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Projecting Mike Elko’s First Texas A&M Football Staff

By Graham Harmon

Sep 9, 2023; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Elko looks on against the Lafayette Leopards during the second half at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 9, 2023; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Elko looks on against the Lafayette Leopards during the second half at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports /
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Texas A&M Football Defensive Assistant Projections

Defensive Line: Nick Williams
Williams is known as a top recruiter and served under Elko previously as a part of his Texas A&M football staff. He was an off-field assistant at that point, but left to be the defensive line coach up at Colorado. With the upheaval going on there, it’s not out of the question that Robinson and Elko try to poach a recruiting ace from Coach Prime’s staff. It should be said that Colorado’s DL is not stellar this year, but under the current regime in College Station, as well as considering the talent on campus, I’m less worried about that factor.

Defensive Backs: Ishmael Aristide, Bryant Gross-Armiento
TJ Rushing has done a great job recruiting and developing the defensive backs on this team (despite the issues they’ve had this year), but given that Aristide has served previously at A&M and is currently part of Elko’s Duke staff, I lean slightly towards Elko bringing him along instead. BGA is a top recruiter who would be a good retention headed into next year.

Linebackers: Tyler Santucci
This is a tough one. Santucci took over for Peveto early on in Elko’s time at A&M and has been with him ever since. His name is mud with much of the Aggie fanbase due to the Perkins and Hill recruitments, but all indications are that Santucci was an asset in those recruitments. The kicker is that I’m not sure you could get him to come from the Duke staff unless you hand him the co-DC title, at the very least. If you can balance that with Robinson’s role, then I’d be in favor of this hire for sure—but that’s a big “if,” especially if Duke gives him a hard look at being the next head man in Durham.

That’s how I see the defensive staff filling out. Now for the question on every Aggie’s mind: how about the offensive coaches?