'We Want to Win it All!' Texas A&M Coach Mike Elko Reveals 'NFL' Approach to Recruiting

New head coach Mike Elko says "We want to win it all," and that means having a "roster of 17 or 18 future NFL players."

Mike Elko recently stated that the Texas A&M Aggies are the "flagship" football program for recruiting in the state of Texas. While that statement may not fully resonate with many, Elko's recruiting approach transcends mere success for the Aggies. 

“What you have to do in recruiting is that you have to identify future NFL talent," Elko said in a recent appearance on TexAgs Radio. “There are a lot of intangibles into what makes an NFL Draft pick, so if you’re going to evaluate our recruiting, I want you to do it through the NFL Draft.”

Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-USA TODAY Sports

In 2024, five Texas A&M Aggies have been invited to the NFL Combine where 321 prospects will put themselves on display as potential draft picks. Those players include wide receiver Ainias Smith, offensive lineman Layden Robinson, defensive tackle McKinnley Jackson, linebacker Edgerrin Cooper and defensive back Demani Richardson.

And while the Aggies will be well-represented in Indianapolis, Elko wants to make sure they have even more NFL talent in the event going forward. 

“We want to win it all," Elko said. "If we’re going to win it all, you have to have a roster of 17 or 18 NFL players on it.” 

While forecasting talent may be a steep challenge ESPN believes the new look Aggies are headed in the right direction. 

Five Aggies Invited to NFL Scouting Combine

Thanks to their recent offseason accomplishments, Texas A&M has garnered some preseason attention from ESPN's "Way-Too-Early" 2024 Top 25 rankings.

The Aggies secured the 25th spot on the list, attributed to the returning talent, notably quarterback Conner Weigman and senior defensive lineman Shemar Turner.

Stepping into the helm at Texas A&M, Coach Mike Elko embraces the electrifying challenge of propelling the Aggies to championship contention and stacking the roster with more NFL talent, with a focus on solidifying Texas' top high school players.

And so far, he's off to a good start.