Mike Elko's early moves has Texas A&M trending in a positive trajectory

We’re told one must crawl before one can run.

Except in the case of Texas A&M football in which the stages may be inverted.

Too often the pratfalls of recent seasons have raised temptations of running to the nearest bar and crawling inside a bottle of hooch.

A 12-13 record over two seasons will do that.

Yet, now that the Jimbo Fisher era has run its course, I’m willing to crawl out on the proverbial limb and announce better fortunes await A&M football in 2024.

Scoff if you must. Dismiss the above paragraph as maniacal gibberish. Say the aforementioned hooch is talking.

But the moves Mike Elko has made since taking over as A&M’s head coach have rendered me intoxicated with optimism.

It’s easy to be optimistic in January. We know all too well not to assume offseason headlines lead to in-season success.

However, it was clear drastic changes needed to be made. Elko has made them.

He took steps to repair the damaged relationship between A&M and Texas high school coaches.

He’s been more active in the transfer portal than Fisher ever was.

TexAgs

Bussey committed to A&M on Sept. 28 and checks in at No. 3 on TexAgs’ Top Recruits in Texas for 2024.

Considering he took over at A&M just three weeks before early national signing day, his recruiting class was solid, especially if he can sign Terry Bussey‍ in February.

Mostly, he has assembled a coaching staff that figures to make the Aggies a better-coached team if nothing else.

Collin Klein was brought in from Kansas State to update the offense that needs to be overhauled.

Elko convinced receivers coach Holmon Wiggins to leave Alabama to replace the unproductive Dameyune Craig. He brought in Patrick Dougherty to upgrade A&M’s horrific special teams units.

A&M had special teams breakdowns in four of its five regular season losses.

Miami returned a kickoff for a touchdown. Tennessee returned a punt for a score. Alabama blocked a key field goal. So did Ole Miss.

The Aggies gave up two touchdowns on kickoffs last season. They had three field goals blocked.

Fisher didn’t think the Aggies needed a designated special teams coach.

Perhaps Elko’s best move, though, was bringing in Tommy Moffitt to be A&M’s Director of Football Strength & Conditioning. Moffitt helped three different LSU coaches win national championships.

Former LSU center T-Bob Hebert, a radio and podcast host, recently lamented Moffitt going to A&M while also raving about how he makes players better.

“I (expletive) hate that you are going to be in College Station now in those colors,” Hebert said in an interview with Moffitt two weeks ago. “I’ve really enjoyed making fun of Texas A&M for being soft. If there’s one thing that A&M will not be — we’ll see where the wins and losses shake out — but this team ain’t going to be soft. I can guarantee that.”

Moffitt replied: “We’re bringing hell with us, T-Bob.”

Hell yes.

The Aggies were on the goal line with a chance to pull within two points in the final two minutes against Alabama. They lost 26-20 to that same Crimson Tide team which last week lost in overtime to No. 1 Michigan.

A&M had a lead over Ole Miss late in the fourth quarter but fell 38-35. The Rebels just dominated No. 10 Penn State to finish with an 11-win season.

The Aggies fell at Tennessee 20-13. The Volunteers completed their nine-win season by destroying No. 17 Iowa.

A&M started its backup quarterback in all those losses.

That suggests the Aggies may not be that far away from fielding a championship-caliber team.

Maybe an organized head coach, a new offensive scheme, better special teams, some help from the transfer portal and a better culture built in the offseason strength and conditioning program will make the difference.

I'm confident they will make a significant difference. That’s why I can crawl out on that limb and announce A&M will be better next season. Indeed, I’d like to proclaim the Aggies will immediately be a championship team.

But that might be the hooch talking.