As Texas A&M’s fall practice period enters its final stages before the Aggies prepare for the 2024 season opener vs. Notre Dame, head coach Mike Elko, alongside offensive coordinator Collin Klein and defensive coordinator Jay Bateman, spoke to the local media after the program’s 14th fall practice on Saturday.
Ahead of the team’s final fall scrimmage on Sunday, Bateman, who has received praise for his coaching tactics from multiple players, discussed the immense progress made by A&M’s cornerback room, which features five new veterans from the transfer portal, including former Alabama CB Dezz Ricks.
Ricks, a 5-star prospect out of the prestigious IMG Academy in the 2023 recruiting class, left Tuscaloosa after one season, knowing that joining two of the best defensive minds in Collge Station was the right move for his playing career. According to Bateman, Ricks has consistently stood out this month, as his elite traits have shown up throughout the fall period.
“Dezz (Ricks), we have been really impressed with… Every practice he continued to impress, and he is really talented.”
“That corner room is really competitive, and I think it will be a real strength.”
Reading the term “strength” being associated with Texas A&M’s cornerback rotation is certainly a positive change of pace compared to last season’s ugly results. Senior corner Tyreek Chappell also noted that with the added depth, speed, and length at the outside corner and nickel, this unit has plenty of juice to be formidable and match up against any offense.
“A shutdown, lockdown secondary… I believe we can be the best defense in the league this year.”
No. 20-ranked Texas A&M will host No. 7-ranked Notre Dame on Saturday, August 31 at 6:30 p.m. CT. The game will air on ABC.
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