DALLAS — Mike Elko was Texas A&M’s defensive coordinator for four seasons from 2018-21, but he always called plays from the Kyle Field press box during home games in College Station, Texas.
“I think the biggest thing is being able to actually come out of the tunnel onto the field on game day,” Elko said at SEC media days of his new role as the Aggies’ coach. “I think one of the things that people don’t know is I spent all of my time in the press box.
“I’ve never actually gotten to experience Kyle Field from field level. Certainly saw some memorable moments.”
Elko recalled Texas A&M’s 74-72 victory over LSU in seven overtimes in 2018 and beating No. 1 Alabama 41-38 on a last-play field goal in 2021.
“To see those from above was amazing,” he said. “I can’t imagine what that atmosphere actually feels like at ground level.
“I’m excited to lead our team down the tunnel for the first time against Notre Dame and hear Aggieland erupt live and in person. I think that’s going to be a really special feeling.”
Elko and Texas A&M have a marquee opener when Notre Dame plays at Kyle Field at 6:30 p.m. Central on Aug. 31 on ABC.
It will be the sixth time the Aggies have played the Fighting Irish and first time at home since 2001 when Texas A&M won 24-3.
Elko was Duke’s head coach the last two seasons, but he also served as the Fighting Irish’s defensive coordinator in 2017 when they finished 10-3 by beating LSU 21-17 in the Citrus Bowl.
LSU Coach Brian Kelly was Notre Dame’s coach from 2010-21.
“He’s a smart football coach,” Kelly said of Elko at SEC media days. “When I say smart, I don’t mean intellectual, but he has a degree from an Ivy League school too.”
Elko, 46, was a safety at Penn from 1995-98.
“What makes Mike a really good head coach is that he’s not going to just be a defensive coach,” said Kelly, whose Tigers play at Texas A&M on Oct. 26. “He’s going to oversee all units because he knows it all goes toward winning. I think he’ll be very successful at Texas A&M.”
Elko helped the Aggies go 34-14 in Jimbo Fisher’s first four seasons, including 9-1 in 2020 when they beat North Carolina in the Orange Bowl.
With Elko leaving for Duke and leading the Blue Devils to a 16-9 record and two bowl appearances, Texas A&M slipped to 5-7 under Fisher in 2022 and 6-4 last season when he was fired with two games left, even with a buyout of $77 million.
Now Elko is charged with delivering what Fisher could not — SEC and national championships. He signed a six-year contract worth $7 million annually before incentives.
“I think in this era of college football you better speed that process up,” Elko said. “I don’t think this is a very patient era.”
A problem for the Aggies under Fisher was keeping their starting quarterbacks healthy, including Conner Weigman last year.
Weigman, a redshirt sophom*ore, completed 82 of 119 passes (68.9%) for 979 yards and 8 touchdowns with 2 interceptions in four games before suffering a season-ending foot injury against Auburn. He played in five games in 2022 and passed for 896 yards and 8 touchdowns without an interception.
“I think the first thing this offseason was just trying to get his mindset back,” Elko said on the SEC Now set. “It was such a disappointing fall. He had such high expectations for what he was going to do, what the team was going to do.”
Elko said Weigman’s injury contributed to the wheels falling off a little for the Aggies in 2023.
“The first of it was just kind of building him back mentally,” Elko said. “It’s going to be OK. You’re going to get another shot at this. You’re going to be all right. Don’t put all this pressure on yourself.
“Now that he’s back healthy, it’s just cool watching him. His leadership has been enhanced. His connection with the wide receivers has gotten better. He’s being more intentional about getting out and around the guys on the team.”
Weigman is among seven returning starters on offense, including redshirt junior Trey Zuhn, going into his third season as a starting tackle.
The running game should be strong with juniors Amari Daniels (105 carries for 532 yards and 6 touchdowns last season) and Le’Veon Moss (96 for 488 and 5). Moss rushed 17 times for 107 yards in Texas A&M’s 34-22 victory over Arkansas last season.
Among the receivers, Evan Stewart transferred to Oregon and Ainias Smith is in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles, but the position is still strong, led by senior Jahdae Walker (35 catches for 590 yards) and junior Noah Thomas (29 for 359 and 5 touchdowns).
Junior Cyrus Allen, a transfer from Louisiana Tech, had 46 catches for 778 yards and 4 touchdowns last season.
The top returnees on defense include sophom*ore linebacker Taurean York (74 tackles with 8 1/2 for 19 yards in losses) and senior tackle Shemar Turner (6 sacks for 45 yards in losses).
“I would say the work ethic,” Turner said of the coaching transition with Elko. “It’s changed in everyone.
“It’s not just a handful of people on both sides of the ball that really, really want to win and really, really want to be great at the sport of football. I feel like everybody’s mentality is switching over now because Coach Elko harps about being hard-working and he harps on relationships with your teammates so much.
“I feel like it’s made everybody work harder for each other and not only for themselves. You’re not there for yourself no more.”
York is a team captain despite his youth.
“Man, the respect he got since he was a freshman is crazy,” Turner said. “Just the way he approaches the game. He watches film. He’s always in his playbook. He attacks workouts like it’s the Super Bowl.”
While Fisher’s job security and buyout became major topics at Texas A&M in recent years along with his verbal sparring with former Alabama Coach Nick Saban, the Aggies didn’t have any major distractions to deal with since Elko’s hiring.
“I’m proud of how quiet our offseason has been,” Elko said. “I’m proud of how quickly our players have adapted to a new culture and a new way of attacking football.
“We have introduced 41 new scholarship football players into our program. Just under 50% of our roster has turned over.
“But it’s been awesome to watch them intentionally go out of their way to come together and bond and be ready to put together a tremendous product for Aggie fans to be proud of this fall.”
The opener will mark the second consecutive season Elko has faced Notre Dame.
Last season the Fighting Irish won 21-14 at Duke when they scored a touchdown and two-point conversion with 31 seconds left to overcome a 14-13 deficit.
“I’d like to play no teams of that caliber, but I guess we have to,” Elko said with a smile when asked about the Notre Dame game. “It goes both ways. I think the benefit of having a game like that in the opener is you have everyone’s attention.
“I think our program is very much aware that we have to be firing on all cylinders the first time we run out of the tunnel. I think that’s created urgency in our program that goes all the way back to January.
“It lit the fire even more. I think when you get into those dog days of training camp where kids start to drag and get tired, it’s really easy to flash up there a logo of a big opener and get their attention back really quick.”
Texas A&M Aggies
2024 Schedule
Aug. 31 — Notre Dame
Sept. 7 — McNeese State
Sept. 14 — at Florida*
Sept. 21 — Bowling Green
Sept. 28 — Arkansas*#
Oct. 5 — Missouri*
Oct. 19 — at Mississippi State*
Oct. 26 — LSU*
Nov. 2 — at South Carolina*
Nov. 16 — New Mexico State
Nov. 23 — at Auburn*
Nov. 30 — Texas*
# indicates game played in Arlington, Texas
* indicates SEC game
Last season: 7-6, 4-4 (4th SEC West)
Coach: Mike Elko (1st year at Texas A&M 16-9 in 3rd year overall)
Returning starters: 12: Offense 7, Defense 4, Special Teams 1
Key players: QB Conner Weigman, RB Amari Daniels, RB Le’Veon Moss, WR Noah Thomas, LB Taurean York, DT Shamier Turner, CB Tyreek Chappell
Offensive coordinator: Collin Klein (1st year)
Defensive coordinator: Jay Bateman (1st year)
SEC title scenario: Expectations remain high at Texas A&M, as evidenced by Jimbo Fisher being fired despite having a $77 million buyout. But Elko should have a slight grace period, at least for this season considering the Aggies were picked to finish 9th in the SEC in a preseason media poll. Aggies fans probably will consider this a successful season if Texas A&M beats Texas in the regular-season finale. It will be the first time the Aggies and Longhorns have played since 2011.
This story was the ninth in a series previewing SEC football teams.
