No. 8 Texas A&M (2-0) took care of business during the first two weeks of the season, blowing out Missouri State 50-0 and Arizona State 48-20 last Saturday. The win included multiple pick-six scores from Edge Marco Jones and cornerback Julio Humphrey, while starting quarterback Marcel Reed threw three touchdowns and passed for a meager 163 yards.
Still, the Aggies made the necessary "winning plays" to leave Kyle Field 2-0, and will now host Kentucky for the first time since the 2018 season. Coach Mike Elko is, and should be, proud of his team for adjusting and playing with consistent physicality on defense, and even though the Aggies' rushing attack failed to reach 100 yards on the day, this unit ground out yards to set Marcel Reed up for his second-half
30-plus-yard touchdown to Mario Craver.
On paper, Texas A&M holds nearly every statistical advantage, outside of explosive plays, which have yet to show up this season, despite the Aggies' deep wide receiver rotation that has yet to live up to its full potential, outside of transfer Isaiah Horton, who has already reeled in three of Marcel Reed's five touchdowns on the year.
After speaking to the media on Monday, Elko made his weekly appearance on the Aggie Football Hour to preview Saturday's matchup just minutes after the first SEC availability report was released, showing RB Jamarion Morrow, WR Ashont Bethel-Roman, WR and special teamer TK Norman, and transfer Edge Anto Saka all listed as "questionable" with a 50% chance to play on Saturday.
Here is everything Mike Elko said during the Aggie Football Hour.
Texas A&M never trailed against Arizona State. That's good.
"When you play a game and you play from in front the whole time and you never trail and you win by four scores, that's a good day."
"No matter whether it was perfect or not, that's a good Saturday."
Mike Elko continues his praise of senior DB Bravion Rogers
"So proud of that kid. He optimizes what we are trying to build here. He hasn't got everything he's ever wanted. He hasn't got all the playing time he's ever wanted."
"He's building himself into an NFL special teams player."
Mike Elko on Texas A&M's fourth-quarter pick-six scores
"There was a skill to every single one of them. Whether it was T.J.'s (Searcy) reach to the quarterbacks arm, which we practice everyday. Whether it was Sam's (M'Pemba) violent punch to the football, which we practice everyday…...to Julio Humphrey making a really good contested catch, which we work on. Those things are great to see because that was obviously one of our big deficiency's on defense."
Mike Elko on the recent scholarships to RB Ramarian Tillman, S Layne Gerke
"This is still college football. You still want to find a way to reward young people who have given a lot to your program. That's a big deal for them. Our kids understand that this is still football at that level. They appreciate those guys."
Mike Elko on Kyle Field's impact against ASU
"When I came down and looked up at the scene on Saturday, I was like 'Wow, this is really special.'"
Mike Elko on the up-and-coming players who are coming along this season
"There are still some young kids that haven't really gotten going that I think you're going to see start to impact us. Aaron Gregory, Jayden Warren, TK Norman is starting to show up a little bit. Kelshaun Johnson had the big catch."
Mike Elko on facing Kentucky to start SEC play on Saturday
"It's an SEC game and we've yet to have an easy one of those. Those things don't exist. It'll be a four-quarter war and we're going to have to give it everything we got."
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.
This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Everything Mike Elko said during Aggie Football Hour before Week 3
