Greg McElroy believes A&M is in a 'good spot' entering 2025 campaign

College football analyst and former Alabama signal-caller Greg McElroy joined Billy Liucci on Tuesday of 2025 SEC Media Days to chat about quarterbacks around the league, where Texas A&M can improve in Year 2 under Mike Elko and much more.

Key notes from Greg McElroy interview

• SEC Media Days has been good. Outside of the wrong fight song being played for Steve Sarkisian, it’s like nothing really happened, I feel. It's kinda crazy.
   
• It's funny because you're not expecting it, and I'm sitting there, and I'm thinking, “That's not ‘Texas Fight.’ It's the War Hymn.” Some coaches would be really mad, but he doesn't care.
   
• It will only be fair to play ‘The Eyes of Texas’ when Mike Elko walks on stage.
   
• It's kind of interesting right now. I did Big 12 Media Days last week, and people ask if that's the most interesting quarterback conference in that league, and I'm not sure if there is one. In that league, in particular, it's the most known, and you know what I mean, whether it's Arizona with Noah Fifita, Texas Tech with Behren Morton, what we day from Sawyer Robertson from Baylor. You have guys all over the place who have played a lot of football and know what to expect. No one looks at the Big 12 and thinks, “national championship contender.” Sam Leavitt is amazing, but I don't think anyone is looking at it thinking Arizona State is winning the title. Maybe they can, but see it to believe it.
   
• All the “contenders,” with the exception of Clemson, have a guy that needs to make a huge jump or a guy that needs to face live-action hostile actions and prove it. For example, with Arch Manning, he is a guy who has a ton of ability and talent, but there's still the unknown. Until you go out there and critical third down and fit in a tight window against the Aggies when they are running Cover 2 and the quick out before the corner covers and crashes receivers, you don't know it until you do it. I'm optimistic. I think he's got a great pedigree and support system to help him and coach him through those moments. You don't know.
   
• With Marcel Reed, there were times when he was cooking, and it’s like, “Where is this heading?” In reality, A&M's best attributes are their offensive line and run game. What if Le'Veon Moss didn't get hurt against South Carolina? What does the team look like? Is it a different animal? Would they be more dangerous down the road as a result of him being present?
   
• I think Reed is a guy I'm fascinated by. There were great moments where he looked really young and played young. I'm pretty excited about the possibility of what could be, and Collin Klein understanding the league and understanding his own personnel.
   
• Klein is a Kansas State guy through and through. What they do and have success with against Kansas State in the Big 12 might not work in the SEC. It's how stout they are on the line of scrimmage, how tough they are on the defense, but I think there's a learning curve and so much more familiarity. “Let’s try this. Let’s try it against Auburn. It did not work. We threw way too much in that game.” Whatever the circumstances may be, I think that's significant.
   
• Beyond Reed and the run game, I love the addition of KC Concepcion. He's amazing. I’ve been calling that kid's game for years. At NC State, with his ability, they didn't have the quarterback play to utilize him the way they wanted to. I think A&M is in a great spot. I really believe it. With Reed, it will matter a lot that he takes a big step, and it complements the run game. Hit the play action and keep the defense on their toes.
   
• I love Elko in College Station. Mike is Mike. He's what you get. I really appreciate that. We've got a great relationship from back in the day at Notre Dame and before that. I’ve been covering him at Duke, too. I’ve been around him a long time. He does a great job from a scheme standpoint. What I'm most encouraged by is that he’s been a head coach for three years now. It's not some ridiculously long track record. He acknowledges he's still learning. He's not the smartest, maybe he is, but he doesn't act like it. There's more he can learn and do.
   
• We called the Texas A&M-South Carolina game, and Elko sat in on the meeting, saying, “It will be a really hard game for us, and it’s something I'm trying to learn. We've never experienced a win like LSU at home.” Credit, he beat Clemson at Duke. At Duke, he didn't have to sell, "no one believes in us." At A&M, all of a sudden, we're talking playoffs, and that is a very difficult thing to manage on the road into a crazy, hostile environment at night.
   
• I think that's really helpful to be humble, and you can go from the outhouse to the penthouse in one week. He's willing to acknowledge that. With all due respect to Jimbo Fisher and other guys, Fisher always had the answers, whether or not he was right. He believed in what he believed. I love Fisher, but I just think it's a really healthy thing for where A&M is, where they can navigate a different landscape in college football right now.
   
• Everyone is talking about the same characters. The guy that's not getting enough love is John Mateer at OU. He's a dude. He is an alpha dog like Baker Mayfield and doesn't care. He can run. He's really good from an instinct standpoint, on the move and throws submarine style and between the guy's legs. He's a baller. The only way to describe him is that he's a baller.
   
• It's hard to put anyone in the category of a Patrick Mahomes or a Heisman winner. I'm never going to go that far. I think you're right. Mayfield matches Mateer’s physique. He's reckless and plays on the edge. I appreciate that about him, and he's really fun to watch. A lot of people said, “Does it translate? He's never played defense like this. It’s a huge step up from competition than at Washington State.” It will be interesting to see how it translates. At Washington State, he didn't have a great supporting cast. He had solid players, but at Oklahoma, those guys are solid, if healthy.
   
• Jackson Arnold is the one I might be most interested in. It's not like I'm fading him, but it's an offense that requires split-second decision making. I'm talking last-second, pull the ball, throw the ball, oh shoot, he's covered... If you look back at Hugh Freeze's track record, dating back to his time at Ole Miss and Arkansas State, it's an offense with traditional high turnovers and interceptions. It's hard to make those split-second decisions and be right all the time, and at times, get into a problem situation. At the same time, it freezes guys up and is hard to defend, but at times, there are some turnover-happy moments. That's the one that is most intriguing because the upside is that Auburn is a dark horse playoff contender who can beat anyone on their schedule. Last year, their efficiency numbers were through the roof. They lost four games by very slim margins and have a tendency to over-correct the following year. Also, in a system that has traditionally led to a decent amount of turnovers and bringing in a guy who has been benched for out-of-turnovers will be interesting to watch. Playing Baylor Week 1 will be a tough opener because they have really gotten better.
   
• The Auburn-Baylor game is not necessarily on a national level, but its significance is a big one. People like Georgia Tech going to Colorado. The two I picked out are both involving Notre Dame. A&M returning for hopefully for them an act of revenge on the Irish is a significant significant game. There are not many landmines on Notre Dame’s schedule, but that’s one, for sure. They are traveling to Fayetteville is big.
   
• If Notre Dame loses to Arkansas and A&M, it's a tough pill to swallow. If you're an SEC fan, you want to see as many teams in the field as possible. Whether your team is playing or not, it has an impact on the perception of the league. With the exception of Week 2, in the SEC, it's not great. Michigan vs. Oklahoma is massive, Ole Miss at Kentucky... The schedule sets up really nice for the league this year with a lot to look forward to.
   
• Can I name former Texas A&M quarterbacks who could start for another team this season? Jaylen Henderson, Conner Weigman... Henderson will start at West Virginia. Weigman will start at Houston. Naturally, Reed. I am trying to see who I'm missing. Oh, Zach Calzada, too. Haynes King... Max Johnson is with the Super Bowl head coach. Six guys who are starting that played for the Aggies.
   
• The Calzada one is a great pull. I forgot that he was, at one point, an Aggie. I remember him at his time at Auburn, and of course, he beat Alabama and had a big moment. I forgot about him and being in Kentucky. For King, what a turn around and it's awesome. I'm really happy for him and found a place that fits what he does. He's maximizing that opportunity in Atlanta. I'm really happy for him. He's a great example that doesn't always click for guys out of the gate. It takes time, and you have to get your teeth kicked in. How do you respond? He's done a great job. I’m really happy for him.