Texas A&M Football
Adam Hansford on Aaron's signing with A&M, Mazzone relationship
Key quotes from Adam Hansford interview
"I'm doing great and we're very excited here in D.C. My family is overwhelmed to be a part of the Aggie Nation and I can't tell you enough how Aaron is just so excited and looking forward to being a part of everything that's happening there in College Station."
"The recruit process has been a whirlwind. It has been a great learning experience for Aaron. It's one of the biggest decisions a 17-year old will make in their life. But he's handle it very, very well. He's been surrounded by a lot of great people who gave him a lot of great advice and help him weigh the pros and cons. He made the best decision he could ever make."
"I think Aaron's impression of Texas A&M was one that is close to what he knows, a sense of family and a sense of community. He saw the closeness and relationship to the coaches and he had a good experience in just talking to the incoming freshman and also the upperclassmen. There was a connection and a real bond there. One of the good things was the day that we came in, the faculty came out. You had teachers and professors who took time off who were willing to sit down and talk about the options and opportunities academically and it was very impressive. Also it was very impressive to walk around the campus and see the great investment that's going into the program, athletic and academic program at Texas A&M. Aaron was really, really excited. When we left it was something that he really wanted to be a part of."
"Noel Mazzone coming to A&M was everything to be honest with you. Prior to Noel Mazzone, we hadn't looked at Texas A&M, we hadn't had any communication with them. Aaron was always interested in playing in the SEC. He had offers from South Carolina, Georgia and Florida and Alabama of course was also kind of lurking around the radar. Noel Mazzone reached out to Aaron about a year and a half ago and they had a camp here in D.C. where Noel and his staff were present running that camp. He had a chance to meet Aaron, evidently he was very impressed with what he saw in Aaron's upside as a wide receiver. He offered Aaron that day but of course Noel was with UCLA at the time as their offensive coordinator. When he made the switch, I must say Aaron was a little disappointed because his only reason for considering UCLA was because of Noel Mazzone. Noel is a great guy. He connected well with Aaron, my family and he's just a man with a big heart and he's a man of his word. Noel is a man of integrity. As I've gotten to know him as well, he's a man I can trust and that's the primary reason why Aaron is at Texas A&M, because of Noel Mazzone."
"Noel Mazzone puts the fun in football, he spreads that thing out. You've got 4-5 receivers on the field and they're tossing that thing all around and they're having fun with that spread offense. Aaron would pretty much fit into the Y position which is a position that can create a lot of mismatches on linebackers because of his speed and his size and if you break him down on a corner he can outsize you. So you've got a big physical body, a kid that can run a 4.4, probably 4.3, with long arms who can high point the ball. He's just going to create havoc for anybody that's trying to check him because he's just an overwhelming kid with great skill sets. He's going to have a lot of fun. Noel loves to toss that thing and if you're a receiver there's no better offense you can play in in the country."
"From a physical sense, he's very blessed as an athlete (having two parents who are former sprinters). I think he has all the tools he needs to have great success. His mother held the state record in Louisiana in the 400-meter for over 32 years, so that says a lot about her. She qualified for two Olympic trials. Myself, I was a two-time high school All-American and collegiate All-American in track and field. Aaron started running track when he was about eight. I told him when he was born, 'you're the fastest man in the world' and evidently he believed it. From the time he started running track he had been participating in the USA Junior Olympics and AAU Junior Olympics as a finalist in the 100 meters. He loves track as much as football, and he's very confident on what he can do on the field because of his speed."
"Aaron is so excited to get down to Texas A&M and I tell you he does not have an off switch. So the kid is going to be working out and getting himself physically ready. He's currently running indoor track and he'll run spring track at Saint Johns here in D.C. Last year they were one of the top 4X200 meter teams in the country, they were ranked No. 1 in the nation. I'm sure he would like to get back to that status. He was an All-American track and field kid last year and has a great opportunity to do it again. He works hard, he loves it. He works out with a passion. I can tell you this, when he gets there he's going to be game ready and be ready to go so you guys better be ready for him."
"I know all about Pat Henry, I know all about those national championships. You guys are lavished in victory down there all the way. You've got a great basketball program there as well. Gig 'em, man. A&M, you guys are getting it done."
"Well we've talked about him running track at A&M. As his dad I've coached track and field and he knows that just the training itself really gives him an advantage on the field. I guess he'll get a chance and talk with Pat Henry and if he doesn't compete with the school, he should at least train with the team because track and field athletes ... it's just an incredible asset when you can enhance that speed dynamic. You've got one of the best coaches in the world at Texas A&M. I would encourage him to take advantage of that and it could only produce and give him the opportunity to have great success there."
"I'm fired up right now (for the UCLA game in September). I can't wait. Again, we're very happy to be a part of the Aggie Nation. We just know this is going to be a great and exciting year and we can't wait for it to kick off."
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