Texas A&M's head coach, Mike Elko, has been turning heads and changing minds since his arrival in College Station. Initially, there were whispers of doubt surrounding his recruiting capabilities, but those concerns have been put to rest. Elko has not only secured impressive wins on the recruiting trail but also led the Aggies to an impressive 11-win season, well ahead of expectations.
In just two seasons, Elko's reputation is soaring, and it's no shocker that he's been named a top-10 head coach in the nation by renowned college football commentator Josh Pate. Pate's rankings consider a blend of on-field success, talent acquisition and development, organizational strength, and a touch of future potential.
Elko's prowess is evident across these criteria. While his earlier tenure at Duke might slightly weigh down his ranking, his recent achievements at Texas A&M shine brightly.
He's excelled in attracting talent, both from high school and the transfer portal, and has fortified the Aggie football program. The future looks promising for Texas A&M.
Looking ahead, the Aggies will face three coaches ranked higher than Elko in the upcoming season. However, with two of them, DeBoer and Sarkisian, experiencing downward trends, Elko has a prime opportunity to showcase his elite coaching skills. The stage is set for Elko to continue proving his mettle and keep the Aggies on an upward trajectory.