The press availability with Texas A&M football's Mike Elko today ahead of UTSA game week was very revealing in several ways. First, the revelation that five-star freshman Jerome Myles was lost for the season due to injury was certainly a gut punch for the Aggies, but the receiver position will no doubt be alright if they can remain healthy throughout the year.
There were several other points of interest through the course of the press conference, of course, but one question that the Aggie faithful had heavy on their minds throughout the duration of fall camp was who had won the QB2 job. It's not fun to think about, but the Aggies have had to start a backup in at least one game over the last few seasons, so it's something that A&M fans need to be aware of.
The battle was between super senior Jacob Zeno, a transfer from UAB and Baylor, and redshirt freshman Miles O'Neill. The accuracy and experience of Zeno was a huge add from the portal this last cycle, but O'Neill really wowed Aggie fans with his play in limited time last year. At his presser today, Elko revealed which player triumphed in that battle.
Mike Elko names Miles O'Neill as Texas A&M QB2, answering Aggie fans' burning question
Elko today named Miles O'Neill as the victor in the battle for A&M's backup quarterback spot. This is a pretty momentous move for the young signal caller out of Massachusetts, as it signals a high level of belief in his ability by the coaching staff.
Zeno seemed tailor-made to be the backup here in Aggieland thanks to his experience and accuracy, but the pure talent of O'Neill, who continues to defy his low ranking out of high school, appears to have won out here.
The question now is that, hoping that Marcel remains healthy, whether the Aggies can keep Miles around. His future indeed seems pretty bright, a notion that's supported by this latest eventuality, but in the day and age of the transfer portal, things can change on a dime. Hopefully, he's in Aggieland for the long haul.