Click here to view Thursday’s press conferences at SEC Media Days.
ATLANTA — Predators love the hunt. Prey do not.
Texas A&M played both roles last year. The Aggies got off to a 7-1 start. They posted two victories over opponents ranked in the top 10. They closed October with an exhilarating come-from-behind victory over eighth-ranked LSU. They went into November hunting a College Football Playoff berth.
Then they became the prey. They were bagged, skinned and gutted in a 1-4 finish.
The Aggies got burned. But they also learned.
“We learned some hard lessons last year,” A&M coach Mike Elko said. “We were in a position we had never been in before — leading the SEC three-quarters of the way through it. We didn’t handle it well. We didn’t handle it the right way.
“I think, through all that stuff, you learn. You learn what it takes to finish an SEC season. You learn what it takes to become one of the hunted teams in the SEC.”
Speaking at Southeastern Conference Media Days on Thursday, Elko appeared quite confident the Aggies won’t be praying for success. They’ll be preying.
“I think all of that (late season struggles) created a little bit of a drive and a hunger to our team,” he said. "I think you see that with the amount of returners. I think one of the things people haven’t recognized enough is the amount of players that have returned to this team this year. All of them have a little bit of a drive to fulfill this and finish this the right way.”
Elko has a veteran team. The offensive line is intact. Running backs are proven. Linebackers are experienced. Transfer portal additions have bolstered the secondary and receiving corps.
Yet, that may not be enough to emerge unscathed through a treacherous SEC schedule rife with Tigers, Gators, wild hogs, pit bulls, ornery roosters and a big cow.
A capable quarterback is also a necessity. The Aggies just might have one.
Marcel Reed, who replaced Conner Weigman, started eight games last season. That’s more than any season-opening A&M quarterback in an individual season since Kellen Mond in 2020.
Reed started four victories. He also came off the bench to rally A&M to a win over LSU. He passed for 1,864 yards and rushed for 547. That’s more yardage than heralded Florida quarterback DJ Lagway accumulated in 2024.
“I think what I'm most excited about is the fact we have quarterback Marcel Reed taking a huge jump for us this year,” Elko said. “He's had a phenomenal offseason. I think he's put on some necessary strength and mass to kind of hold up to the rigors of SEC football.
“I think he understands now what it takes to be an SEC quarterback week in and week out. Really excited for him to go out and become the difference maker that we know he's capable of being this year.”
Yes, there is legitimate reason for excitement. Or at least cautious optimism.
There are signs of an explosive offense. The defense figures to be better, too.
Also, this is Elko’s second season in charge at A&M. Football teams typically improve in a coach’s second year. There is more familiarity in the offensive and defensive systems. There is more cohesion. More understanding of expectations and demands.
And there is the wisdom of lessons learned, so a good team can make a championship bid — and finish it. “Finish it” has been repeated ad nauseam in the A&M locker room since last season’s disappointment.
“I think you learn how you have to elevate your game in those matchups when you become that team,” Elko said. “Going on the road in back-to-back weeks, we didn't play the football that we needed to play to finish it.
“It's been our mantra the entire offseason. Mantras don't turn into wins, but I do believe our kids have a really strong chip on their shoulders to change that story and finish this thing the right way.”
Yeah, the right way. You know, like a predator.
Cajun Ag 86 said:
No improvement to the results and he's a dead man walking.
