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Texas A&M Football Hires Defensive Backs Coach, Offensive Line Coach

By Graham Harmon

Sep 4, 2021; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Eastern Illinois Panthers head coach Adam Cushing looks on before a game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 4, 2021; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Eastern Illinois Panthers head coach Adam Cushing looks on before a game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports /
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Adam Cushing, new OL coach for Texas A&M football
Sep 4, 2021; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Eastern Illinois Panthers head coach Adam Cushing looks on before a game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports /

Texas A&M Football Bringing Over Two Position Coaches from Duke Along with Elko

It looks like the new head man for Texas A&M football will be drawing upon his connections from his previous school in order to fill a couple of spots on the Aggie staff. Mike Elko is reportedly bringing along Adam Cushing and Ishmael Aristide to fill the offensive line and cornerbacks coaching positions, respectively.

Aristide is a veteran of not only Mike Elko’s staff at Duke, but also served under him as a graduate assistant during Elko’s time here in Aggieland. Aristide eventually departed for an opportunity as cornerbacks coach down in Miami. Upon Elko’s taking the head coach position up in Durham, however, it didn’t take long for Aristide to join him.

Cushing served as the head coach of Eastern Illinois for a couple of seasons but didn’t find much success. Elko then hired him over to Duke to coach offensive line, and the previously moribund Blue Devil offensive front saw immediate improvement.

These are both really solid hires. Cushing oversaw a huge improvement for what had been a troubled offensive line, to put it mildly, and his technical knowledge and coaching ability can surely help at a position that has been wanting for both.

Aristide, for his part, is not only a quality hire to coach the position, but a lights-out recruiter. Beloved by players, his return to Aggieland was a welcome one.

I recall specifically that Aristide’s departure was responsible for a Texas A&M football signee—Kendal Daniels, now of Oklahoma State (who the Aggies will soon face!)—giving an about-face and being released from his NLI once the news came down. All that to say, he is an influential guy even when in a reduced role.

This is another solid couple of hires for Mike Elko. Word is that, very soon, the Aggies may have an OC hire done and dusted soon enough as well.