Connect with us

Texas

Texas A&M Coach Mike Elko Drops Bold NFL Draft Prediction

Published

on

Texas A&M Coach Mike Elko Drops Bold NFL Draft Prediction


The SEC has been by far the most dominant conference in college football over the past 20 years or so, and naturally, has sent by far the most talent to the NFL as well.

Just over the past two years, the SEC has had a combined 138 players selected in the NFL Draft. The next closest conference is the Big Ten with 113, so there’s a pretty sizable gap.

It’s clear that NFL scouts know how tough it is to play in the SEC, and especially how tough it is to win in it. Now, Texas A&M Aggies head coach Mike Elko wants to use that knowledge to his players’ benefit.

During SEC Media Days in Atlanta, Elko boldly proclaimed that the Aggies could have “double-digit” picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. He noted how past SEC champions have typically had around 13 draft picks, and hopes bringing a title back to College Station could lead to similar results for the Aggies.

Advertisement

“We should get to double digit NFL draft picks this year,” Elko said, per ESPN’s Pete Thamel. “That’ll be the first time Texas A&M has done that in a very long time.”

Looking at past SEC champions, Elko isn’t far off in his assessment. Georgia had 13 players selected in this year’s NFL Draft, while Alabama had 10 selected in 2024.

Of course, the problem is getting to the point of competing for an SEC title. The Aggies were technically only a game away from the SEC Championship Game, as had they beaten arch rival Texas in the final game of the regular season, they would’ve been the ones heading to Atlanta to face Kirby Smart and Georgia. However, an 8-5 record (5-3 in conference play, with all three losses coming in November) tells a different story.

“I think you have to go through some of that sometimes,” Elko said. “As painful as it is, as it was for us and our fans and everyone involved, we had never been in that position before. We had never been the hunted team. We had never been in November competing for an opportunity to get into Atlanta with our destiny in our own hands.”

“I think you learn how you have to elevate your game in those matchups when you become that team. Going on the road in back-to-back weeks, we didn’t play the football that we needed to play to finish it. It’s been our mantra the entire off-season. Mantras don’t turn into wins. But I do believe our kids have a really strong chip on their shoulders to change that story and finish this thing the right way.”

Advertisement

Not to mention, the Aggies only had three players selected in this year’s draft. They were all selected in the first two rounds – with Shemar Stewart going in the first and both Nic Scourton and Shemar Turner going in the second – but they still didn’t have that much of a presence.

For A&M to go from three draft picks to 10 or more in the span of one year would be quite the jump, but certainly not out of the realm of possibility.



Source link

Texas

Texas Football Opt-Outs: Who’s Likely Playing and Who’s Out for the Citrus Bowl

Published

on

Texas Football Opt-Outs: Who’s Likely Playing and Who’s Out for the Citrus Bowl


At this point in time, opting out of bowl games is nothing new, but Texas is going to have more opt-outs in the Citrus Bowl against Michigan than many—self included—expected. This problem pales in comparison to what’s going on in Ann Arbor, but the amount of lost experience will be something for Texas to overcome, primarily on defense.



Source link

Continue Reading

Texas

Latest in recruiting war for elite 2028 QB has Texas Football joyful

Published

on

Latest in recruiting war for elite 2028 QB has Texas Football joyful



Neimann Lawrence list the Longhorns as one school that is standing out

As the Longhorns continue to build for the future, one of their targets is four-star prospect Neimann Lawrence. The Miami native is one of the best quarterbacks in the 2028 class and is attracting interest from some of the nation’s top programs. On Monday, Lawrence revealed the schools that have stood out so far, including the Longhorns. 

While Mondays update was encouraging, Texas was not the only school Lawrence mentioned. He also highlighted Michigan, Miami, Ohio State, Texas A&M, and Tennessee. That is not an easy list of schools to go to battle with; the Longhorns have time to make themselves stand out. 

Advertisement

Currently, the Miami Northwestern High star is ranked as the fourth-best quarterback in is class by 247Sports. They also rank him as the ninth-best player from Florida and the 39th-best player in the nation. With collegiate debut still over a year away, those rankings could change. 

At the moment, the Longhorns do not have a commitment in the 2028 class, but they have made offers to some of the top recruits. That includes Brysen Wright, Jalanie George, Jamarios Canton, Micah Rhodes, and King Pitts. Landing any of those players would give Texas a bright future. 

With a decision still months away, Lawrence will be a player to watch. A lot could change as his recruitment continues, but it is a good sign for Texas that they are standing out early on in the process. 



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Texas

Orange County wedding photographer deported on way to job in Texas

Published

on

Orange County wedding photographer deported on way to job in Texas


An Orange County photographer is speaking out after he was deported as he was heading to Texas to photograph a wedding.

What they’re saying:

Advertisement

“I was trying to do it the right way, the legal way and it just feels like they don’t care about that,” said Adan Caceres.

Caceres came to the United States under asylum in 2014, fleeing a violent El Salvador.

“My mom’s sister was murdered and she was thrown in front of our house. She also was abused sexually before they murdered her and then my brother and I were threatened by the gangs,” said Caceres.

Advertisement

He says he never received the deportation order that was issued in 2018 and only learned about it in 2023. He then started the process of reopening his case.

“I was paying my taxes. I’m a business owner, I’m a wedding photographer. I’m also married,” said Caceres.

Advertisement

In October, Caceres was going through security at John Wayne Airport, heading to a job in Texas, when he was detained. He says from Santa Ana, he was sent to the Adelanto Detention Center then one in El Paso, Texas where he says the conditions were inhumane.

“We’re not even asking ‘hey let us out’ we’re asking for water, we’re asking for us to be able to use the restroom, these are basic human rights,” said Caceres.

He says now that he’s back in the country he once fled, he’s most concerned about his wife back in Orange County.

Advertisement

“I was providing a lot of income for our household and now my wife has to take care of all of those things on her own; paying car insurance, the rent, all the bills,” said Caceres.

Caceres says he had no criminal history and feels he was on the path to citizenship when it was ripped away from him, leaving his future with his family uncertain.

Advertisement

“I don’t know if I’m going to see them. I don’t know when I’m going to see them,” said Caceres.

The other side:

FOX11 reached out to the Department of Homeland Security asking about Caceres’ case but had not heard back at the time this story aired. 

Advertisement

The Source: Information for this story came from an interview with Adan Caceres.

ImmigrationOrange County



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending