SMU - for the love of gawd, please beat PSU…..

Nah.

Just observing how prep recruiting went and now the portal, tells me a lot how about how Coach Elko and staff feel about the program and what they see they need to do going forward into next season. First of all, Coach Elko, like all major football program coaches, understands he has two large undertakings in his job...build a sustainable program and rebuild his team year to year to compete for Championships. The changes to recruiting, the portal and thus retention have made roster construction beyond challenging. Essentially, every year, staffs have three buckets to recruit. It was always this way but never to this degree. So, I want to take a closer look at these buckets based on what I'm seeing from my lay-z-boy...at least thus far...and how this team is being built for next year...

• Retention - You can tell a lot by who they let walk and who they fight to keep. Some of that you get from the Coaches' reactions in press conferences and such when players announce they're staying. But most is in the quietness of who is or isn't sought in the portal outright. Now, some of that is a waiting game on who becomes available later. But generally, if a staff is happy with its core group at a position, it is more judicious with its offers. You can see it clearly with how we are attacking some position groups and not others. Still, retention can change on a dime if players leave. Right now, I'd say the staff is probably fairly content with who they've kept pending a few decisions. So, having a good solid core back, what are the expectations? With another year together, better O Line play. Barring no further injury, a return to a top shelf running game. On defense, a return to fundamentals and more connected play from an Elko based system.
• Recruiting - Keeping the cupboard stocked is the lifeblood of any good program. I think the staff has done a good job to this point. The big question is...can we get a few key contributions from the fish while we're doing it? The hope is always yes, but we don't want to be unreasonable about it. Some kids I think could make some plays are Myles, Sims, Sanders, Rink and Armstrong. But you never know the learning curve of any of them. I really like the fact that we went and got some WRs so Myles can be brought along. Armstrong just seems like a matchup nightmare from jump if he can grasp the college game. Perhaps some target snaps from the fish along the D Line. In the secondary, we recruited a lot of speed and length, but it would be great if we didn't have to push them to play out of need. Same with the RBs and O Line.
• Portal - Our portal season, to this point, has screamed a few things from the staff...lack of explosiveness outside, need to block better (catch) on the edges, D Line help and more secondary depth. We all knew it. These were all obvious holes that had to be filled. The experienced QB was a good hedge. Frankly, I was surprised we could get some willing to come in for that. I'm still all over us having more experience brought in at D Line, but we'll likely have to wait. The tackle we have visiting is interesting. I'm unsure if he's hedge against a loss or desire for better play (RT?). The moves at TE have me curious. The TE from Nebraska is decent. Would've thought we'd go big time there.

Bottom line, chips are in on Marcel. Running game, downfield passes and better defense are the way we are building this team. Run game to take the pressure off 10 and surrounding him with number of explosive playmakers on the outside are the focus. Coach Elko is working on getting his "type of guys" on defense. We're not there yet. Need some more difference makers on D.

Gig'em!!!

What's up with them?

These two videos changed my attitude about Jacob Zeno, drastically!

Watch the first video first, because it’s short and it explains why Zeno fits at A&M, and how he will improve the QB room. Then, in the second video – which is an interview with Zeno from 12 months ago – you will get to know him personally. For example, you probably didn’t know that he turned down $800,000 last year to play another season at UAB. This guy is level-headed, classy, articulate, and super likeable.

Bottom line, if I hear any more complaints about A&M taking Zeno, it will get my wrath. That’s no big deal of course, but if you watch these videos, you will join me. You will love him too.

Watch these videos and post your comments…

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Not the season we hoped for, but I hear dudes in Maroon will be playing so we're in. Actually, we were going to Vegas anyway but, A&M playing, hell yeah we'll be there!

@tsip despiser i love how your boy Shane Gillis triggered the shit out of Satan!
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Saban is so full of SHIT too!

My first weekend spent hunting this fall. And my first time hunting waterfowl. I am hunting with a friend who has done it before. He trains dogs for a living. He is taking a yellow lab to retrieve. I’m looking forward to seeing the dog do its thing.

I am relying on him to show me the ropes. I have hunted dove for over 30 years. I have some bird hunting experience.

Anything I should know?

He's on campus right now.

I told you Dayon Hayes was one to watch. Now he's an Aggie. Story here.

If you were told he’s getting $2 million would you be surprised? Under paid? Over?

The transfer portal has made these Bowl Games very difficult when it comes to betting. Has to give the oddsmakers heartburn.

In any case, let's look at the games today:

Ohio (-6.5, OU 58) vs Jacksonville St. - Head coaches left for both teams, but I like Jacksonville's offense. Taking them on the ML.
Florida (-10, OU 49.5) vs. Tulane - Taking Florida to cover and hitting the over.
Notre Dame (-6.5, OU 52) vs. Indiana - Not sure on this one yet.

KC Concepcion came, had a good visit and is likely going to leave without committing. I expect they may press hard for Miami's Isaiah Orton when he comes in tomorrow.
I said in tidbits that I expected they snuck some guys in and didn't say much about it, and one of the apparently was Colorado DE Dayon Hayes. Hayes had 16 tackles, 3.5 TFL and 2 sacks in just four games this year before he was hurt, but he was preseason All-Big 12. At Pitt last season, he had 45 tackles, 10.5 TFL and 4 sacks -- and I think A&M came after him before he committed to Colorado last year. But he's one to watch.

Has got some serious jets - and offers from almost every P4 school in the country. Randle playing SOC in 5A D1 state championship game right now - kid reminds me of Jahmyr Gibbs. Hope we can snag him.

Brock Purdy, maybe the lowest paid player on his team, gave each OLineman a new Tundra. Joe Burrow, one of the highest paid players in the entire NFL, gave his a Samurai sword.

I was not able to watch today, so for anyone in the know:

Why didn’t Taylor play? Apparently his injury was not just a knee to the nuts?

Why did Garcia only play 7 minutes? Did he get hurt too?

Two big bull shit calls

Well, I was hoping for IU but all ND in the first half.

Columbus just embarrassed malakoff and their 31 game winning streak. 48 to 14. Adam schobel was unstoppable.

In order: Ohio State, t.u., A&M, Michigan.

When it comes to underperforming, we are the undisputed champs.

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The official two deep for the bowl game is out and it's...interesting
QB: Marcel Reed/Miles O'Neill
RB: Amari Daniels OR Rueben Owens
TE: Tre Watson, Shane Calhoun OR Donovan Green OR Theo Ohrstrom
WR (X): Noah Thomas, Ernest Campbell
WR (Z): Jahdae Walker, Ashton Bethel-Roman
WR (SLOT): Jabre Barber, Terry Bussey
LT: Trey Zuhn, Robert Bourdon
LG: Chase Bisontis, Papa Ahfua
C: Koli Faaiu, Ashton Funk
RG: Ar’maj Reed-Adams, Blake Ivy
RT: Demetrius Crownover, Deuce Fatheree

DE: Cashius Howell, Nana Boadi-Owusu
DT: Albert Regis, Rodas Johnson
DT: DJ Hicks, Dealyn Evans
DE: Rylan Kennedy, Solomon Williams
LB: Scooby Williams OR Daymion Sanford OR Solomon DeShields
LB: Taurean York, Tristan Jernigan OR Jordan Lockhart
NICKEL: Jaydon Hill, Bravion Rogers
CB: BJ Mayes OR Jayvon Thomas
S: Bryce Anderson, Jarred Kerr
S: Dalton Brooks OR Marcus Ratcliffe, Myles Davis
CB: Will Lee OR Dezz Ricks
First off, ignore the ORs on defense. Ricks will start across from Lee. This is how they had it all year.
What’s interesting is seeing the 12th Man (Boadi-Owusu) in the two-deep instead of Kendall Jackson. But, the 12th Man was the star of last year’s bowl game, so maybe they need to put him out there.
They’re also giving the true freshman receivers (Campbell, Bethel-Roman and Williams) a potential chance to play. It looks like I had the offensive line setup right.
Moose Muhammad is not on the roster. He is done. I can't say I'm overly surprised. He was butting heads with the new staff from day one and was suspended more than once in the spring. You heard Elko say multiple times that it was a matter of effort with him, and he just never caught on. I'm sure the fanboys will be outraged, but c'est la vie.

One thing to note about the two deep
Is that 18 of the 22 starters are able to return next season. The only ones who aren't are Tre Watson, BJ Mayes, Jabre Barber and Jahdae Walker. Jaydon Hill is listed as a starter, but we know he's not anymore.

Visitors on campus today and this weekend
There are some biggies. KC Concepcion did fly in last night, and he is on campus. He was at the top of the WR wish list at the start of the transfer portal session and they would certainly love to have him. But I personally would not mind Isaiah Orton, who is six-foot-4 and had 56 catches, 616 yards and 5 TD for Miami last year; he is also in town. WR Emmanuel Henderson from Alabama will be in tomorrow.
The Aggies have Rice OT Ethan Onianwa in town today after he visited Ohio State yesterday. A&M was linked to Onianwa immediately after he entered the portal, and now he's there. The question really is whether A&M can lock down a top-level veteran offensive lineman. With Trey Zuhn and Dametrious Crownover (and Deuce Fatheree) looking like they'll return, they can't really promise a starting job. That's one big reason Orlando World signed with Oregon.
The Aggies are also hosting Purdue DT Damarjhe Lewis today. A&M appears to be his best option at the moment.
They've probably got a few people in that they've snuck in, but those are the big names that are out there.

D-line commits may come later
Last year, A&M didn't get started on defensive line commits until the first week of January, when Nic Scourton committed. Then they started coming fast and furious. I'm told that A&M is anticipating (apparently with good reason, if you know what I mean) that a number of well-known defensive ends and tackles will enter the portal after their bowl games (and possibly the CFP). Which is good, because Western Kentucky's Deante McCray committed to FSU this morning, basically eliminating all of A&M's DE prospects currently in the portal.

No 4 today
Wade Taylor is not dressed today for the game against Houston Christian, which starts about...now. He took a shot to the nuts against Purdue and did not finish the game. Considering the competition, (HCU and Abilene Christian), we may not see Taylor again until the Texas game and the start of conference play. Manny Obaseki is starting in his place.

4:30 update: Two SEC defensive linemen are visiting. Florida DE TJ Searcy (34 tackles, 4 TFL, 2 sacks) and Georgia LB/DE Samuel M’Pemba are in town. M’Pemba didn’t really fit at UGA, but he was the #10 player in the nation in 2023. He could be a Jack or a hand in the dirt end in this scheme.

Has the staff worked on Reed's footwork so he doesn't give away plays?