New Texas A&M Coach Mike Elko Is Going to Have The Aggies Whooping This Fall

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After years of underachieving under Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M gets a fresh start with Mike Elko this fall. And not a moment too soon as the Jimbo era was ROUGH. And he will be counting his millions in retirement for years to come. But the Aggies have a crop ton of money at least & it was clearly time for new energy.

It was quite the wild hiring after Mark Stoops from Kentucky took the job and the alumni revolted to bring in their guy Elko from Duke. Despite that fiasco, there are plenty of reasons for optimism. It was not so long ago that Elko was the defensive co-ordinator on the 2020 Aggie team that won the Orange Bowl and finished #5 in the nation. Then he went to Duke and somehow won 16 games in two years?!?!? Who does that? 

Elko also inherits a pretty talented roster and this is far from a rebuild. Let's take a look at the key questions facing the Aggies in his first season running the show in College Station…..

1) Can the offensive line keep highly touted QB Conner Weigman healthy?

Elko made a strong offensive co-ordinator hire in Collin Klein from Kansas State. There's a lot to like about Weigman. The former five star QB has a strong arm, is fairly mobile and takes care of the football. But can he stay healthy?

He was knocked out for the season in week 4 with a foot injury last season when an offensive lineman missed a block. A&M's offensive line still is a reason for concern. The Aggies could not run the ball last fall at all but do bring back 3 starters and some transfer portal help. The RB room is deep and there is some talent at WR & two solid TEs.

I am giving Collin Klein the benefit of the doubt here and Weigman is primed for a big year in a balanced offense. 

2) How much can Mike Elko improve the defense?

Despite losing the #1 player in the portal in DL Walter Nolen to Ole Miss, the Aggies still have a ton of talent on the defensive line. Look out for Purdue transfer Nic Scourton. The 280 pound defensive end led the Big 10 in sacks last season and is ferocious. The Aggies front 4 could be one of the best in the country.

All American LB Edgerrin Cooper (2nd Rounder Green Bay) is going to be tough to replace but Freshman All American Taurean York is ready to step in at least. The secondary is more of a concern especially at cornerback but Safety Bryce Anderson provides some hope.

Elko has a strong enough track record and there's enough talent to think this should be a pretty dang good defense.

3) Will the Aggies ever win on the road?

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Texas A&M's last road win was in OCTOBER of 2021 at Mizzou?!?!? I had to do a double take when I saw that stat. That is ridiculous! Luckily, most of the Aggies toughest games are in the friendly confines of a raucous Kyle Field this fall.

All eyes will be on College Station this Saturday night when Notre Dame comes to town in a near pick 'em game. Mike Elko should be awfully familiar with Irish starting QB Riley Leonard after coaching him at Duke the last two years. This is a brutally hard game to pick but I am going with the Aggies in a physical low scoring affair behind the home crowd.

McNeese is a cream puff in Week 2. Then A&M hits the road for The Swamp. Until the Aggies win on the road, I gotta see it to believe it. They fall in Gainesville to a desperate Billy Napier who is fighting to keep his job.

Bowling Green will be an easy bounce back then the Aggies will pull out the Arkansas game in Jerry World as they always do. Mizzou comes to town the following week but they are feeling a little overrated. And I DO NOT like going against the Aggies at Kyle Field. A&M gets it done.

Following a bye, the Aggies FINALLY cure the road woes in Starkville against a rebuilding Mississippi State. That sets up a monster showdown against LSU in late October. I have no faith in LSU's defense on the road and Texas A&M rides high into November with only one loss as one of the stories of the season.

And right when everyone thinks the Aggies are legit, they have a tricky road trip to Columbia, South Carolina in a game that looks too easy. And they completely blow it as they so often do when they remember in November.

Following a bye, A&M hammers New Mexico State before another tricky road trip to the Plains against Auburn. Once again the Aggies falter on the road in front of a rowdy crowd. 

When all hope is lost and the fans are panicking, A&M saves the season with a home rivalry win over Texas in their first matchup since 2011 to finish 9-3 in year 1 under Mike Elko. As long as Weigman stays healthy at QB, this will be a fun year in Aggie Land.