When this Texas A&M football staff began to come together about a year ago, there was a lot of excitement about the potential, given what each coach had accomplished. You had a guy like Holmon Wiggins, for example, coming in as receivers coach and co-offensive coordinator who has put wideout after wideout in the NFL, including some of the most exciting names in the game today.
Trooper Taylor is a guy who has coached nearly every position group and all over the SEC. He's well-known as a big time recruiter, and has made his name as a heavy-hitter on the trail. Ish Aristide's previous stint with the Aggies had A&M fans super excited for his return as well.
Maybe the top two coaches that Aggie fans were most excited for, though, were Elko himself and his choice at OC: Collin Klein. Though some of the maroon and white faithful have been down on the latter after the second half of the season, Klein boasts a reputation as one of the most innovative minds when it comes to play calling and design in the nation.
Elko's ability as a defensive guru was well-known coming in, but the offenses he had overseen at Duke gave A&M fans a lot of hope as well. Unlike how some defensive-minded head coaches are, Elko clearly wanted to embrace the modern game on offense, and he was intent on doing so.
It also helps that he had presided over the development of one of the top quarterbacks in the nation in Riley Leonard— who is now the signal caller at Notre Dame as they gear up for the national championship game. Across from him? Former Collin Klein protege Will Howard.
So you’re telling me that we have the two coaches who developed the two championship contending qb’s on the same staff? 🥱 pic.twitter.com/d0aGKVfgvI
— dirty aggie (@dirtyjakester) January 11, 2025
The portal has made both of these guys one-year rentals at their current stops, but Leonard and Howard are products of Mike Elko and Collin Klein, respectively. That portends great things for long-term development at Texas A&M football.
With one of the sport's most exciting young stars in Marcel Reed behind center for the Aggies, I personally can't wait to see what this staff is able to make of him going into next year. This will be a key offseason for both of these coaches, and Reed in particular among the roster.