Press Conference: Robinson, Ags preparing for No. 20 Oklahoma State

Bowl practice is in full swing as the Maroon & White prepare for the 2023 TaxAct Texas Bowl against No. 20 Oklahoma State next week. On Tuesday afternoon, Elijah Robinson, Jaylen Henderson, Max Wright and Taurean York spoke to the media.

Elijah Robinson

• Good practice. The guys were smiling today. Merry Christmas! Our guys are excited and preparing hard.
   
• I made a commitment to see these guys through the bowl game. Before I took the coaching job, I told Syracuse I would coach A&M’s bowl game. We had zoom staff meetings to prepare for practices. When I am here, I have my A&M shirt on. When I am with Syracuse, I am recruiting. That's all I am doing now. When I am in a recruits home, I am recruiting for Syracuse. If a recruit reaches out and asks about A&M, I will tell them what the school and program can do for them.
   
• The guys transferring, if the parents reach out or the kid reaches out, I say to stay here. If I am a defensive player here, you know Mike Elko is a good defensive coach. With recruiting, it is all about relationships. People trust people. 
   
• Guys have their individual reasons for being in the portal. The guys that are here are who we are coaching. The staff is fine with guys in the portal playing in the bowl game. 
   
• We have a few guys still practicing in the portal. We have a few in the portal that have not shown up. 
   
• Ollie Gordon II is elite. He has won a Doak Walker for a reason. He is a patient runner. They were just in the Big 12 championship. 
   
• Ainias Smith has been here for a few years. They respect him. He brings juice to practice. We enjoy having him on the coaching staff. He can be a great coach. 
   
• One thing you are seeing is the playoff teams have fewer guys in the portal. There should be a window after the bowl season. If guys do wait until the bowl season is over, they can finish off the season the right way. 
   
• Ainias’ role as a coach for the bowl game has not been decided.
   
• I have to focus on the guys here. They are showing up and working with everybody. I have great relationships with the guys in the portal, and I wish them the best.
   
• We have guys working through injuries. 
   
• The NFL does not have the same numbers as college. We will go good on good in practice. There is an NFL approach to it. 
   
• We have two great guys with experience coordinating, coach James Coley and coach Jim Chaney. They are working well together. 
   
• I absolutely remember the Texas Bowl in 2019. Kellen Mond broke a really long scramble. It was fun. I remember the guys just having fun. We have a lot of Houston kids on this team.
   
• There is no experience like Kyle Field. People are so nice here. We have been here for six years. I will remember the relationships and the fans. It’s been a great town to live in. 
   
• Jaylen Henderson is confident but humble. He starts as the third-string quarterback and gets called up to be the leader of this program. He has done a great job. He brings excitement to this team.
   
• We are not looking at opting out. There are guys that deserve to play in this game. No matter the numbers, we will show up.
   
• No comment on Evan Stewart. Shemar Turner and Shemar Stewart have been practicing. Fadil Diggs has not.