Gig Em Gazette
Fansided

Texas A&M Football Adds Ace Recruiter to Mike Elko’s Staff

ByGraham Harmon|
Nov 6, 2010; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers quarterback Cameron Newton (2) celebrates with receivers coach Trooper Taylor after the Tigers scored against the Chattanooga Mocs during the first half at Jordan Hare Stadium in Auburn. The Tigers beat the Mocs 62-24. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 6, 2010; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers quarterback Cameron Newton (2) celebrates with receivers coach Trooper Taylor after the Tigers scored against the Chattanooga Mocs during the first half at Jordan Hare Stadium in Auburn. The Tigers beat the Mocs 62-24. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

Texas A&M Football Adds Veteran Coach Trooper Taylor to Staff

Texas A&M football continues to fill out the initial staff for Mike Elko. Their latest add, reportedly, is current Duke interim head coach Trooper Taylor.

Taylor predated Elko at Duke by a couple of years, but was retained for his recruiting acumen and experience coaching many different positions. Taylor has coached defensive backs, receivers, and running backs—with that latter position being the one that he will presumably be in charge of in College Station.

Taylor is a Texas native and played football at Baylor. He has served on staffs all over college football—under Mike Gundy at Oklahoma State, with Gene Chizik and Cam Newton at Auburn, and up in Knoxville at Tennessee. He obviously was part of a national championship staff down on the plains of Auburn back in 2010, and was the lead recruiter on that staff. He was named a top recruiter in the sport during his time in both Auburn and Knoxville.

This is another encouraging add to the Texas A&M football staff. Taylor is obviously a guy that is not only familiar with the landscape in the Southeastern Conference, but in the state of Texas as well. He’s taken point on some big time recruitments and overseen the development of some top-tier players.

The remaining open positions for this staff currently are tight ends coach, special teams coach, receivers coach, linebackers coach, and defensive coordinator. Presumably, whoever Elko tabs to be the DC can double as the LB coach, and you conceivably could have a guy double as special teams and tight ends coach as well. If that’s the case, we’re waiting on three more hires here for this staff.

In a time where there’s a lot of unrest on the recruiting front for the Aggies, adding another top recruiter onto the staff helps a lot. I’m excited to see Taylor get to work here soon.