Click here to view Texas A&M’s Monday press conference.
A fine line can separate a good football team from a great one.
Texas A&M coach Mike Elko indicated the Aggies' offensive line is trending toward being … well, fine.
“I do think they have gotten better,” Elko said on Monday at his weekly press conference. “I think they’re gelling more. I think they’re starting to understand playing together more … being able to establish the run.
“I thought our run averages and run efficiencies were obviously a lot higher.”
The statistics certainly bear that out. In its 34-7 victory over Arkansas last Saturday, A&M averaged 4.7 yards per rush. In three previous games vs. Power Four opponents Arizona State, Kentucky and LSU, the Aggies averaged 3.7 yards.
Elko said the improvement isn’t limited to run blocking. The Aggies did not allow Arkansas to sack quarterback Marcel Reed.
“We’ve done a better job of protecting Marcel with the exception of the end of the LSU game when we were forced to throw as much as we were,” Elko said. “We’ve done a better job of creating clean pockets and time for him to throw the football.”
Skeptics will counter that playing well vs. Arkansas, which has one of the SEC’s weakest run defenses, doesn’t necessarily equate to improvement. They’d wait for A&M to face a more formidable defense.
That opportunity comes on Saturday when A&M faces No. 14 Missouri at 11 a.m. CT in Columbia. Missouri is among the nation’s top 20 in run defense.
Still, Elko listed two — quite literally —big reasons why A&M has improved: Wilkin Formby’s willingness to shift from right tackle to right guard and sophomore Lamont Rogers’ emergence at tackle.
“We told (Formby) this morning we’re really just proud of how he embraced having to slide inside to guard,” Elko said. “We thought it gave us a little bit more solidified interior and got Lamont Rogers an opportunity to get on to the field.”
Rogers had started the last two games vs. Arkansas and LSU. He was a five-star prospect out of Mesquite Horn High School in 2025.
“I think he’s learning how to play offensive tackle in an SEC-style offense,” Elko said. “Everything that comes with it: Let’s pick up movement, identification of targeting … There’s a lot that goes into O-line play. It’s not just me blocking you. There’s a little bit more to it than that.
“A lot of that was a little bit over his head when he first started. He has worked incredibly hard to get himself up to the speed to be at a point now where I think he’s able to allow it to slow down a little bit and use his physical skill set the way he’s capable of.”
Byard back
Injuries forced safety Tawfiq Byard, a transfer from Colorado, to get a late start to this season. He sat out A&M’s first two games. He slowly worked his way onto the field.
Against Arkansas, he had six tackles to share the team lead with linebacker Daymion Sanford.
“It’s just good to see him finally healthy and playing as the player we hoped he could be when he got here,” Elko said.
Tackling has been an issue in the secondary, so perhaps Byard’s prowess in that regard will lead to more playing time.
“That’ll continue to earn him more opportunities,” Elko said. “Competition always raises the level of play.”
Rink starting to make an impression
Sophomore defensive tackle Landon Rink made his first career start in the win over Arkansas.
The 6-foot-2, 295-pounder had four tackles, with 1.5 resulting in lost yardage.
“Obviously, (he’s) a young kid that we had a lot of expectations for this year,” Elko said. “I think he’s making the most of his opportunities, and we felt like he earned the right to go out there with the first group.
“I think he responded and played a really good game.”
Notes
• Elko announced the program’s players of the week for the Arkansas game. The offensive player of the week was running back KJ Edwards. Defensive player of the week was safety Tawfiq Byard. Special teams was kicker David Olano. Offensive lineman of the week was Wilkin Formby. Defensive lineman of the week was T.J. Searcy. Scout team players were Ryan Burtin (offense), Samu Moala (defense) and Peyton Gay (special teams).
• Olano, who kicked field goals of 57 and 50 yards, was named the Southeastern Conference Special Teams Player of the Week. Olano is 7-for-7 on field goals this season. He’s the first A&M kicker to start the season 7-for-7 since 2004, when Todd Pegram made his first 12 attempts.
