Latest news with #A&M
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Texas A&M HC Mike Elko is 'blessed' to have four talented running backs
Texas A&M's 2025 running back room will be headlined by the return of senior back Le'Veon Moss, who, outside of dealing with a minor legal brushup this summer, is reportedly "100%" healthy after sustaining his season-ending lower body injury halfway through the 2024 season. However, Moss will be aided by one of the deepest running back rotations in the country with the return of Reuben Owens, Amari Daniels, and EJ Smith. During Thursday's SEC media days appearance, head coach Mike Elko was asked about his 2025 running back room, first praising Le'Veon Moss's 2024 performance before his injury, where he led the SEC in rushing with 765 yards, ten touchdowns, and 6.3 yards per carry. Moss's injury significantly altered A&M's offense, placing additional pressure on starting quarterback Marcel Reed to produce through the air, which was challenging given the team's limited reliable receiving options. It's also important to note that sophomore RB Reuben Owens was also lost for the season, and despite his brief return against Texas and USC in the Las Vegas Bowl, the former five-star was not himself after tearing his ACL during fall practice. How OC Collin Klein will use Owens, who could become a hybrid receiver in certain packages, will determine just how successful the Aggie rushing attack will be. "There's a lot of quality in that group. It starts with Le'Veon Moss, who was on his way to being the leading rusher in the conference and was one of the leading rushers in the nation when he got injured." "We're blessed with four really talented backs, and you need them because, in this conference, they come and go really fast." If Moss can pick up where he left off, Texas A&M is in great shape, while Owens is determined to show the nation that he remains an elite back with first-round NFL draft potential. However, Elko also noted EJ Smith is healthy and back to form, which is good news for those who remember his elite play and versatility during the bulk of his career at Stanford. Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Which Aggies made the 2025 preseason All-SEC team?
College football is right around the corner, and the Southeastern Conference just dropped its preseason All-SEC teams Friday morning. From top to bottom, the SEC boasts the most talented rosters in the NCAA, so these selections always come with some scrutiny. For Texas A&M, the picks were fair and well-deserved. An argument could be made that a few Aggies should've landed on the first or second team, but ultimately, the right players were recognized. And let's be real: preseason predictions hold zero weight—they're just snapshots of future projections based on past production. Aggie fans know this firsthand, after watching the 2025 A&M baseball team miss the postseason despite entering the year ranked No. 1. Before we dive into the Aggies who made the cut, it's worth noting a few names that might spark memories if you've followed recruiting battles the past few seasons. Anthony Hill, Cam Coleman, and Harold Perkins were all once A&M commits who flipped to other programs late. LT Overton and Eli Stowers transferred out for better opportunities, and both have flourished—especially Stowers, now one of the best tight ends in the nation. Without further ado, here are the Aggies selected to the 2025 preseason All-SEC teams: First Team The lone first-team Aggie, Moss, earned this recognition. The senior was well on pace for a 1,000-yard, 12–15 touchdown season before suffering a season-ending injury after nine games. He landed on the 2024 All-SEC Second Team and earned Offensive MVP honors at the team's awards banquet. Moss finished with 765 yards on 121 carries and 10 touchdowns. Second Team A transfer from Kansas, Reed-Adams started every game at right guard. He helped power an offense that averaged 195.5 rushing yards per game—second-best in the SEC. Though he received a solid draft grade, the graduate student chose to return for one final season and will serve as a team captain. Zuhn has demonstrated year-over-year growth since its arrival in 2021. As another veteran leader up front, he played a key role in A&M's top-30 rushing attack. In 2024, he earned SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week, landed on the All-SEC Third Team, and took home the Offensive Trenches Award at the team banquet. He'll also captain the 2025 squad. Lee transferred in and immediately made his presence felt, starting all 12 regular-season games. At 6'3" with rangy arms, he posed a tough matchup for opposing receivers and ranked fifth in the SEC with 10 pass breakups. He finished with 39 tackles, 12 passes defended, and two interceptions—one returned for a touchdown. He earned a 2024 All-SEC Second Team spot and won the Defensive Skill award at the banquet. Third Team Bisontis likely could've landed on the second team had he not missed three games due to injury. Like Zuhn and Reed-Adams, he played a key role in anchoring the ground game while helping protect the quarterback amid instability at the position. In 2023, he earned ESPN All-American and All-SEC Freshman honors. What York lacks in size and speed, he more than makes up for with instincts and football IQ. A relative unknown heading into his freshman season, York grabbed the starting role and thrived. He earned spots on the ESPN and All-SEC Freshman teams and was named a Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Semifinalist. The team captain led A&M with 82 tackles—12th-best in the SEC—and finished with 83 tackles, 9.5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, and an interception. Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on X: @whosnextsports1.
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Brian Kelly has high praise for underrated LSU football transfer from SEC rival
Head coach Brian Kelly talked during SEC media day about LSU football's newest additions from the transfer portal. Part of the top transfer class in the nation was tight end Donovan Green, who comes from Texas A&M. He dealt with injuries the past two seasons after a breakout true freshman year, but Kelly remains confident in the redshirt junior. "Pleasant surprise is how I would characterize his addition," Kelly said. "He played as a true freshman at A&M and then suffered a very difficult injury that really put him in a tough position to really find his footing at A&M. He says nothing but great things about the staff and how he was treated there." Green caught 22 passes for 233 yards and two touchdowns in his first year of college football. An ACL tear ahead of the 2023 season sidelined him and he dealt with recovery effects the following year. The Tigers needed to replace one of their leading receivers at tight end as Mason Taylor departed for the NFL. Green brings a veteran presence as a pass catcher and blocker at 6-foot-4 and 265 pounds. He's healthy and ready for a new beginning, according to Kelly. Green was one of two transfer portal additions at tight end for LSU. The Tigers also added Bauer Sharp from Oklahoma. Along with the return of Trey'Dez Green, LSU has the personnel for multiple tight end sets. "This was just a fresh start for him," Kelly said. "For us, we bring a mature veteran player that has had some success when healthy and we're seeing that version of him right now in our program."
USA Today
7 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Florida QB was 'definitely considering' Texas A&M before committing to the Gators
On Wednesday, during the third day of this week's SEC media days, the Florida Gators were one of three teams that spoke to the media, which included sophomore and former five-star quarterback DJ Lagway, who was one of Texas A&M's long-time recruiting targets in the 2024 recruiting class. Similar to Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed, Lagway was thrust into the starting lineup during his 2024 freshman season due to quarterback Graham Mertz's injury issues, leading to Lagway taking over as the full-time starter down the stretch and helping the Gators to an 8-5 finish. In 12 appearances, Lagway threw for 1,915 yards, 12 touchdowns, and nine interceptions, and is expected to take a significant jump in 2025. During his media appearance on Wednesday, Lagway was asked about his connection to Texas A&M, with fans and Aggie media members recalling it as one of the tightest recruiting battles just months after former A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher was fired. A Willis, Texas native, Lagway was a small school product with one of the biggest arms since former Clemson and current Jacksonville Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence's prep days. When asked if he seriously considered the Aggies even after Fisher was dismissed, Lagway was quick to state that Texas A&M was his first offer, and could have been his future destination if it wasn't for the Gators' late momentum. "Yes sir, I was definitely considering A&M… actually A&M was my first SEC offer" Lagway stated. "In being right down the road, they have a great program, Coach Elko has done an amazing job over there." Lagway further pointed out that Florida's "gameday atmosphere" ultimately sold him, and while there was a slim possibility that he could enter the transfer portal, winning five out of six games with Lagway at the helm was more than enough to keep him committed to the program. Florida will visit Texas A&M on Saturday, October 11. Lagway, who traded reps with Mertz during Florida's loss to the Aggies last season, will visit Kyle Field for the first time as a player and is very excited to potentially pull off an SEC road upset. "I've been to a lot of games at Kyle Field. For me to play in one, it's going to be surreal." Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
USA Today
16-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
SEC host believes Texas A&M is being 'overlooked\
Before Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko and his three-player representatives, junior linebacker Taurean York, senior guard Ar'maj Reed-Adams, and senior cornerback Will Lee III, a host of SEC media members spoke to the TexAgs radio crew during the first two days of SEC media days this week to discuss the 2025 outlook for the Aggie football program. On Tuesday, Georgia, Texas, and Auburn took the stage, while SEC Network host Laura Rutledge spoke to TexAgs Live host David Nuño, and was one of the few media members this week who felt that Texas A&M is being highly undervalued this offseason, while cross-town rival Texas has received all the national praise. Nothing Rutledge said is new for those of you who have been paying attention, those of us who cover the program, knowing that starting quarterback Marcel Reed's improvement this offseason, paired with the returning veterans and 14 transfer portal additions, have the Aggies on the right track to compete for a College Football Playoff berth. "I don't thing enough people are talking about A&M" Rutledge stated. "I don't want to overdo this, because, I get superstitious about A&M, I have a couple best friends who are A&M fans, so, they get mad at me if I'm overhyping the team, but, I am an honorary A&M fan." Getting Rutlege's now confirmed A&M fandom out of the way, the SEC host expressed her belief in the Aggies' ability to get through what is widely seen as one of the toughest schedules in the country. "I think they're gonna be pretty good, Marcel Reed coming back, he's got way more experience under his belt, and getting thrown into the fire you saw some flashes, you saw some freshman moments, right, it's a moment of an experience, and now he's got time under his belt." Rutledge is even more confident in Texas A&M's defense improving with Mike Elko taking over as the play caller, which should help with early and late-game adjustments that were an issue last season. "I think Elko taking over the defensive play calling is big, that's hit background, his bread and butter" said Rutlege. "He is such a good coach and he has impressed me in so many ways, and I just think its, and I know A&M fans are like, "we've got to win" and this has been the story, right? There's been lot's of money spent, and how you see it actually translate, it will be better in my opinion, and there are key parts in the schedule that are really going to matter. I think they're a team that people are overlooking right now." Texas A&M will open the 2025 season against UTSA on Saturday, August 31, inside what should be a packed Kyle Field. Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
