Back in 1998, 21-year-old Mike Elko was finishing his playing career as a safety for Penn University of the Ivy League.
That same year, the Texas A&M football team won the Big 12 Championship led by R.C. Slocum. 26 years later, Elko is head coach of the Aggies, Slocum is interim director of athletics and Texas A&M hasn’t won a conference title since.
The Aggies joined the SEC in 2012 and have yet to appear in a conference championship game. In 2020, Texas A&M finished No. 5 in the nation and was left on the outside looking in at the College Football Playoff with Jimbo Fisher at the helm and Elko as defensive coordinator.
Last month, Elko sat down for an extensive Q&A with ESPN college football senior writer & insider Pete Thamel. Junior starting quarterback Conner Weigman, new offensive coordinator & quarterback coach Collin Klein and Notre Dame senior QB Riley Leonard were among the topics of discussion.
The winds of change swept through Texas A&M football as Jimbo Fisher made his exit following a lackluster season. In his place, the Aggies welcomed a new leader, Coach Mike Elko. Despite the challenges of a coaching transition, Elko orchestrated an impressive February National Signing Day, propelling Texas A&M to the No. 16 recruiting class in the nation. Additionally, the Aggies secured 247Sports’ second-best transfer class, showcasing Elko’s recruiting prowess in the fiercely competitive SEC.
Elko’s Winning Moves on National Signing Day
Elko’s strategic moves on National Signing Day elevated Texas A&M’s recruiting class. A key highlight was retaining the commitment of five-star athlete Terry Bussey, who had drawn interest from LSU and Georgia. Bussey’s decision to stick with the Aggies despite the coaching change proved to be Wednesday’s biggest win. Elko also secured the commitment of four-star receiver Ashton Bethel-Roman, further solidifying Texas A&M’s 2024 class and highlighting Elko’s ability to attract top-tier talent.
In an era dominated by the transfer portal, Elko adeptly navigated the evolving recruiting landscape. During the still-referred-to National Signing Day, Elko secured commitments from three recruits, adding to the 14 he landed during the Early Signing Period. Notably, three four-star prospects joined the Aggies, emphasizing Elko’s success in leveraging the transfer portal to enhance the team’s depth.
With 23 veterans making their way to College Station, Elko strategically utilized the transfer portal to bolster the team’s depth and experience. Some of these transfers are expected to be immediate starters like edge rusher Nic Scourton or cornerback Will Lee III . Elko’s emphasis on value and variety in recruiting has resulted in a well-rounded team poised for success in the challenging SEC.