8               Le’Veon Moss                                    Sr.           6-0, 210               Walker, La.

WR         7               KC Concepcion              Jr.             5-11, 190            Charlotte, N.C.

WR         2               Terry Bussey    Soph.   6-0, 195               Timpson

WR         1               Mario Craver   Soph.   5-10, 165            Birmingham, Ala.         

TE            17            Theo Melin Ohrstrom                  Jr.             6-6, 260               Stockholm, Sweden

LT            60            Trey Zuhn III     Sr.           6-7, 320               Fort Collins, Colo.

LG           71            Chase Bisontis               Jr.             6-6, 330               Ramsey, N.J.

C              61            Kolinu’u Faaiu                 Sr.           6-3, 340               Lynwood, Wash.

RG          55            Ar’maj Reed-Adams   Sr.           6-5, 340               DeSoto

RT            78            Dametrious Crownover            Sr.           6-7, 340               Grandview

K               47            Randy Bond     Sr.           5-11, 200            Plano West

 

Keep an Eye On

Football is a violent sport and the prospect of a dual-threat quarterback is a double-edged sword. Marcel Reed’s legs give the Aggies their best shot at SEC contention. It also puts him in the line of fire. Texas A&M has started multiple quarterbacks every season since the pandemic because of injury and the backup quarterback spot in Aggieland was an open battle entering the summer. Transfer Jacob Zeno added a veteran presence to a young room. Redshirt freshman Miles O’Neill and true freshman Brady Hart were highly touted recruits competing for QB2 with Zeno. 

 

By the Numbers

30.4 – The Aggies scored just over 30 points a game and checked in at 49th nationally in scoring offense in Year 1 under offensive coordinator Collin Klein.

210.3 – Texas A&M was 87th in passing yards per game as Marcel Reed and Conner Weigman split time at quarterback last year.

90.57 – That’s the scoring percentage for Texas A&M in the red zone, which was 17th nationally and second in Texas, trailing only TCU. The 69.81 touchdown percentage was 29th in FBS.

Defensive Breakdown

The Wrecking Crew allowed too many big plays in 2024 and eliminating those was the emphasis for the defense this offseason, per head coach Mike Elko. His Aggies ranked 106th in FBS in 40-plus yard plays allowed with 16. They allowed 29 plays over 30 yards and 60 over 20, both ranked in the 90s out of 134 schools.

“It’s funny because play-in and play-out, it was one of the best defenses I’ve had at Texas A&M from an efficiency standpoint,” Elko explained. “But from a statistical standpoint, it was one of the worst. The problem was the amount of explosive plays we gave up.”

Elko believes experience within a system and continuity matter on defense. Broken coverages and missed assignments are typically the root cause for big plays allowed. Year 2 should produce fewer of those. Look at the best defenses in the SEC and you’ll find coordinators and systems that were in place for years.

“The hardest thing on defense in Year 1 is that you can’t ever control the variables, right? You defend whatever the offense throws at you and that’s where reps and experience matter,” Elko said. “Having some guys back that now have a year in the system and know what this is all about will help us tremendously.”

The task for Elko & Co. is to improve a unit that is losing multiple NFL draft picks along the defensive line. The Aggies recorded 92 tackles for loss last season, which was top 25 in college football. Over 25% of those came from Nic Scourton, Shemar Turner, and Shemar Stewart, and that trio now plays on Sundays.

The Aggies added a trio of transfer edge rushers in T.J. Searcy (Florida), Dayon Hayes (Colorado), and Sam M’Pemba (Georgia) to compete with the returning Cashius Howell and Rylan Kennedy. Iowa State transfer Tyler Onyedim impressed this spring and should play significant snaps along the interior of the defensive line. Albert Regis and former five-star recruit DJ Hicks are also anchors at the defensive tackle spots.

“That’s college football, right?,” Elko said of losing three NFL draft picks along the defensive line. “We’re really excited with some of the guys we have back in Cashius (Howell) and Rylan Kenedy. It’s DJ Hicks’ time to now step into a big role. And then you go and do what you need to do in the transfer portal.”

Linebacker is more of a known commodity with Taurean York and Scooby Williams back as starters and primary reserve Daymion Sanford also returning. Safety is another position with plenty of familiar faces thanks to the return of Dalton Brooks, Bryce Anderson, and Marcus Ratcliffe. Sophomore Myles Davis was a young player mentioned in the spring.

Texas A&M was 90th in passing yards allowed nationally with 3,018 given up last year in 13 games. A stark contrast to Elko’s last defense as coordinator the Aggies in 2021 when they allowed the fewest pass yards per game in the nation.

Will Lee III is an all-conference talent at one cornerback spot. Dezz Ricks and Georgia transfer Julian Humphrey are battling it out for the other cornerback spot. Both are former national Top 100 recruits hoping to live up to their immense potential in their second stops as collegiates. 

Breakout Candidates

DT Tyler Onyedim – The Iowa State transfer started 21 games over the last two seasons for the Cyclones and was honorable mention All-Big 12 in 2023. He recorded 33 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss last season. He’ll rotate with Albert Regis and D.J. Hicks in the interior of the Aggie defensive line.

DB Myles Davis – Davis made a strong impression this spring and proved worthy of more snaps in the Aggie secondary. The Converse Judson product was primarily a special teams player in his 12 appearances as a true freshman. He’ll be a primary reserve and push for starting snaps behind Bryce Anderson and Dalton Brooks.

 

Projected Starters

DE           50            Dayon Hayes  Sr.           6-3, 260               Pittsburgh, Pa. 

NT           17            Albert Regis Sr.               6-2, 315               La Porte

DT           13            D.J. Hicks           Jr.             6-5, 310               Katy Paetow

DE           18            Cashius Howell              Sr.           6-4, 255               Kansas City, Mo.

WLB      21            Taurean York  Jr.             6-0, 235               Temple

MLB       0               Scooby Williams           Sr.           6-2, 230               Birmingham, Ala.

NB          7               Tyreek Chappell            Sr.           5-11, 185            Philadelphia, Pa.

CB          6               Julian Humphrey           Jr.             6-0, 195               Clear Lake

CB          4               Will Lee III          Sr.           6-3, 190               St. Louis, Mo. 

SS           25            Dalton Brooks                 Jr.             6-0, 200               Shiner

FS            1               Bryce Anderson             Sr.           6-0, 190               West Brook

P               37            Tyler White        Soph.   6-4, 220               Southlake Carroll

 

Keep an Eye On

Improving the pass defense was priority No. 1 for Mike Elko and the defensive staff at Texas A&M. The nickel is one of the most important positions in modern football as an answer for the multiplicity of college offenses. Tyreek Chappell and Washington transfer Jordan Shaw are the likely candidates to become the mainstay at the spot for the Aggies in 2025. Chappell is a senior who started the first two games of 2024 before suffering a season-ending injury in practice. Shaw is a redshirt sophomore who started nine games and played in 13 during his only season at Washington.

 

By the Numbers

22.2 – Texas A&M allowed just over 22 points a game which was 34th in the FBS and 11th in the SEC in Year 1 of the Mike Elko era.

7.08 – That’s the average number of tackles for loss Texas A&M recorded in a game last year, good for 18th-best in FBS. The Aggies had 92 total on the year.

232.2 – Texas A&M was 90th in passing yards allowed in America at over 230 per game. The Aggies were 37th in passing defense in 2023.

 

Ceiling

10-2

Running the table might be an impossible ask in Year 2 for Mike Elko’s squad, but winning 10 games and reaching the College Football Playoff isn’t off the table if Marcel Reed takes the next step and the Wrecking Crew improves against the pass. The Aggies must hold serve at home.

Floor

5-7

Combine a tough SEC slate with a non-conference schedule that includes a road trip to Notre Dame and it’s possible that the Aggies flirt with missing a bowl. Trips to Notre Dame, LSU, Missouri, and Texas are tough. Home games against Florida, South Carolina and Auburn aren’t gimmes. 

 

Coach Gossip

“Elko came in and kind of steadied the A&M ship. It’ll be interesting to see what they do this year because from the outside looking in and being a Texan, I know those guys down there in College Station are going to get frustrated if it stays the status quo. I know last year was a great year, but more years like that won’t cut it. They’re going to get frustrated, especially because of what Texas is doing.”

“Mike (Elko) brought in a culture that is a complete 180 from Jimbo and that’s a good thing. Will he win enough for that fan base? I don’t know. That’s a tough conference and that job is infinitely harder when the Longhorns are cooking.”

“You’d think the expanded playoff helps A&M more than anybody. Just finish fourth or fifth in that conference and you’re probably in.”

 

2024 RESULTS

Aug. 31                 Notre Dame     L, 23-13
Sept. 7                  McNeese            W, 52-10
Sept. 14               at Florida            W, 33-20
Sept. 21               Bowling Green                 W, 26-20
Sept. 28               Arkansas (Arlington)  W, 21-17
Oct. 5                     Missouri              W, 41-10
Oct. 19                 at Mississippi State    W, 34-24
Oct. 26                 LSU                          W, 38-23
Nov. 2                    at South Carolina         L, 44-20
Nov. 16                 New Mexico State        W, 38-3
Nov. 23                 at Auburn           L, 43-41 (4OT)
Nov. 30                 Texas                     L, 17-7
Dec. 27                USC (Las Vegas Bowl)                L, 35-31
Record: 8-5 (5-3)

 

2025 PREDICTIONS

Aug. 30                 UTSA                      W
Sept. 6                  Utah State         W
Sept. 13               at Notre Dame                L
Sept. 27               Auburn                 W
Oct. 4                     Mississippi State          W
Oct. 11                 Florida                                    W
Oct. 18                 at Arkansas      W
Oct. 25                 at LSU                   L
Nov. 8                    at Missouri        W
Nov. 15                 South Carolina                L
Nov. 22                 Samford              W
Nov. 29                 at Texas               L
Record: 8-4 (5-3)

Biggest Game

Nov. 29 at Texas

Knocking off the “t-sips” for the first time since a trip to Austin in 2010 is high on the priority list for Texas A&M. Punctuating Year 2 of the Mike Elko era with a win over the Horns would be priceless for on- and off-field momentum in Aggieland.

Trap Game

Oct. 18 at Arkansas

Old Southwest Conference foes Texas A&M and Arkansas meet in Arkansas for the first time since 2013. The Aggies have won 12 of their last 13 against the Razorbacks, but the mid-October trip is sandwiched between a home game against Florida and a trip to LSU.

Upset Bid

Sept. 13 at Notre Dame

The first of three tough road challenges for Texas A&M in 2025 is against Notre Dame in South Bend. The Fighting Irish knocked off the Aggies in College Station in last year’s season opener and ended the year in the national title game.