Mike Elko: National Signing Day Q&A

Coach Elko's Q&A session with the media from Wednesday's National Signing Day press conference is available below, along with full video of his press availability.

Coach, which what areas of need, whether that be a position group or physical traits, do you think this class best addresses?

"I think there's a balance to it. That's the most important thing. If you look specifically defensive line, last year we were very D-tackle heavy. We brought in 3 defensive tackles that we feel really, really good about. We only brought in one edge in Marco (Jones). This year it goes the other way, right? So we're able to go out and add 3 edges and one inside guy. And so that if you look at where we're at over a 2-year stretch, you see a really strong balance. Same thing at wideout. Last year we bring in TK Norman and Kelshawn Johnson and they're maybe on the smaller side. We only bring in Jerome Myles as a big body, and now this year you turn around and you add a couple more big-bodied kids who have a little bit more outside receiver flexibility. I think you look at just diversity within the class and then diversity from a two-year class cycle to make sure that you have a variety of skill sets that you're continuing to add into the program every year."

Can you just talk not only about how important relationships are for everyone that is involved in making this happen, but also how that kind of goes into your building relationships with these recruits?

"I think nowadays you have an opportunity to shape your program however you want. If you want to build a transactional program that is only about money, you can. If you want to build a program that's very transient, you can. But I also think if you want to build a program that's built in substance and built in relationships, you can. And I think that's what we're trying to do here at Texas A&M. I believe this, and you can't convince me otherwise, that relationships still matter. Value certainly matters. That's not lost on me. That matters in coach retention, that matters in who you hire, that matters in who you recruit. That will never change. Nobody ever wants to go to a place where they feel undervalued. But I do believe that if you provide people the right value and the right environment and the right opportunity to grow, you can build a culture that people want to be part of. And I think we've been able to do that here in Texas A&M and that's something that has been very critical to our success and something that I try my hardest to protect at all times. We certainly won't ever be perfect with it because there's a balancing act when you go through this to do it the right way. But it's something that means a lot to me, that people are picking Texas A&M for a little bit more substance than just the dollar sign. That there are real relationships so that kids are wanting to be part of the program and stay part of the program. And that we can continue to build a culture that will withstand the test of time."

You kind of went all over, 10 states, to recruit, but just curious about the area of Houston and how important is it still to get those Houston kids and those guys in this class?

"I think it's critical. When you start up, when you start recruiting, you always start inside out. So obviously for us the first inside-out piece is locally, just here in the Brazos Valley. And then the next very obvious place you go is Houston from a proximity standpoint and a location standpoint. It's probably the one city where you would say we have the closest proximal relationship to a lot of really talented players. Houston has always been really important to Texas A&M. It will continue to be really important to Texas A&M and I think that's the place we really start our efforts every year, and then you go to Dallas, San Antonio and you start expanding through the rest of Texas."

I know the timing's kind of weird, but with the reports out today about Collin Klein just didn't know if that was something that you guys were anticipating or kind of your reaction to kind of what that situation's like right now.

"I think it's probably not solidified in any way, shape, or form yet. Certainly, the reports tend to proceed the official notifications, but I think when you hire really good people, opportunities like that will come. You appreciate that people want to stay part of your program until the next big opportunity for them comes. If we're doing this right, it will be a piece of it, no different than losing players to the NFL. You'll lose coaches, you'll lose position coaches to become coordinators. lose coordinators to become head coaches. I think what you're trying to avoid at all costs is losing really valued assistants to go be assistants at other programs, right? And that's not this case. So if it does turn out to work out like the reports suggest obviously it's a tremendous opportunity for someone on our staff to take the next step in their career. And I try to do everything I can to support and help those endeavors."

Earlier today Coach Wiggins said that you feel like you're getting a steal out of Jayden Warren. What stood out to you, especially that progression with his development?

"We think he's phenomenal. So if that means he's a steal, then he's a steal, but for us we think he's an absolute elite football player. I think he's got electric speed when you talk about being over 6'1" and being under 10.2. You can count those on one hand how many of those that are out there playing college football. He's got really good hands. He plays the game really hard, really physical. And he's also from a really, really good family. When you put all of that together, there's certainly a lot of indicators that he's going to have a really successful career for us. So to whatever degree that makes him a steal, we think he's phenomenal."

To that, Coach Troop talked about not just the talent level but these kids being able to come in and understand the work ethic and the family aspect of this program. Since you've been here a couple years now, how do you feel like you've been able to kind of hammer that home with the recruiting classes?

"I think your program and the culture of your program attracts those kids into your program. I'm not naïve in what makes kids make decisions, right? There's a value proposition for sure, and then there's a lot of time that gets spent on this campus, not around coaches, where players will tell them the truth and they'll get a vibe for what the players are thinking. They'll get a vibe for what the program's really like, and kids are really finding out the answers to is that the right program for me? In all of those conversations that happen, when the coaches aren't around, who your locker room is, who your culture is, is going to be the kind of the kids that you attract into it. And so that's why it was so important we felt like to build the right foundation in the program. Because then what happens is you bring in all the best kids in the country who want to be like that. We had the majority of the top kids in the class show up on this campus at some point. Sometimes it filters out because they just have a little stronger interest in other programs. But a lot of times it filters out because the ones who really want what we are gravitate to us and the ones that don't, don't. And sometimes that's okay."

When it comes to Qui and KJ and their recruitment, in their particular instance, does it help at all to have two guys at the same school and that know each other like that?

"It obviously makes it easier from a visit standpoint because you can kill two birds with one stone. But they're separate. We made sure that that's really important. We didn't take one because of the other. We didn't take two from one school because it made it easier. We felt like Qui was an elite linebacker. We felt KJ was an elite back. And they just happened to both be playing for a really talented program in East Texas which is an area that's really important to us. Obviously when one commits it always helps lean on the other one because they're talking to each other a lot more. They can have a lot of conversations with each other. It helps from a familiarity standpoint to have two kids feel comfortable coming to school together. But I also think it's important to recognize that they're recruited as separate individuals and that they certainly weren't considered a package deal in any way, shape or form."

One quick point of clarification with Collin, if that opportunity does present itself, would he still coach through the playoffs here?

"There's a lot that still has to be determined, but that would be the expectation. Some of the early conversations that we've had about opportunities like this have certainly led to me believing that would be the case."

Two full cycles into being head coach here, how do you feel like from a roster building standpoint you guys are, where you'd like between bringing in high school players and then adding transfer portal additions?

"I think holes get left in rosters in transition. I don't think that can ever get changed. Anytime there's a coaching transition, there's going to be holes with that class that comes in, which wasn't a very big class. That was a quality class, but not a high quantity class. Some of the kids decide to depart. I think we've done a really good job in these two classes of putting together a really, really strong balance. I think there's something like 54, 56 kids that have been signed in this 2-year cycle. That's going to add a really strong youth development part of this program. We've got to make sure when the transfer portal opens up in January that we hit the balance of some of our immediate needs that are going to need to get addressed, which are where some of those holes exist in the program still. And then hopefully coming out of this cycle…as we head into next this time next year, it'll probably be the 1st (time) we've now kind of got this thing solidified to where it really wants to be."

And just one more with Collin. Last time we talked with him, he said that he'd absolutely one day love to be a head coach. What have you seen from him that he would be ready to be a head coach if now is the time for him?

"First of all, he's just a phenomenal person. I think it starts there. And because of that, then I think he's a phenomenal leader. He's a really smart football coach. He's a really competitive guy. We certainly have learned a lot from him. I think he would tell you he's learned a lot from being here in this program. When you're around really good people, at some point those opportunities are going to present themselves and you're really happy for them when they do."

I'm really interested in about this psychology of parents now…when you got started in this thing, it was about here's the school, here's what the school can offer. Here's what a four-year degree can offer now. But now you have parents who are looking for transactions and what's good for the next 12 months. And I guess my question is, is that how do you find the balance of that? And how are you finding that parents are handling this new era just as much as you guys are trying to grapple with it?

"This is what I would say. There's a lot of media people, there's a lot of my colleagues, who act as though this is a whole new phenomenon that's happening, the idea that somebody would have a job and expect value to be provided to them for that job. That some people in your organization will jump for the dollar. Some people will be very comfortable as long as they feel valued. Some people will stay until the right promotion comes. That has been the history of American society since I was born. It's just now existing in college football. And so I think we're too quick to jump to 'all'. 'All' parents are looking for transactions. 'All' parents are looking for the dollar. No. Certainly some are, no different than some in my business, some in your business. There's people like that. But there's also people who aren't like that. I think we broadstroke this thing way too much to say, oh, because this player made a transaction and did something for a transaction or this coach did something transactional, everyone's transactional. I just don't think that's fair. I think there are still a lot of people…again, value matters. There's nowhere in the world where value (doesn't matter). I don't think I chase dollars, but I certainly would not come here below value. That's just a reality to the world. So I'm not sitting here telling you NIL doesn't play a role, value doesn't play a role. But there are people that we recruit--a lot of them--that don't come to us with, hey, you offered me this, this person offered us $1000 more. We need to change the deal. We deal with a lot of people who don't do that. And I appreciate those people."

So is it refreshing then when you come across a family or a recruit who's like, hey, show me everything there is to see about Texas A&M, and I want to learn everything there is about it. Do you gravitate more to those people?

I think there's more of those people than you're giving it credit for, and absolutely I think those people gravitate to us and we gravitate to those people. I think the people in this program would tell you…again, I'm going to get on a soapbox here for a second…but if I became a free agent head coach this year, I could make more money. If I just made myself a free agent coach and got into an open bidding war with anybody who would hire me, I could make more money than I'm making, to whatever amount it is. Our players could all do the same. That doesn't make it right. That doesn't make it the best thing for me and my family. That doesn't make it the best thing for them in their development. That doesn't make it the best thing for them in their career. And I think we spent a lot of time trying to make sure everybody understands that because that's an important lesson to learn in life. And as important as teaching them how to be away from home for the first time, so too is teaching them the value of the dollar versus the value of real relationships, real connections, real growth, real development, because those things matter. And again, I think the only thing that has happened is this has shifted now into 18- to 21-year olds in college, but I don't think it's a new thing. I think it's been around for a really long time. And I think it's just in part our job to try to make sure they understand how all of that works."

With 17 signees coming from out of state, how do you work on building team chemistry, especially integrating out-of-state players with in-state signees and players that are already here in Aggieland?

"Every roster takes on a different demeanor. I think how you go about building culture within each team is important. That'll be something that'll start in January when they all get here. The nice thing about recruiting nowadays is a lot of these kids know each other. I think one of the reasons why there's more schools recruiting nationally maybe than ever before is because the world is connected a lot more now than it ever has been, you know? So a kid from Texas can be really good friends with a kid from California via social media platforms. There's just a lot of ways for people to connect nowadays. Maybe in the past, when there wasn't all of that, and 22 kids from Texas got together with three kids from out of state there was this discomfort. I think a lot of that has kind of gone away in the modern world that we live in."

You kind of mentioned that a lot of players are dual, even tri-sport athletes. How do you work with the players that kind of want to play multiple sports while here in Aggieland if football season tends to overlap with the sports that they want to play?

"I think we're lucky. Most of them don't understand that that's harder to do in the SEC. I think what we like is kids that have multiple skill sets. And when you see kids that play multiple sports in high school, you're recruiting kids that have multiple skill sets, That's really important. I don't think many of them envision themselves being multi-sport athletes here at Texas A&M, which obviously is really challenging. There's only a handful of select kids who could ever pull that off."

What kind of feedback have you guys gotten from a recruiting standpoint with the success y'all have had this season and what kind of impact do you think that could have on future classes for you guys?

"Yeah, I think that's more the impact. Recruiting is such a long cycle that by the time the season kicks off this year, the '26 cycle is so far into it. Obviously it makes it easier to hold on to your class. Maybe you can add a piece or two. But I think the reality of it is if you're recruiting the right kind of kids, they've gone through a lot of their decision-making process and I'm not sure that a couple extra wins impacts that. Now, when the '27 class is looking at Texas A&M and starting to formulate their top 10s right now, who are the schools that we're going to really take a good hard look at, and the '28 class is just starting the process of looking into where do I want to check out? I think that's where having the success that we've had being a nationally-visible program this year, being in the top 5 for the majority of the school year, being in the playoffs…I think those things will pay off when you start looking at that. Because I think those kids, as they start their process, are going, oh, let's go see what's going on in Texas A&M. That seems to be a place that's really on the up and up."

Wondering what your reaction was to being ranked 7th in the playoff rankings last night.

"Yeah, I think we've alluded to this, right? As a football coach, put a ball down. Let's go play. It doesn't matter. We'll play anyone anywhere. It is what it is. We're going to be in the playoffs and we're going to go compete for a national championship. I think from a CEO standpoint, we are all screaming for some clarity. I've said this all the way through the season…what exactly is the criteria that we're utilizing to break ties? And I don't know that anybody has a real firm understanding of what that actually is. And so for us to have a higher strength of schedule and a higher strength of record than a lot of the teams that share the same record as us, I don't understand. Now at the end of the day, we'll put a ball down and we'll go play and it'll be what it'll be. But it would be nice if there was a little bit of clarity in the process as to what exactly were happening. And then the other thing, I'm going to just address with this, because this needs to be said too. It's amazing how many people want to say we have played a poor schedule when we have the 15^th-ranked strength of schedule in the country and the third-ranked strength of record in the country. I understand that you can look at a picture on social media and draw a line and just make arbitrary conclusions. But I also think we have these formulas that create analytical evaluations of what our schedule actually was and how many teams could have actually managed our schedule at 11-1. And those numbers are very much in our favor. I know we can get on a mic and scream real loud that Texas A&M hasn't played a strong schedule. But if you dive into our schedule in any capacity, every analytic, we have. So rather than yelling real loud about what we've done, I think let's look at the analytics and the numbers and try to use that to guide some more intelligent decision making."

What do you think would be the fair ranking for you guys?

"I don't know. That's their decision."

When it comes to the offensive line recruiting in this class, how do you think this group of recruits complements last year's?

"Last year we brought in a very large group. We brought in quite a few interior bodies. We were a little bit kind of heavy on the inside, and so we wanted to make sure we got some pure tackles. Bringing in Zaden and Avery was really important from that perspective. And then you don't ever want to get go a cycle without bringing in a guy who can add value in the inside. Being able to bring in Hunter and Sam I think really added the value we needed on the inside as well."

Then you mentioned it with the player relationships. How pivotal has it been to create a pipeline with the west coast that A&M hadn't really had before?

"I think it's important. When you think about the SEC kind of being the premier conference in the country and when kids come out here and they see what a game day atmosphere looks like in Texas, at Texas A&M, and Kyle Field, versus some other places…it's very attractive and the easiest SEC location to get to is the state of Texas. We've always kind of felt like there was a path to do that. Obviously we have some coaches on our staff, Jordan Peterson has recruited California a lot. Holmon Wiggins is from California. That helps for sure. Coach Tony Jerod-Eddie has been out there a bit. So those things help a lot. But I do think there's a natural draw for the state of California to come here to Texas."

Two QBs last year, one QB this year. Can you just talk about how important it is to find the right guy in the process of roster management and class management when you go to pick those guys from a QB standpoint?

"In an ideal world, you're trying to bring in one a year. I think that's the balance you're looking for. And it's always a challenge because it's the hardest position to hold on to your depth, right? Everybody at some point in their career wants to find a playing opportunity. And so it's a challenge. We've tried to be very deliberate about making sure we get one in every year that we feel really, really good about. Last year was a unique set of circumstances. We brought in two with Eli as the second one and Brady. But I think as long as we're in a position where we can do at least one a year, we feel like we'll be able to keep the cupboard where it needs to be."

So based on what you're saying about the CFP, is there any doubt in your mind that you expect to host a game?

"I guess they're 2 separate questions. Do I think we deserve to host a game? Oh my god, yeah. Do I know what they're going to do? No, I have no idea what they're going to do. I couldn't even begin to try to predict what they'll do."

What is your take on the SEC as a whole getting as many teams in as possible? And what do you what do you think of what Sark is doing in Austin trying to push Texas in, which would help the league overall?

"I don't really care, no disrespect to Sark. I do like and respect him, but I don't really care what anyone else is doing. I think that when you look at the out of conference record for this conference, it speaks volumes about what it means to play in the SEC. I think the hardest challenge that the committee has is identifying the difference between mid-level and low-level teams from conference to conference. I think that's really challenging. If you hooked anyone up to a lie detector test, they would tell you that regardless of record, when you play teams in this conference, you are challenged week in and week out. And that is unique to this conference. Home venues, being on the road, atmospheres, crowd size. It's just unique to this league. I know a lot of people will say a lot of things because of the conference they now represent, but I don't think that's actually what they ever thought if they were in this league."

Schedule

Players Mentioned

Jerome Myles

TK Norman

Jayden Warren

Footer

Upcoming Events