Now how to describe Mike Elko’s first year as the HC at Texas A&M? In one word, it was tumultuous. After all, he got to sit on Jimbo Fisher’s seat which was already hot. The Aggies began with a strong seven-game winning streak, notably triumphing over SEC opponents in a remarkable 5-0 run. But their Natty dreams did not come true. 

However, the CBS Sports analyst Josh Pate is note quite interested in the bygone days. Rather, he shifts the focus to how the Aggies were not able to export many players to the NFL this season. Cut to their in-state rivals, Steve Sarkisian’s Texas Longhorns did make the most use of the NFL Combine. 

Mike Elko addresses the need of the hour for Texas A&M

Despite a late-season slide, Texas A&M football enjoyed quite the step forward last year compared to where they had been. Yes, Elko’s boys did contend for a Playoff spot right until their final game. They were even ranked as a top-10 team for quite some time. However, the standards of growth have now come down to how many players with the Texas A&M tag have made it to the Combine. Maybe, Elko is not happy with it and shared how he needs more NFL talent on his roster late in the season to be as competitive as he wants to be. Now is it an easy task? The HC opened up to Pate in a sit-down interview. 

On Josh Pate’s College Football Show, the analyst stated, “I have noticed is Texas A&M before you got here and including up until this point, never [have] been poor in recruiting rankings.” Now let’s focus on the other side of the coin: the number of players that are making it to the NFL. On that note, Elko said cultivating that talent isn’t just about stockpiling recruits with lofty rankings. The HC did not push it under the table. Rather he said, “When we talk about what we have to do to take this program over the curve, that’s exactly what it is. We have to have more NFL talent on the roster playing for us down the stretch.” Compared to the rest of the SEC, Texas A&M only sent three players to the NFL Scouting Combine. They are Nic Scourton, Shemar Turner, and Shemar Stewart.

Now building up an NFL-worthy roster depends on different factors. Elko painted the real picture. “It’s evaluating the kids that you’re bringing into the program… Not are we just getting the highest-rated kids we can get, but are we getting kids that we truly believe and know project to be NFL draft picks.” Why so? The HC answered, “Because at the end of the day, when you look at who wins the SEC, it’s the team that gets the most guys drafted.” Now how their in-state rivals are giving Texas A&M some FOMO feels?

Steve Sarkisian’s flourishing NFL Draft pipeline 

While Elko could only export 3 players to the NFL Combine, Sarkisian left his mark by sending 14 players. They have maintained their tradition. Last year, we could see 11 Texas players take part in the NFL Combine. And what about Texas A&M? They have degraded as they had sent players to the Combine last season. Meanwhile, the Longhorns players were able to rise to fame.

All eyes were on their WR Isaiah Bond who had dropped a big claim of breaking Xavier Worthy‘s 40-yard dash record. But he couldn’t steal the show. Rather, his teammate Matthew Golden emerged to be the showstopper. Golden paced wide receivers in the event, finishing with a time of 4.29 seconds. With this, he edged out Dont’e Thornton Jr., the former Tennessee WR by a 100th of a second. Whereas Bond came up with a time record of 4.39 seconds. Now not to forget the third Longhorns star who made the Combine all about himself.

That’s none other than the former Texas defensive back Jahdae Barron. The 2024 Thorpe Award winner finished with a time of 4.39 seconds in the 40-yard dash, good for sixth among cornerbacks. Not just the dash record, he also wooed the scouts with a 35-inch vertical jump. Now, Texas A&M can’t afford to sit back — Mike Elko needs to take a hard look at how Sarkisian’s turning Texas into an NFL launchpad.