Texas A&M still controls its own destiny with just two regular-season games remaining as the Aggies travel to Auburn for another critical Southeastern Conference matchup. On Monday, Mike Elko, Taurean York and Jabre Barber addressed the media ahead of the road trip.
The following are live, paraphrased notes from the Monday afternoon media availability:
Mike Elko
- Recapping the NMSU game, our offensive line players of the game were Trey Zuhn and Ar'maj Reed-Adams. The defensive lineman was Nic Scourton. The offensive player of the was Theo Melin Öhrström. It was his best game. The defensive player of the game was Malick Sylla. The special teams player of the game was Bryce Anderson.
- Injury update: Cyrus Allen will be out for the season. He will have surgery on his arm.
- When you are in the situation you are in, it's easy to focus on the task at hand. You would look ahead if you weren’t in the situation we were in.
- I never crossed paths with Hugh Freeze. Never D.J. Durkin, either. He is a great coach, but first time playing against him as well.
- It was COVID-19 when we went over to Auburn, and the other one, we were up through three quarters. Those were morning games.
- I think we spend a lot of time in the red zone. Randy Bond has been good down there. The running factor of Marcel Reed plays a role. It helps to have big, tall receivers down there and to win at the line of scrimmage.
- We are one of the few teams in the country that focuses on the red zone Monday through Thursday. We have made it a priority.
- We had a lot of night games at Duke last year. The atmosphere is electric. Having to go on the road at Auburn, you will have an electric atmosphere there, and I’m sure it's their Senior Night.
- This is what we talk about it is we are at a different spot. The teams will play really well against us. First in the SEC, a top-15 team, in the playoff hunt. That creates something. We have to understand what’s all that about.
- These are the goals of this program and where we want to be. From a coach's perspective, of course, this is where you wanted to be. From a CEO perspective, I think it's important that we don't lose sight of the work it has taken to get here and that this is the first time this has happened while being in the SEC.
- In the day and age of mass roster turnover, you never know when you will get it wrong. Fortunately, we got it right. The kids that stayed wanted to do things the right way. The kids we brought in, we were intentional about.
- Jarquez Hunter is the league’s leading rusher. He is powerful. How we control the line of scrimmage will be important for us and our success. That will play a huge role on Saturday.
- In 2020, we were playing good football. At the end of the day, we needed someone to help us. This year, if we handle our business, we don't need help from anybody. The kids are just excited to be in this position.
- Bonfire was a very tragic moment for A&M and the culture. We make sure the team has a better understanding of what they are a part of at Texas A&M.
- Jacob Bostick is a younger kid who is growing every week. Someone will have to step up down the stretch, and Moose Muhammad III is someone who is capable of doing that for us.
- Auburn’s WRs are very talented. KeAndre Lambert-Smith is a veteran. Cam Coleman has unbeliever ball skill and top-end athleticism to get downfield and make plays. #11 is the slot that is talent too.
- They have been productive on offense all year. They have been moving the football. They had turnover issues early, and that shot them in the foot. This is another talented football team.
