The landscape of Texas A&M has changed drastically since joining the SEC back in the 2012 season.
The Aggies went through Johnny Manziel, who became the first freshman to win the Heisman trophy. Following some exciting years and draft picks in the post-Manziel era, Jimbo Fisher was hired to take over Kevin Sumlin. An Aggie victory in the Orange Bowl made for a boom ending to the 2020 season.
Now, Texas A&M is still feeling the heat by allowing Fisher to walk, making room for head coach Mike Elko, who's about to coach for his second season in the maroon and white. After one anonymous coach praised Elko for turning around the program in the right, traditional direction. It's up to Elko to take this team to the next level, especially after some strong optimism he gave to his fans.
Elko: Texas A&M will become 'premier program in all of college football'
Elko has turned around the program already for the better. Sure, the Aggies second-half of the season went poorly, but new depth changes and injuries won that battle. This will be a new season, a season where we can see 10-12 draft picks in 2026, according to Elko.
Mike Elko expressed all kinds of optimism in his first coach’s night. He said A&M could have 10-12 draft picks in 2026. He said Marcel Reed will be “significantly better.” He said A&M will become the “premier program in all of college football.” More here: https://t.co/QZNTz9vic4
— Carter Karels (@CarterKarels) May 22, 2025
What we're all looking forward to is the growth of Marcel Reed. The kid has tremendous upside with running and passing abilities. His passing accuracy was a concern during the season, but with a full season to re-charge, and the addition of Mario Craver and KC Concepcion, there's no reason as to why Reed won't grow to the quarterback we know he can become.
Carter Karels of 247Sports adds that the Aggies can make history if Elko stays true to his word on having 10-12 players picked in the 2026 NFL Draft. The record for most Aggies selected in a single draft is 10 back in 1976.
These are strong words from Elko, and it's now the fans of Texas A&M who will give the final nod on Elko's optimistic take at the end of the season, but Elko is showing us that he's already a man who deserves the trust to lead this team.