No. 5 Texas A&M (5-0, 2-0 SEC) will host Florida (2-3, 1-1) in a game that could decide the fate of both programs’ seasons, as dramatic as that may sound. After defeating the Texas Longhorns, Florida is looking to knock of the undefeated Aggies before taking on the rest of what is considered the most demanding schedule in college football.
For the home team, defeating the Gators would mean a lot more than simply staying undefeated, knowing that a 3-0 start in the SEC before hitting the road for three straight weeks would place Texas A&M in a very good spot to make the College Football Playoff. However, if the Aggies lose, defeating LSU or Missouri on the road becomes even more vital combined wth the season finale road trip to face Texas.
Both teams possess talented rosters, but in his first full starting season, Florida quarterback DJ Lagway has not lived up to expectations, but looked solid against Texas, connecting with freshman wide receiver Dallas Wilson for six receptions, 111 yards, and two touchdowns in his season debut.
While Lagway had his best game against the Longhorns’ impressive defense, Texas A&M’s pass rush, which erupted for 11 sacks in the last two games, is looking to put consistent pressure on the former five-star prospect throughout the night, which is the key to disrupting his rhythm.
Still, Texas A&M’s offense needs to find a balance, and starting quarterback Marcel Reed must be more accurate and focus on high-percentage throws in the middle of the field, combined with a solid run game. On Wednesday, head coach Mike Elko spoke to the media during his weekly SEC Teleconference to preview the matchup and discuss his roster.
Mike Elko on how his team has performed through five games
“Very excited about how our team played last week. It’s good to get another SEC victory over a very talented Mississippi State team. Looking forward to another challenge this week as we host Florida.”
Mike Elko on junior linebacker Taurean York’s progress this season
“He has tremendous natural instincts. He has been playing the linebacker position for a really long time, and that’s becoming more and more rare.”
“From a preparation standpoint, he’s unlike anybody I’ve ever been around. He’s as good as I’ve ever seen in terms of his film study and his preparation.”
Mike Elko on Taurean York’s football future
“He has expressed to me his interest in coaching at some point in his life, hopefully after a long and successful NFL career. He has all the makings of a future coach. There are a lot of similarities between him and I… He’s a much better player than I ever was.”
Mike Elko on Texas A&M’s ascending defensive line
“That’s what we’ve tried to build here. If you go back to 2018, there has been a line of really talented NFL players who have come through here, and that was just after Myles Garrett and Von Miller left.”
“(Cashius Howell) handled his offseason phenomenally. He went to work to become a better player. He got a taste of it last year in the SEC.”
Mike Elko on Texas A&M’s use of alternative uniforms this season
“I think it’s important. Marketing our program is a big piece of what we have to do. Staying trendy on social media is a big piece of what we have to do.”
“We’re very proud of our traditions. We want to be traditional the majority of the time… But we are also cognizant that we have to go out there and find ways to push the envelop and find ways to make our program trendy.”
Mike Elko on facing Florida’s “talented” roster
“This is a really talented team. They recruited at a really high level, and we know this is going to be a challenge for us.”
Mike Elko on dealing with Florida’s veteran linebackers
“We have some inside knowledge because our linebacker coach recruited them all. It’s a really talented group.”
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Everything Texas A&M HC Mike Elko said during the SEC Teleconference
