Elijah Robinson Returns to Texas A&M as Co-Defensive Coordinator, Reuniting with Mike Elko
Elijah Robinson is heading back to College Station, and for Texas A&M, that’s more than just a homecoming - it’s a reunion with one of college football’s most respected defensive minds.
Robinson, who spent the 2024 season as Syracuse’s defensive coordinator, has been named the Aggies’ new defensive line coach and co-defensive coordinator. It’s a familiar role in a familiar place, and one that pairs him once again with head coach Mike Elko. The two worked side by side for four years during Robinson’s previous six-year stint at Texas A&M, when Elko was orchestrating the defense under Jimbo Fisher.
Now, with Elko at the helm and Texas A&M fresh off a College Football Playoff appearance - their first under the expanded 12-team format - the stage is set for Robinson to help elevate the Aggies’ defense even further. While the team fell to Miami in the opening round, just making the field was a major step forward. Bringing back a coach like Robinson, who knows the program, the region, and the recruiting landscape, is a strategic move aimed at sustaining that momentum.
Robinson’s reputation as a recruiter and position coach is well-established. He’s known for his ability to connect with players and develop talent in the trenches - a skill set that made him a hot commodity even after a rocky year at Syracuse. Programs like LSU and Nebraska reportedly had interest, but it’s Texas A&M that landed him.
His time at Syracuse was a mixed bag. Robinson was brought in by head coach Fran Brown - a longtime friend - and helped the Orange notch a 10-win season in 2024.
He also played a key role in bringing standout defensive end Fadil Diggs with him from Texas A&M. But despite the early promise, the Orange defense struggled to find its footing.
By the end of the 2025 season, Syracuse had allowed more points than any other team in the Power Four, and Robinson was reassigned from defensive coordinator to defensive line coach.
It quickly became clear that Robinson wouldn’t be staying in that reduced role. His track record and national reputation all but guaranteed he’d land elsewhere - and likely somewhere big. That proved true on Monday, when Texas A&M officially announced his return.
Syracuse has already moved on, naming Vince Kehres as its new defensive coordinator. Kehres comes in after leading a Toledo defense that ranked fourth nationally in points allowed this past season.
On the defensive line, the Orange are expected to bring in Jeremy Hawkins from Georgia State. While the school hasn’t officially announced the hire, Hawkins has updated his social media to reflect the move.
As for Robinson, he took to social media Monday to thank those he worked with at Syracuse. He gave a heartfelt shoutout to Brown, calling him “my brother far beyond this profession,” and expressed gratitude to athletic director John Wildhack, his fellow coaches, and the players he coached.
For Texas A&M, this is more than just a coaching hire - it’s a reunion of minds that once helped build one of the SEC’s most formidable defensive fronts. And for Robinson, it’s a chance to get back to what he does best, in a place that knows exactly what he brings to the table.