If it worked out wonderfully with Cashius Howell, it might work out for another former MAC star coming aboard in College Station. The unanimous All-American for the Texas A&M Aggies got his start in the MAC playing for the Bowling Green Falcons. After three seasons with them, Howell transferred to Texas A&M, where he likely guaranteed himself of a first-round NFL Draft selection.
In the transfer portal era, elite programs like Texas A&M have to look pretty much everywhere for top-flight talent across the college game. You cannot only look at teams in your league; you have to look elsewhere... It is why if the Aggies want to see if they can hit another home run in the transfer portal out of the MAC, it might serve them to see if Adam Trick wants to exhaust his eligibility in the SEC.
The Miami RedHawks star is seen as a top-five edge rusher slated to enter the portal. During his four years with Miami (OH), Trick amassed 102 total tackles and 13 sacks in 41 games for the RedHawks. This includes a dazzling 8.5-sack campaign this past season. With plenty of upside, Trick feels like the type of player defensive-minded Mike Elko can just plug-and-play to offset losing Howell to the NFL.
Let's make one thing clear: Just because Texas A&M may want him does not guarantee he will come.
Adam Trick could be Texas A&M's MAC replacement for Cashius Howell
One of the greatest attributes to admire about Elko is he does not care where you came from, just that you are here. For a program that has not always been about the right things, Elko has found ways to cut through some of the glitz and glamor to make Texas A&M a well-respected football team. In all honesty, he may rather link up with a rising Group of Five prospect than a high school impressionable.
With former MAC stars like Howell and Trick, we have seen players who have gotten better with each passing season. They choose to get better. The other big thing is they seem to be hungry for the big stage. Overlooked coming out of high school, they play every down like it is their last. It carries over positively within the context of a team sport called football. It is why Trick just might do the trick here.
Overall, Elko is going to find the right pieces to build next year's team. Whether that is a homegrown product, somebody fresh out of high school, or a newcomer out of the transfer portal, that remains to be seen. For now, Elko's no-nonsense demeanor has been the panacea this football program has long needed. As long as he stays committed to true defensive excellence, Texas A&M will find a way.
Once the transfer portal opens this weekend, then we shall see Texas A&M be fully in the thick of it.