Texas A&M heads into its opener against Missouri State with plenty of eyes on Mike Elko and, just as importantly, on the roster he’s trying to steady and sharpen.
That was the backdrop for Elko’s appearance on the SEC teleconference Wednesday, where he touched on the pieces that matter most for the Aggies right now: Marcel Reed’s growth, the value of keeping young talent in the program, and what Texas A&M expects from a receiver group trying to fill a major void.
Reed remains the centerpiece of the discussion. He’s continued to develop each season, and after spending much of the latter half of last year on the Heisman watch, he now enters his first full season as the starter.
The finish wasn’t ideal, but the way the team closed had as much to do with the group around him as it did with Reed himself. The next step, though, is still on his shoulders if Texas A&M wants a real run at the College Football Playoff.
Elko also made it clear that the relationship with his quarterback is a constant one.
“A lot. If you do, you're doing it the right way.
Communication with your QB is really important. You want him to feel confident in executing.
We have a lot of conversations with him."
The coach then pointed to the new five-year, age-based eligibility rule, saying it simplifies the weekly decision-making.
"Obviously, now you don't have to have any conversations about who's playing."
Another area Elko emphasized was retention. In a college football climate where players can bolt quickly, he said keeping promising young players inside the program has been a priority.
"It was really important that we have talented young players stay. We believe keeping them in-house is vital to our success."
That same focus on continuity shows up in how Texas A&M is trying to rebuild at receiver. Elko singled out Terry Bussey, Mario Craver and Isaiah Horton while making it clear the group is being asked to help replace a proven player.
"Terry (Bussey) has shown a lot in the return game since he's been here. Mario (Craver) has shown a lot in the screen game since he's been here.
Isaiah (Horton) is a kid on film who shows that he has the ability. We are trying to replace a really good one."
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The early read is encouraging because the Aggies are not starting from scratch on either side of the ball. They have experience returning on defense as well, and with kickoff dates and some TV windows already attached to the slate, there is at least a clearer sense of when the real tests will start to stack up and what kind of response this group will need to show once the season begins. [Read more 🡒]