'Best Aggies Hire Ever!' Coach Mike Elko Establishes Discipline In Texas A&M Football Culture

Several former Texas A&M Aggies football players made themselves available at Pro Day at Kyle Field on Tuesday, including defensive tackle McKinnley Jackson and running back Ainias Smith.

Several former Texas A&M Aggies football players made themselves available at Pro Day at Kyle Field on Tuesday, including defensive tackle McKinnley Jackson and running back Ainias Smith.

During media availability, both had more than kind words about new head coach Mike Elko during their interview sessions, shedding light on some of the issues the team might have been dealing with under former coach Jimbo Fisher.

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Jackson praised Elko, saying, “He is one of the best hires in Texas A&M history.”

Certainly, Jackson hasn't been around forever, but that's a significant quote from a significant player. But even more interesting for some outsiders - not so much from those around the program regularly - Smith thinks Elko injects something the program desperately lacked from the old regime.

“He established discipline," Smith said. "I feel like that was something that we were lacking and needed at A&M. And right now, I feel like this is the most disciplined team A&M has seen in a good little minute.”

Smith, A&M's most consistent player over the past five years, will be working out for the first time since undergoing finger surgery after medicals revealed a stress fracture in his left shin that required a second opinion, thus forcing him to miss on-field drills at Lucas Oil Stadium. 

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Also appearing at Pro Day is former Aggies quarterback Kellen Mond, hoping to show off to NFL execs for a chance to get back into the league or possibly find a spot in the new UFL - the amalgamation of the XFL and USFL.

Mond spent the 2022 season with the Cleveland Browns. He made the practice squad for the Indianapolis Colts last year but wasn't re-signed following the regular season