Photo by: Ethan Mito/Texas A&M Athletics
Player Media Availability Quotes: Arkansas
Oct 14, 2025 | Football
BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION--Texas A&M defensive tackle Tyler Onyedim and running back Rueben Owens II met with the press after Tuesday's practice during the Aggies' weekly media availability. Select quotes from the session are available below along with full video.
The fourth-ranked Aggies (6-0, 3-0) begin a three-game road swing Saturday afternoon in Fayetteville against the Arkansas Razorbacks (2-4, 0-2). Kickoff on ESPN is set for 2:30 p.m. Fans can also listen to the game along the Texas A&M Sports Network (1620 AM/94.5 FM locally) or worldwide inside the 12th Man Mobile App or at 12thman.com.
Halfway through the season, how do you feel like this year has gone for you particularly so far?
"I feel like I've been doing pretty good. Obviously I'm not perfect. I could be better. But I feel like I've been doing pretty smooth for sure. Coming into the SEC, just trying to prove people wrong."
What's been the biggest difference in the defense the last three games?
"Stopping the run, to be honest. We've been stopping the run. You have to stop the run to get to the QB. So I feel like that's been helping us a lot."
What is it about the second half? It seems like the defense really turned it on in the second half these last three games...
"Games are won in the fourth quarter. So I feel like the mentality that we have is...every quarter it should be the same, but I feel like you've just got to step it up a little bit more. Obviously the first quarter you see what people are doing and you see what the other team is doing, stuff like that. In the fourth quarter, you've just got to turn it up."
What are some of the big differences between playing these games in the SEC compared to your three years up in Iowa?
"I feel like playing here obviously it's more physical. Playing in the SEC is what everybody dreams of. So I feel like here it's just a more physical sport. But at the end of the day, it's football. You know, it's playing football...the sport you were playing when you were little."
Why is this team better off than a year ago to withstand some of the injuries?
"Because we've got more depth. The players that's behind the players are good too. So it doesn't matter who's in the game. We'll all be ready."
With Le'Veon out for an extended period of time, what's kind of your approach this week and how much does it maybe help that you've had an extended run these last two games in particular, knowing that you might get a good bulk of the carries these next few weeks?
"It sucks that Le'Veon is out, you know, he's one of the premier backs on our team. But like Coach Troop teaches us, always be prepared. Next guy up. There should be no fall off. Lev got hurt, but there should be no drop off. It should be the same thing that the running game has been."
What does it mean to you to hear Coach Elko yesterday describe you as the next man up?
"That's great to hear. But we've got other backs in our thing. So it's not just going to be me. It's gonna be all of us. And we've got to just put on a show and show you all that we can run the ball good."
With the three road games coming up, is this team feel like a team that kind of feeds off the negative energy that that an away stadium kind of provides?
"No, The way Coach Elko prepares us for away games, the music, it being loud out there...he prepares us real good throughout the week so we can be ready for the these away games."
The fourth-ranked Aggies (6-0, 3-0) begin a three-game road swing Saturday afternoon in Fayetteville against the Arkansas Razorbacks (2-4, 0-2). Kickoff on ESPN is set for 2:30 p.m. Fans can also listen to the game along the Texas A&M Sports Network (1620 AM/94.5 FM locally) or worldwide inside the 12th Man Mobile App or at 12thman.com.
Media Availability: Tyler Onyedim
Halfway through the season, how do you feel like this year has gone for you particularly so far?
"I feel like I've been doing pretty good. Obviously I'm not perfect. I could be better. But I feel like I've been doing pretty smooth for sure. Coming into the SEC, just trying to prove people wrong."
What's been the biggest difference in the defense the last three games?
"Stopping the run, to be honest. We've been stopping the run. You have to stop the run to get to the QB. So I feel like that's been helping us a lot."
What is it about the second half? It seems like the defense really turned it on in the second half these last three games...
"Games are won in the fourth quarter. So I feel like the mentality that we have is...every quarter it should be the same, but I feel like you've just got to step it up a little bit more. Obviously the first quarter you see what people are doing and you see what the other team is doing, stuff like that. In the fourth quarter, you've just got to turn it up."
What are some of the big differences between playing these games in the SEC compared to your three years up in Iowa?
"I feel like playing here obviously it's more physical. Playing in the SEC is what everybody dreams of. So I feel like here it's just a more physical sport. But at the end of the day, it's football. You know, it's playing football...the sport you were playing when you were little."
Media Availability: Rueben Owens II
Why is this team better off than a year ago to withstand some of the injuries?
"Because we've got more depth. The players that's behind the players are good too. So it doesn't matter who's in the game. We'll all be ready."
With Le'Veon out for an extended period of time, what's kind of your approach this week and how much does it maybe help that you've had an extended run these last two games in particular, knowing that you might get a good bulk of the carries these next few weeks?
"It sucks that Le'Veon is out, you know, he's one of the premier backs on our team. But like Coach Troop teaches us, always be prepared. Next guy up. There should be no fall off. Lev got hurt, but there should be no drop off. It should be the same thing that the running game has been."
What does it mean to you to hear Coach Elko yesterday describe you as the next man up?
"That's great to hear. But we've got other backs in our thing. So it's not just going to be me. It's gonna be all of us. And we've got to just put on a show and show you all that we can run the ball good."
With the three road games coming up, is this team feel like a team that kind of feeds off the negative energy that that an away stadium kind of provides?
"No, The way Coach Elko prepares us for away games, the music, it being loud out there...he prepares us real good throughout the week so we can be ready for the these away games."
Players Mentioned
DT
/ Football
RB
/ FootballArkansas Game Week Media Availability: Rueben Owens II
Tuesday, October 14
Arkansas Game Week Media Availability: Tyler Onyedim
Tuesday, October 14
Arkansas Game Week Press Conference: Mike Elko
Monday, October 13
Florida Postgame: Taurean York
Saturday, October 11
