Elko confident a 'No. 1' receiver will emerge as Aggies open season

Ainias Smith’s departure to the National Football League and Evan Stewart’s transfer to Oregon has caused a measure of uncertainty about Texas A&M’s receiving corps.

One of the primary questions is whether the Aggies have a “No. 1” receiver — one that stresses opposing defenses.

No current A&M receiver had more than 35 catches or more than 590 receiving yards last season.

Coach Mike Elko on Monday at his weekly press conference acknowledged the importance of having a “No. 1” receiver. He also said he believes the Aggies have one.

Aggies hope he’s proven correct when No. 20 A&M opens the football season against No. 7 Notre Dame on Saturday at 6:30 p.m.

Jamie Maury, TexAgs

In the 2023 season-opening win over New Mexico, Noah Thomas logged three touchdown receptions in the first half.

“I think it’s obviously nice to have a guy who’s a No. 1 because then you have that guy, who commands attention,” Elko said. “We’ll find out Saturday night, but I believe we have that.

"If that guy commands attention then that creates opportunities for other people. If they don’t give him the respect he deserves or leave him single covered, then he can take over a game.”

Elko did not identify which receiver he projects as a “No. 1,” but he’s likely referring to 6-foot-6, 200-pound junior Noah Thomas.

Thomas, who has drawn praise throughout the offseason, endured injuries that forced him to miss all of two games and parts of three others last season.

Still, he managed 29 receptions for 359 yards and five touchdowns.

Even if Thomas emerges as a true “No. 1,” Elko cautioned that’s not enough to ensure a successful passing game.

“You need more than that,” Elko said. “If it’s just one guy it becomes a little too easy for teams to take away.

“I think our wide receiver group is really excited to go out there Saturday night and kind of show what they’ve become.”

Reluctant rival

Elko admitted a certain amount of apprehension about facing Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard.

Leonard transferred to Notre Dame after two seasons at Duke under Elko.

“It’s interesting and weird,” Elko said. “(It’s) Not really something I want to do. At the end of the day it’s part of the game. I obviously have a tremendous amount of respect for who he is — not just as a player, but also as a young man and his family and all of that.

“It’ll be three hours competing against each other. The rest of the year I’ll be rooting for him.”

In 2022, Leonard passed for 2,967 yards and 20 touchdowns in leading Duke to a 9-4 finish. He also rushed for 699 yards.

Though injured much of last season, Leonard passed for 1,102 yards and rushed for 352.

Hold on tight

Notre Dame is projected to have a stronger group of wide receivers this season, but experience won’t allow Elko to overlook Irish tight end Mitchell Evans.

The 6-foot-5, 260-pound senior caught six passes for 134 yards in Notre Dame’s 21-14 victory over Duke last season.

“Tight end Mitchell Evans, a kid I have a lot of respect for, really had a huge game in Durham last year against us at Duke,” Elko said. “(He’s) Really a dual-threat kid. He can hurt you in the run game. He can really get open, separate in the pass game.”

Tunnel vision

Elko has walked down onto Kyle Field before. He did so for four seasons as A&M’s defensive coordinator from 2018 to 2021.

He’ll make his first walk as the Aggies’ head coach on Saturday night. Though he’s focused on winning, Elko admitted it will be special to take the field as the guy in charge of the Aggies.

“It will be a surreal feeling following the drums down the tunnel onto Kyle Field for the first time,” Elko said. “Outside of that, you’re just focused on helping these guys get the result that they want. It’s about trying to find every angle you can, every little detail you can to pour into this game plan and give them the best chance to be successful.

"You really don’t have a lot of time as a coach to just kind of sit back and think about those types of things. It’s literally just head down and go.

“But I’d be lying if I didn’t say there will be something a little special walking down the tunnel for the first time.”

An eye for talent

Following his junior season at Temple High School, A&M linebacker Taurean York had just two scholarship offers.

One was from Texas Southern. The other was from North Texas.

That’s nice, but hardly big-time college football.

But one coach recognized then that York was a big-time player.

York took an unofficial visit to Ohio State, where he met then-Buckeyes linebackers coach Al Washington.

Washington, who is now defensive line coach and defensive run game coordinator for Notre Dame, gave York an encouraging endorsement that he could play at the highest level of college football.

“He came to Temple and saw me,” York recalled. “He sat in the office and he told me, ‘You know, man, I don’t know if we’re going to offer you at Ohio State. But what I do know is you’re a Division I football player.

“That gave me all the hope in the world. So, I really appreciate Al Washington a ton. I know my mom does as well. Hopefully, we’ll be able to catch up with him after the game.”

Notes

• Elko said other than the likely season-ending injury to running back Rueben Owens, the Aggies completed August camp healthy.
• A&M released a two-deep depth chart, but there remained several questions. For example, Tyreek Chappell was listed as a possible starter at cornerback and nickelback. Also, center, offensive right tackle, defensive tackle, linebacker, nickelback, cornerback and one safety spot had at least two players listed as potential starters. Interestingly, Kansas transfer Ar’maj Reed-Adams was listed as a starter at right guard even though he seemed to spend most of August camp working at right tackle. But at least there is a depth chart. The previous coaching staff refused to provide one last season.
  

• Notre Dame released its depth chart, which showed true freshman Anthonie Knapp the starter at left tackle and sophomore Sam Pendleton, who appeared in two games last season, as the starter at left guard. Notre Dame’s five linemen — Knapp, Pendleton, junior center Ashton Craig, junior guard Billy Schrauth and junior right tackle Aamil Wagner reportedly have combined for just six collegiate starts.