Gig Em Gazette
Fansided

Mike Elko reportedly locked in recruiting dogfight as Belichick, UNC attempt to flip Texas A&M football commit

Mike Elko and company are now facing off with one of the most legendary coaches of all time in a recruiting battle— and they have their work cut out for them.
ByGraham Harmon|
Dec 14, 2024; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head football coach Bill Belichick during half time at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Dec 14, 2024; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head football coach Bill Belichick during half time at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Texas A&M football fans have been pretty pleased, on the whole, with Mike Elko's recruiting efforts since arriving in College Station. He and his staff have been right in the middle of some heavyweight battles, winning their fair share, and have also done an impressive job scouting some underrated guys who later shot up the rankings.

We saw that plenty in the 2025 class, and it's already happening in the 2026 class as well. The Aggies are off to a roaring start in this upcoming cycle, thanks to both some high-level additions and some guys who were lower-rated at first that have now become renowned names.

When you have examples of the latter case, though, you face some particular challenges. Though you get in early and can even secure a commitment, you have to weather some strenuous storms later on in the cycle as other teams begin to see what you saw first.

Bill Belichick and UNC hot on the trail of Texas A&M football commit Trashawn Ruffin

We're seeing that exact thing happen with 2026 DL commit Trashawn Ruffin, as legendary coach Bill Belichick is attempting to flip him to his new program in the UNC Tar Heels. Ruffin is a North Carolina native that Elko was in early on, securing his commitment several months ago, but as he has grown in national stature, other teams have begun to attempt a run at him.

Now, just because UNC is calling his phone doesn't mean Ruffin is picking up and listening, but Elko and company would do well to take this challenge seriously. By all accounts, Belichick is not messing around with how he runs his program, so this Texas A&M football staff can expect a tough test here.

That said, I think the Aggies still have the inside track. The last word we heard from Ruffin on this front was that his recruitment was shut down, so until that changes, I'm not worried. Elko and this staff have shown well that they are able to weather these storms, and I think they do so again in this one.

feed

Home/Texas A&M Football Recruiting

Schedule

Schedule