AggieYell Mailbag
Here’s the latest edition of the AggieYell Mailbag:
Q: First, how are you feeling?
A: Terrible. Less terrible than Tuesday, but still terrible. Cody came home from school sick today and Arie’s got it too, so it’s getting around.
Who do you see benefiting from the extra practices that come along with three additional bowl games? (Richard23)
Great question. I think, in all cases, true freshmen benefit from extra practice time because it helps push their learning curve farther along. I think it helps players who are coming back from injuries as they get back into game shape. And, in this particular case, I think it may help everybody flush the disappointment of the flop in Austin.
Q: Your thoughts on the new OC search and offensive game planning for next year and beyond. It has been announced Elko will “encourage” the new OC to be status quo, but what new twists would you like to see emphasized considering who we have at RB and OL projected for next year with 2 scenarios –
A) if Chase Bisontis comes back, we get 1 high profile tackle, and land a top-notch WR (KC-type) or
B) Bisontis is gone, we pull in a very serviceable T and we still land a top-notch WR? (Rooster77)
Either way, I want balance. If you take a look at the offensive skill positions for next year, this is (in my opinion) one of the most potentially explosive groups A&M’s ever had. All five running backs can go the distance on any given carry, you have tremendous speed at receiver and now you have size to complement it. Obviously, I would want to run the ball between the tackles more with Bisontis back and a top-notch LT, but I’d like to get some variety into the passing game as well. Marcel Reed is great in the intermediate passing game and hitting crossers, but I think opponents may be getting wise to it. So they need to add some wrinkles to that, but continue to push the ball down the field.
Q: It seems like Texas A&M athletics as a whole is at (or coming into) a high point. Since 2024 we’ve seen success in a lot of sports: Football – one game away from SEC champ game two years in a row, 2025 SEC regular season co-champs, first CFP berth; Basketball – 2025 S16 appearance, new exciting style of Bucky Ball (good early returns); Baseball – 2024 CWS runner-up, some of the best MLB-level talent in recent years (gotta rebound this year); Volleyball – best season in program history in 2025, back-to-back S16 berths; Softball – #1 ranking in 2025; W Tennis – National Champs in 2024; Track & Field – 2025 national co-champs in men’s, 2025 national 3rd place in women’s. Men’s tennis and both golf programs have consistently been good too nationally and the recent soccer coach hire has generated a lot of positive buzz. Have you seen our athletics programs as a whole be this good in your time covering Texas A&M? What has contributed to such success?
A: no, I think this is about as good as it’s been. And the major reason may be that they went out and got hungry (also, younger) coaches and an AD who is innovative. There’s finally a vision — a realistic vision — and everyone has bought in.
What is your favorite sport/season to cover during the year? Or do you prefer covering recruiting over games/seasons? (RoosterTAMU)
Oh, I much prefer covering games and seasons over recruiting. It’s a personal preference, but that’s my jam. I guess football has to be the favorite one to cover, but I’ll tell you what — you get a good, intense basketball game going and it’s tough to beat.
Q: After we kick the S&%! out of Miami, what is the best place to get tickets to the Cotton Bowl? (SouthernAg)
A: It would either be the 12th Man Foundation or the secondary markets, because it’s sold out.
Q: Thoughts on forming a Losers League for tu, nortre shame, and other whiners? (Hogtide)
A: The problem with that is the “losers” have an awful tendency to win.
Q: Is It possible that Le’Veon Moss is not playing and really does not intend to, in order to protect himself from reinjury before the NFL draft? Sure thought we would see him on a few carries against Texas, and his injury seems to be taking longer than normal for his type injury. Just my thoughts. (RacerRod)
A: No, absolutely not. I can’t be clear enough about that and anyone making that assumption is way off base (there are more profane words I’d use, but this is a family publication). For one thing, Moss is currently getting knocked for being injury-prone. Why would he sit and reinforce that sentiment? Sitting out would cost him financially. So blank no.
Q: Are injury reports mandated for playoff games? (Naytch)
A: I don’t think so.
Q: What do you think of all the comments Trey Zuhn has made publically regarding Miami’s DL. I feel like he is walking a fine line between arrogance and confidence(mainly staying on the former side). Just seems unprofessional for a guy hopefully going to the NFL next year? Also gives UM bulletin board material.
Statistically speaking, Trey Zuhn’s the best left tackle in college football this year. He’s walked the walk so far, so we’ll see what he can do against Bain. So far, though, he’s handled his business and then some.
Do you expect Julio Humphrey to play a big role in our DB room next year, he got a lot of snaps at UGA and has barely touched the field here. I assume it is just because of the improvement of Dezz Ricks, but will he step into a larger role as we lose Lee and Chappell? (TahtayR24)
A: That’s my assumption, yes. I figure he and Ricks start in 2026.
Q: Lots of comments about the strength of Miami’s def line and LBs. Are they the toughest we will have seen this year? Not just the one, but the group as a whole? (3s2ghill)
A: Yeah, they’re really good. Texas with Anthony Hill may be better, but he didn’t play against A&M. So this would be the the best.
Q: Do you give any credence to the rumors ERob may come back? (H273)
A: Not really. If someone else on the staff who works with the defensive line leaves, then I could see it. But would his role be right now?
Q: Now that NIL has changed the face of college athletics, and getting paid to play a sport (maybe with a legal challenge) could change the designation of college athletes to now also be classified as professional athletes, should we start a campaign to allow Johnny Manziel to return to Texas A&M and complete his final two years of eligibility? (98 Percenter)
A: Nah, I’m good.
Q: I read this morning on the LSU site that ERob has not agreed to anything with LSU and it looks like things may be going in an opposite direction. They mentioned that the school to watch was A&M, mentioned that there was chatter exploring a path to get him back here. Is there any substance behind that? (Rocking3T)
A: Like I said before, what would his role be? If they gave him Hemphill’s old role as assistant head coach/defense, then he could come in essentially where he left. But A&M has two defensive line coaches, one of which he doesn’t have any history with. It would be a very weird, and potentially awkward, situation. If Sean Spencer were to get another job, then sure. The fit is there in that case.
Q: Do you think we can replace this offensive line through the portal and what’s on campus? This to me is the biggest indicator of whether or not we can contend for the CFP in 2026. (RathAg05)
A: I don’t know, but they’ve got to try. Maybe I’m in the minority here, but I just don’t see a way they go into next season with two inexperienced offensive tackles while you’ve got a Heisman candidate quarterback, a loaded running back stable and a ton of good receivers.
Q: Is it possible to get a sense of how the coaching staff and the team are balancing the upcoming game with Klein’s departure and him trying to set up a staff at KSU. I saw where Johnny Manziel said it was going to be a disaster having Klein remain as OC, as his mind was not going to solely focused on the game. I would think Coach Elko would have a sense of Klein’s focus or not. Right. (Aggdoc)
A: Elko is a very smart guy and tends to have a good read on people. If he were worried about it, I’m sure he’d have told Klein to head on up to Manhattan and start assembling his staff. He hasn’t.
Q: How many OL and DL do you realistically expect them to sign from the portal? (SteveAllen)
A: Now that the SEC has gone to 105 scholarships and looking at A&M’s needs, I’d like a very good defensive end, a veteran defensive tackle, two really good offensive tackles and maybe a guard.
Q: Is Cooper Witten still in play for the good guys? Does Bateman’s leaving help, hurt, or have no impact on our chances? (Hogtide)
A: So far as I know he is. Bateman’s departure doesn’t help, but most guys are as interested in Elko as anyone else.
Q: Follow up: Do you expect us to hire a LB coach with a good recruiting pedigree to keep his interest, and are you hearing anything on this front? (Travster23)
A: Part one of the follow up: Yes.
Part two: Not yet.
Q: Do you think Izaiah Williams will be on our roster next season? (Doom Buggy)
A: Historically, these are the type of questions I don’t feel comfortable with giving an answer one way or the other. So no comment. I don’t know if there’s a right answer and a wrong one could piss people off.
Q: Is there anything in Elko’s past that would lead you to believe that he would hire someone like a Knowles for his staff? To give another example, if Aranda were to get let go by Baylor. Point being, defensive guys who have a history of successful defenses.
or does he know exactly what he wants in his defense and wants guys who will run it the way he wants? And that may not be conducive to hiring someone with an established 20 year track record. (Sippinonsomesyrup)
A: I don’t think he wants (or needs) an Aranda or Knowles. He’s a defensive guy, as we all know, and he has his scheme and he wants that run. I think bringing someone in like that would have been like Jimbo bringing in Petrino and Petrino trying to run his own system. Inevitable combustion.
Q: Since Penn State is a dumpster fire do you see TJ Shanahan returning to the Ags to take over one of the guard positions? (GCJC)
A: No.
Q: Occasionally, my questions come from arguments with others. So here it goes.
Are cell phones allowed in coaching boxes? I ask because I can totally see Charlie Weiss Jr have an earbud in covered by his headset with Kiffy on the other end. (Tsmith3001)
A: I’m not sure what the point would be unless Lane is actually trying to get Ole Miss to win, because that’s how he and the staffers who defected to LSU get their bonuses.
Anyway, here’s the rule: coaches are not allowed to use personal communication devices in the coaches box during live play unless specifically authorized by rule or by the conference.
And, in the case of the SEC, the use of cell phones is strictly prohibited.
