Projecting Whether Texas A&M Football Upperclassmen Stay or Go

Which Upperclassmen are Staying and Which Are Going for Texas A&M Football?

With the advent of a new era of Texas A&M football, there are many questions surrounding the team. Who will the offensive coordinator be? Can the Aggies keep the roster together under a new coach? Can Texas A&M football keep Elijah Robinson around? One question that has been under-discussed, however, is whether this specific hire of Mike Elko might aid in keeping around some of the guys who might have otherwise been off to the NFL.

There’s been no shortage of talk about whether the Aggies might lose players to the portal and the positive effect that Elko’s hire will have there, especially on the defensive side. But when you consider some of the big names that were largely penciled in as NFL draft entries and the fact that several of them were recruited and coached by the new Aggie head man, the possibility that they might stay is exciting.

Several Aggies have gone to the NFL early over the past couple of years, perhaps inadvisably. Could Antonio Johnson, for example, have increased his stock by another year in school? It’s not inconceivable. Jaylon Jones was a late-round pick but has shown his quality in the league this year. Leon O’Neal and Jalen Wydermyer are another couple of guys who could have definitely benefitted from another year in College Station; of course, at least in O’Neal’s case, you have to think that Elko’s departure played a big part.

So for which players might his return be a game-changer for a potential draft decision? Are there any? Let’s take a look at the eligible players and see who might be coming back.