Photo by: Ethan Mito/Texas A&M Athletics
Player Media Availability Quotes: Florida
Oct 07, 2025 | Football
BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION--Texas A&M defensive end Cashius Howell and offensive lineman Trey Zuhn III 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 fifth-ranked Aggies (5-0, 2-0) close out a three-game homestand when they host Florida (2-3, 1-1) under the lights. Kickoff on ESPN is set for 6 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.
What are you seeing from this defense in the last two games in particular that's allowed you guys to play so well?
"I think a couple guys, obviously Taurean York, Will Lee, Dezz Ricks…I think a guy that's really stepped up (is) Daymion Sanford, definitely in the past couple weeks. I feel like he's made major strides just as a ballplayer within these last two weeks that have definitely helped us win."
What about this season has made you guys be more productive and actually finish the sacks and getting home?
"I can't really speak as far as last year or what happened last year, but I know this year--myself included and the whole D-line group as a whole--we've put a lot of emphasis on perfecting our craft and just doing the hard work necessary to like you said finish the sacks and to ultimately help produce, to ultimately win games for the team. So I think just keeping that same consistent mindset through and through is helping us this year."
On what he's seen from the Florida offense…
"It's an SEC quarterback, an SEC offensive line, an SEC everything that we're playing. Obviously they're going to have some talent. They're going to have playmakers. They're going to have people that can do good things on that ball or else they wouldn't play there. So like I said, our mindset is more so worrying about the things we have going on and making sure that we all do our job, and hopefully we can come out with the victory in the end."
How confident are you think you guys are as a just as offensive line in general, going against a team that some would say is going to be the best defensive front you've played so far?
"They're very talented, but we're talented too. And we're a veteran group, so there's not much we haven't seen and there's not much that we won't see. So we're prepared. We're ready to go. And we're just focusing on the little details, technique and focus to not shoot ourselves in the foot during drives. If we're making plays, we need to be able to move the ball down the field and not be taking steps back with penalties."
What's made the team so effective in the red zone so far this season?
"That's been a point of emphasis in practice and in our game plan, that if we get in the red zone we need a touchdown. We can't be settling for a field goal…Coach Elko, he puts us in every single situation we'll ever see on the field and in the game. So we're prepared for everything."
How have you seen Marcel really take hold of this team and this offense?
"I think his confidence has really taken a big step, being able to be able to throw the ball, being such a threat in the run game too. He's just kind of kind of filled that role that he's the guy for the job and he can do it. So it's kind of cool seeing him just go out there and make plays with confidence."
As a leader of this team, how are you trying to handle being fifth in the country, 5-0 and everyone talking about how good you are?
"Yeah, it's a great thing. But I don't pay attention to any of that. We've got to take it one week at a time. We can't take anybody for granted. (We) Can't underestimate anybody or else we'll have a loss on our record. So we've got to go into every week being 1-0."
The fifth-ranked Aggies (5-0, 2-0) close out a three-game homestand when they host Florida (2-3, 1-1) under the lights. Kickoff on ESPN is set for 6 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: Cashius Howell
What are you seeing from this defense in the last two games in particular that's allowed you guys to play so well?
"I think a couple guys, obviously Taurean York, Will Lee, Dezz Ricks…I think a guy that's really stepped up (is) Daymion Sanford, definitely in the past couple weeks. I feel like he's made major strides just as a ballplayer within these last two weeks that have definitely helped us win."
What about this season has made you guys be more productive and actually finish the sacks and getting home?
"I can't really speak as far as last year or what happened last year, but I know this year--myself included and the whole D-line group as a whole--we've put a lot of emphasis on perfecting our craft and just doing the hard work necessary to like you said finish the sacks and to ultimately help produce, to ultimately win games for the team. So I think just keeping that same consistent mindset through and through is helping us this year."
On what he's seen from the Florida offense…
"It's an SEC quarterback, an SEC offensive line, an SEC everything that we're playing. Obviously they're going to have some talent. They're going to have playmakers. They're going to have people that can do good things on that ball or else they wouldn't play there. So like I said, our mindset is more so worrying about the things we have going on and making sure that we all do our job, and hopefully we can come out with the victory in the end."
Media Availability: Trey Zuhn III
How confident are you think you guys are as a just as offensive line in general, going against a team that some would say is going to be the best defensive front you've played so far?
"They're very talented, but we're talented too. And we're a veteran group, so there's not much we haven't seen and there's not much that we won't see. So we're prepared. We're ready to go. And we're just focusing on the little details, technique and focus to not shoot ourselves in the foot during drives. If we're making plays, we need to be able to move the ball down the field and not be taking steps back with penalties."
What's made the team so effective in the red zone so far this season?
"That's been a point of emphasis in practice and in our game plan, that if we get in the red zone we need a touchdown. We can't be settling for a field goal…Coach Elko, he puts us in every single situation we'll ever see on the field and in the game. So we're prepared for everything."
How have you seen Marcel really take hold of this team and this offense?
"I think his confidence has really taken a big step, being able to be able to throw the ball, being such a threat in the run game too. He's just kind of kind of filled that role that he's the guy for the job and he can do it. So it's kind of cool seeing him just go out there and make plays with confidence."
As a leader of this team, how are you trying to handle being fifth in the country, 5-0 and everyone talking about how good you are?
"Yeah, it's a great thing. But I don't pay attention to any of that. We've got to take it one week at a time. We can't take anybody for granted. (We) Can't underestimate anybody or else we'll have a loss on our record. So we've got to go into every week being 1-0."
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