Chase of perfection continues to drive Elko's Ags as spring winds down

Click HERE to view Texas A&M’s Wednesday press conference.

And with the first pick in the Texas A&M spring football game draft, Taurean York’s team selects...

Cashius Howell.

On Tuesday night, captains drafted teams for Saturday’s annual Maroon & White Game.

Linebacker Taurean York had the first pick and took Howell. The 6-foot-4, 255-pound senior defensive end posted 40 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and four sacks last season.

He was especially productive in the final three games vs. Auburn, Texas and USC. In those games, Howell accumulated 16 tackles, 5.5 for loss and two sacks.

“He’s a beast,” York said at a press conference on Wednesday. “He’s put on his weight. Trust me, he’s really good.

“I invest a lot in Cashius because I know what he’s capable of. He can be a leader. Guys look up to him on the team. I love Cashius, and the team loves Cashius. That’s what’s most important.”

While some teams around the country are eliminating spring games, A&M coach Mike Elko said it’s a reward for enduring spring drills.

Zoe Kelton, TexAgs

The 2025 Maroon & White Game at Kyle Field will kick off at 2 p.m. CT on Saturday.

“We had a closed scrimmage on Tuesday morning,” he said. “That was our final scrimmage. That was for us. That was our biggest evaluation piece.

“This (spring game) is for them to be kind of the cherry on top of spring football. Go out and compete with each other, play a game and try to beat your teammates. That’s what Saturday is for us.”

PO’d, but Making Progress

On Wednesday, Elko almost begrudgingly acknowledged the Aggies have made progress during spring football practice.

However, he also acknowledged he was still frequently “peeved.” That’s because he’s demanding perfection.

“There’s yet to be a play where all 22 guys have done it completely right,” Elko said. “So, on every play, I’m pissed off about something that’s not to the quality that it should be.

“I’m a really bad guy to ask during spring ball how things are going. I just think when you’re going against yourself, you’re just trying to drive it. You really are.”

Elko said the course of 15 practices isn’t enough time to make absolute evaluations. He indicated issues may surface on every play every day.

Then he admitted there are things that have actually pleased the hard-to-please coach.

“I think, by and large, our program has taken a step forward,” he said. “The way we practiced, the tempo that’s out there feels like we’re crisper, feels like we’re sharper.

“There’s less penalties in practice. There’s less formational issues. There’s less procedural issues. There’s less busted communications.

“But it’s still not perfect, so that continues to be the driving point through spring.”

Reed’s Deeds

Elko said sophomore quarterback Marcel Reed had his best scrimmage on Tuesday.

That’s encouraging. The Aggies are hoping Reed builds on his 2024 performance, in which he passed for 1,864 yards and 15 touchdowns and rushed for 543 yards and seven touchdowns.

“The challenge for Marcel is he wants to take the next step as a passer,” Elko said. “And we want him to take that next step. That’s what we need to do offensively to get ultimately where we want to go and be who we want to be.”

Elko said Reed is getting more comfortable throwing. The emphasis is on developing Reed as a passer without minimizing his ability to scramble and make plays off-schedule.

“It’s just finding that balance for him of still playing the game the way he ultimately can be most successful version of him,” Elko said. “I think we’re seeing that. “

Guard Ar’maj Reed-Adams likes what he’s been seeing from Reed.

“The kid can spin the ball and put it wherever he wants it and throw it how far he wants it,” Reed-Adams said.

By the way, Reed and Reed-Adams are distant cousins. Reed’s father and Reed-Adams’ mother are cousins.

Systemic Failure

The biggest story in college football this week is Tennessee parting ways with quarterback Niko Iamaleava.

Iamaleava, who reportedly had a $2.4 million NIL deal, allegedly demanded a raise to $4 million. He sat out practice last Friday.

In response, Tennessee coach Josh Heupel cut Iamaleava.

Asked how he might have handled a situation, Elko first joked that Reed should be asked that question.

Then Elko turned serious.

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch

According to multiple reports on Wednesday, former Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava will transfer to UCLA after his fall-out in Knoxville.

“We’re all on the same page across the board,” he said about college football coaches. “Everybody agrees the players deserve something. Everybody agrees this system has caused this to become what it’s become. Everyone believes the system currently is not working. It’s not good for anybody.”

He noted Georgia coach Kirby Smart recently warned that the current system might ultimately have a negative impact on players.

“I think I heard Kirby (Smart) say the long-term ramifications of this … when we look back at this period of what the development of young people looks like 10 years from now, we’re going to be embarrassed with what that actually looks like,” Elko said. “But again, it is what it is. Nobody really cares what we think.”

Portal Plans

The spring transfer portal window opened on Wednesday, but Elko indicated the Aggies aren’t likely to make many major moves, if any.

“I think, like everything, you’re always evaluating where you are,” he said. “I think the biggest thing is value. Adding to add is never a good sign. If you’re just out there adding, I think you have a lot of concerns about your roster. I don’t feel like we’re in that position. I don’t think we’ll add to add.

“But I think, in this day and age, you have to be constantly be on the look and on the move trying to find where value can improve your program. We’ll certainly do that across the board.”

On the other hand, the Aggies may not have many players enter the portal. At least, York doesn’t think so.

“It’s our team,” York said. “If guys feel like they have to go into the transfer portal, that’s on them for their own desires. We are a very tight-knit team. I haven’t heard nothing about transfer portal talk. I’m very proud of that.”

A New York?

Raegan Huffman, TexAgs

On Monday, it was announced that Taurean York, Trey Zuhn III and Ar’maj Reed-Adams will serve as Texas A&M’s captains in 2025.

York is looking to improve on a solid 2024 campaign, in which he posted 82 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and an interception vs. LSU.

“I’m getting right,” the junior linebacker said. “Cleaning my life up. Going to sleep early. Eating clean. Lost a lot of weight. I’m down to like 227, 229 right now.

“I’m feeling faster. Looking slimmer.”

He indicated he’ll be thinking and processing information faster, too.

“(I’m) Understanding the offense,” York said. “Knowing how they want to attack me. Who’s going to block me. Little tidbits of where the O-line is in. Where the is O-line is looking. It’s a tell-tale sign. … It’s a game within the game within the game.”

Chip on His Shoulder

Reed-Adams admitted he gave serious consideration to entering the NFL Draft.

He doesn’t necessarily have anything to prove, but he wants to prove himself, anyway.

“I felt like the past two years I was a top top-five guard in the country,” the 6-foot-5, 340-pound senior said. “I felt like it was a mature decision.

“I was grateful to come to A&M, play in the SEC, prove I can play at the highest level with anybody and dominate the best competition. I wanted to reinstate that and come out to be the best guard in the country.”

Some scouting services have rated Reed-Adams among the top interior line prospects for the 2026 draft.

But pro evaluations typically include negative assessments, too.

“Going through that process, you can hear a lot of nasty things about yourself,” Reed-Adams said. “I took that not as disrespect, just something to put a chip on your shoulder. I just want to prove to everybody I’m the best in the country, no matter what position."

NOTES

• Elko heaped praises on his fellow A&M coaches for having strong performances last weekend. The baseball team rallied from a nine-run deficit to defeat South Carolina 15-12 on Sunday and sweep the series. The softball team captured its first-ever sweep of LSU. The women’s tennis team defeated Georgia to win the Southeastern Conference championship.

“Obviously a big weekend in Aggieland,” Elko said. “A lot of shout-outs for what happened this weekend. Great weekend for coach (Michael) Earley finalized by a tremendous comeback on Sunday. That was great to see those guys getting on a roll. Obviously, Trish Ford and what the softball team did this weekend. Congratulations on them being No. 1 in the country now. And then coach (Mark) Weaver’s girls winning their fourth straight SEC title for the tennis program.”

• Though there are supposedly numerous changes in the defensive scheme, Elko doubted anyone watching the spring game will notice.

• The National Football Foundation announced kickers Randy Bond and Jared Zirkel were named members of the 2025 Hampshire Honor Society, which encompasses college football players from all divisions who have upheld a cumulative 3.2 GPA or higher throughout their collegiate careers.