Ad Disclosure
Mike Elko names Texas A&M players who stepped up during spring practice
Published:
Mike Elko is looking for better after a solid debut season at Texas A&M, which saw the Aggies fade to an 8-5 record after being 7-1 and harboring College Football Playoff hopes.
Texas A&M is trying to get that sour taste out of its mouth from 2024, and on Saturday the Aggies finished up spring football with the annual Maroon-White spring game at Kyle Field. The White team prevailed, 19-7, led by backup quarterback Myles O’Neill, never trailing in the game as Elko’s program put the finishing touches on the spring.
Afterward, Elko handed out some spring football kudos to a trio of players he thought “stepped up” and deserved the extra praise. He pinpointed senior running back EJ Smith, who could be poised for bigger things in 2025 after rushing for 207 yards last season.
“Even a kid like EJ Smith, who’s played a lot of football and been around for a long time, I think had a really, really productive spring,” Elko said. “I think you saw him have flashes (Saturday) and make some good plays, which was good for him to go out and do.”
Next on Elko’s complimentary spring list was safety Myles Davis, who had 11 tackles, 10 of them solo, during his first season in College Station. Elko knows there is potential for Davis to do a lot more this season.
“I think a kid like Myles Davis at safety, we’ve got some experienced players, but to get a Myles Davis to have a really strong spring and take a big step forward, I think that was really cool to see for him,” said Mike Elko.
Elko also praised junior defensive lineman Cashius Howell, who had 40 tackles, 26 of them solo, 4 sacks, 1 forced fumble and 1 interception last season.
“I think (it) was great to see Cashius Howell take a next step in his development,” said Elko. “I think he’s going to be a very, very disruptive edge player and really have a productive season for us.”
Time will tell, of course, if the performances from these 3 spring standouts will translate into major production when the games count for real in the fall.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
