Mike Elko and the new Texas A&M staff creating a lot of buzz among in-state blue-chip recruits

Texas A&M playing host to one of the biggest junior days across the country this weekend as Mike Elko and co. welcome several blue-chippers to town.

Among those heading to College Station include On300 running backs James Simon and Deondrae Riden, On300 WR Quanell Farrakhan Jr., and 2026 four-star ATH Tradarian Ball.

Over the past month, the Aggies have hosted several of the nation’s best prospects from around the state on campus. As blue-chippers swing through campus and sit down with Mike Elko and meet the new members of the staff, they’re gaining a new perspective on the football program.

Four-star CB Deyjhon Pettaway‘s commitment to Elko and the Aggies capped a massive junior day last weekend that included the On3 Industry Ranking No. 1 ATH Michael Terry, On3 top-20 OT Ty Haywood, On3 top-100 LB Elijah Barnes, four-star WR Tanook Hines, four-star TE Nicholas Townsend, On3 four-star IOL Marcus Garcia.

“They all have a plan for what’s next for Texas A&M and I believe it’s a really good one,” Pettaway told On3. “They poured so much knowledge into me and told me where could A&M be at and where it’s at right now,” the four-star CB continued. “They know what needs to be done in order to proceed with those plans.”

“The conversations with the new staff hold more weight and the plans they want to accomplish have a deeper meaning and different intensity about it,” he added. “They have an opportunity to flip the program around and they have the resources, the mentality, and the teachings to do so.”

That sentiment has been shared by several prospects like Pettaway, who was also heavily courted by Texas, Texas A&M and Oklahoma along the way before giving the Aggies an early verbal commitment. Pettaway was a top target for the previous coaching staff in College Station.

The message from Elko and co. is being received differently by elite-level recruits.

“Getting to talk to both of those guys just impressed me more by the type of people they are and what they have planned for the program,” On3 Industry Ranking top-20 WR Andrew Marsh told On3, including time around new Aggies WR coach Holmon Wiggins.

“The biggest thing I could see was just the attention to detail and the way they are just way more approachable and easier to talk to,” Marsh explained. “My biggest takeaway from the visit was that they plan to come in and make some big changes for the good of Texas A&M football.”

Top-100 TE Kiotti Armstrong out of Southeast Texas was recruited by both staffs at Texas A&M. He called Elko’s approach more about the players.

“It’s not Jimbo’s world anymore,” the four-star tight end said. “Some head coaches make it about them, but at A&M, it’s more about the players… I think I can do pretty much what I do in high school there, but develop more and do more at A&M.”

Adrian Wilson is the No. 7-rated receiver in the On300 out of Central Texas. After committing to Oregon last summer, Wilson was in College Station for the Aggies’ game vs. Alabama last October. He’s since been re-offered by Texas A&M and was on hand last month for a junior day.

“I went back to A&M recently and it was great,” Wilson told On3. “Coach Wiggins has been reaching out to me already about getting me back out to campus.”

“It’s a whole different staff,” he continued. “From Coach (Dameyune) Craig to Coach Wiggins now, it’s a stronger relationship. Wiggins — he always has a smile on his face, he’s already ready to shake hands and talk with parents, and I love to hear that, and he’s definitely a big part of this.”

Wiggins is also working some magic with top-100 WR Kaliq Lockett, who is also giving strong looks to Ohio State, LSU, Clemson, and others.

Lockett wasn’t considering the Aggies before this staff arrived in December, but now …

“Coach Elko … he means business,” he continued. “What intrigues me is that he said he’s not gonna talk about it; he’s gonna be about it … That’s his motto for the upcoming season. Now that Wiggins is there and the new staff is there, I’m really liking A&M.”