Tag: Adam Cushing

Texas A&M OL Dametrious Crownover prasied for his play vs. Notre Dame

Texas A&M’s starting left tackle looks the part according to CFB analyst Cole Cubelic

If you can take any positives away from Texas A&M’s 2024 season-opening loss to Notre Dame, it was the play of the Aggie O-line against one of the better defensive lines in the country, as improvement in the trenches has been sought after for the last three seasons.

Featuring several new faces, including former Kansas guard Ar’maj Reed-Adams, new O-line coach Adam Cushing was tasked with moving players around to find the best fit for every 2023 starter/reserve, which included shifting former starting right tackle Chase Bisontis to left guard due to his size and strength.

Taking over a right tackle, junior OL Dametrious Crownover came into the season at 6-7 and 330 pounds, winning the job over veteran tackle Reuben Fatheree, who has dealt with injury issues over the past two seasons.

After watching the game tape, SEC college football analyst Cole Cubelic noted Crownover’s textbook pass protection rep during one of the cleaner pockets provided to starting quarterback Conner Weigman. Crownover showed solid footwork, delivered his first punch efficiently, and pushed the pass rusher away from the pocket.

https://twitter.com/colecubelic/status/1831803727826841852?s=61&t=7Grt_BRNEg2xS6KG8YO0rg

However, watch the rep from Ar’maj Reed-Adams at right guard, who finished his defender with pure power, which is a great sign heading into SEC play. Even with junior center Mark Nabou’s season-ending injury, former Utah center Koli Faaiu enters the fold with plenty of size, understanding of leverage, and starting experience to keep things rolling.

Texas A&M will host McNeese State on Saturday, Sept. 7, for an early kickoff at 11:45 a.m. The game will air on the SEC Network.

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‘That group has come a long way’ Mike Elko is confident in Texas A&M’s O-line

Mike Elko continues to exhibit confidence in Texas A&M’s offensive line ahead of the season opener

Texas A&M’s 2024 season opener vs. Notre Dame is now just one day away, as Mike Elko knows that starting his Aggie head coaching career off with a victory could change the trajectory for a program clearly on the rise.

When evaluating A&M’s roster, which boasts experience at every level coupled with 4—and 5-star recruiting talent, the offensive line has continued to garner questions after last season’s underwhelming performance, as former O-line coach Steve Addazio deserves much of the blame for the lack of development.

This offseason, Elko brought in respected veteran assistant coach Adam Cushing. Cushing coached Duke’s O-line during Elko’s final two seasons with the program. He brought a noted development-based pedigree from his time at Duke and Northwestern, producing several first-round NFL draft picks.

During fall camp, A&M’s offensive line made significant progress, including former Kansas standout guard Ar’maj Reed-Adams taking over at right guard. At the same time, sophomore Chase Bisontis has moved over to left guard, where he should thrive compared to his freshman performance at right tackle.

While all of us who cover the program have worried about the O-line’s status ahead of the opener, Elko, who was asked about the group this week during his appearance on the Aggie Football Hour, feels that these young men are ready to prove their worth as soon as the Aggies take the field.

“Alan and everybody on the planet wants to know the answer to that question!”

“That group has come a long way. They’ve heard the criticism, and they’re prideful kids. … They’re playing well together. They’re playing more physical.”

“They’re very excited to get out there and put that question to bed.”

Suppose this O-line hits the ground running and does not look back. In that case, Texas A&M’s running game and upgraded pass protection will provide OC Collin Klein plenty of room to work his magic in the run game and help starting quarterback Conner Weigman reach his enormous potential in the passing game.

No. 20 Texas A&M will host No. 7 Notre Dame on Saturday, August 31, at 6:30 p.m. CT, and the game will air on ABC.

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Texas A&M’s O-line looks vastly different after recent practice

Several changes accross the offenisve line could be coming this fall

Amid the final week of Texas A&M’s fall practice period, progress on both sides of the ball continues. The 2024 season opener vs. Notre Dame is less than two weeks away, and it will also serve as head coach Mike Elko’s inaugural season.

While the Aggies’ defense looks like the team’s predominant strength, it’s the offense that continues to take center stage. Led by starting quarterback Conner Weigman, the redshirt sophomore is counting on A&M’s offensive line to keep him upright throughout the season, which is quite the ask after this group’s performance last season.

With new O-line coach Adam Cushing attempting to build the best unit he can with pieces in front of him, the news that sophomore OL Chase Bisontis would move to guard full-time this season led to a shake-up in the trenches. After A&M’s 12th fall practice on Wednesday, GigEm247’s Carter Karels noticed an interesting change on the right side of the line.

In Texas A&M’s social media “sights and sounds” practice compilations, Karels responded on X to notice that sophomore Mark Nabou was starting at right guard. At the same time, former Kansas OL Ar’maj Reed-Adams surprisingly took reps at right tackle.

This fall, Nabou, who has competed for the starting center spot, possesses postion versatility at guard, so this isn’t a big surprise. Still, the fact that senior offensive tackle Reuben Fatheree II wasn’t taking most of the reps at right tackle is somewhat surprising.

If both players take over on the right side, does this mean that Chase Bistontis could take over at left guard? Time will tell, but we will certainly continue to monitor this change.

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Texas A&M’s O-line is playing with much needed intensity during fall camp

Texas A&M’s offensive line is looking more confident and aggressive this fall

Suppose you can take anything away from the short practice clips many of us post from Texas A&M’s second week of fall practice. In that case, the offensive line, under a microscope after the unit’s poor performance during the 2023 season, has begun to practice with much-needed intensity.

Under new O-line coach Adam Cushing, new additions combined with sophomore OL Chase Bisontis’s move to guard after spending the entirety of the 2023 season at right tackle have already improved the line, while starting left tackle Trey Zuhn III’s reliability provides Cushing plenty to work with.

This week, thanks to GigEm247’s Carter Karels for the videos, several presumed starters, including Zuhn, Bisontis, and former Kansas guard Ar’maj Reed-Adams, are practicing with pure aggression on concentration while a one-on-one battle between Bisontis and Zuhn had Adam Cushing shouting in excitement.

Right now, this is how Texas A&M’s starting offensive line could shake out at the end of fall camp:

  • Left tackle: Trey Zuhn III
  • Left guard: Ar’maj Reed-Adams
  • Center: Mark Nabou
  • Right guard: Chase Bisontis
  • Right tackle: Reuben Fatheree II

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Mike Elko provides several key offensive line updates ahead to Texas A&M’s fall camp

Chase Bisontis is officially switching to guard

The 2024 season is just weeks away, and in just a month, Mike Elko’s inaugural season with Texas A&M will kick off the season against Notre Dame inside a packed Kyle Field on Saturday, August 31.

On Tuesday, Elko took questions from the local media in College Station to officially open up the fall practice schedule, and thanks to the journalists in the room, the former Duke head coach provided key updates regarding nearly every position group, including the offensive line.

Over the years, it has become a proven fact that every college football team’s offense is only as good as its O-line, providing the quarterback time to scan the field and holes in the running game to move the ball down the field. For Texas A&M, the trenches were a disaster during former HC Jimbo Fisher’s final season at the helm.

This offseason, new additions combined with nearly every 2023 starter returning gave O-line coach Adam Cushing plenty to work with. According to Elko, this group may not be a predominant strength, but they have steadily improved.

“From where we were to where we are, it would be hard to stand here in front of you and tell you it’s a strength. We’ve made a lot of strides and really improved.”

“It will be significantly better than it was in the spring.”

While left tackle Trey Zuhn III and, likely, former Kansas OL Ar’maj Reed-Adams will start at left tackle and left guard, respectfully, nearly every other position is still up for grabs, including the center position. Elko noted that while Mark Nabou and former Utah OL Kolinu’u Faaiu are the primary competitors, junior Kam Dewberry is reportedly in the mix.

According to Elko, sophomore Chase Bisontis will officially slide into guard after starting nearly every game at right tackle this season.

“Chase (Bisontis) has been a guard all the way. He has never left guard. We feel that’s the right spot for him.”

“He has been a guard since day one with us.”

Elko’s quote may worry some Aggie fans, but the truth is that improvement from where this group was last year should more than help Collin Klein’s offense thrive with Conner Weigman under center.

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Texas A&M OL Chase Bisontis named to the Outland Trophy watch list

Incoming sophomore offenisive lineman Chase Bisontis is set to take a huge step in his development this season

With the 2024 season inching closer, Texas A&M’s season opener vs. Notre Dame will pose as the primetime event on Saturday, August 31. This will also serve as Mike Elko’s inaugural matchup as the program’s newest head coach after inheriting and adding to a roster built to compete.

One of those players is entering his second season on the offensive line. Offensive tackle Chase Bisontis, who started nearly every game at right tackle last season, has been named to the Outland Award watch list, which is annually given to the top-performing offensive linemen at season’s end.

With the return of right tackle Reuben Fatheree II to the lineup, Texas A&M’s fall training camp, which will begin on Wednesday, July 31, could see Bisontis shift inside to guard if necessary. Still, after making significant progress this summer, both players will battle for the starting right tackle position next month.

Known for his elite strength since coming out of the 2023 recruiting class as the top-ranked prospect in New Jersey, Bisontis was recently seen squatting 605 pounds for three full reps. The 6-foot-6, 320-pound mauler is just a couple of footwork tweaks away from reaching his full potential.

If Texas A&M OL coach Adam Cushing plans to switch the sophomore to guard, Bisontis certainly brings more pure strength to hold off defensive tackles and maul his opponents in the run game.

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Several 2025 Aggie commits are currently visiting Texas A&M

Texas A&M’s 2025 recruiting class is well represented this week, several commits have made their way to campus

While landing commitments is certainly an exciting moment for Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko, he and his veteran staff know that for those commitments to last through the signing period, return visits to campus to solidify these player-coach relationships are absolutely paramount.

So far, the Aggies’ 2025 recruiting class is 13 commitments deep, including five offensive line commitments. This is mostly due to new O-line coach Adam Cushing’s stellar job this offseason after a successful spring practice period. This week, heading into the weekend, several Aggie commits in the 2025 cycle have made their way to College Station for official visits.

Sticking with A&M’s future offensive line, 2024 four-star OL Tyler Thomas, who committed late last month, will join three-star OL Joshua Moses, the first commit in the programs’ 2025 recruiting class, for official visits. 2025 four-star defensive lineman Landon Rink is also headed to Aggieland for his first OV.

According to 247Sports, Texas A&M’s 2025 recruiting class is ranked 11th in the country as the fifth-highest-ranked SEC program.

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Michael Fasusi ‘is a believer’ in Texas A&M HC Mike Elko after recruiting visit

Michael Fasusi is coming off a successful visit at Texas A&M this weekend

This weekend was by far the busiest for Texas A&M, as the college baseball Super Regional and Saturday’s Mexico vs. Brazil soccer matchup in Kyle Field had the campus buzzing. However, head football coach Mike Elko and his staff are also hosting a talented list of 2025 recruiting prospects.

While the list is long, 2025 five-star offensive tackle Michael Fasusi continues to be the No. 1 priority for the blue-chip prospects. The current favorites to land his commitment happen to be the rival Texas Longhorns, who are officially entering the SEC in July.

During his first official visit to College Station, Elko and his staff, most notably new offensive line coach Adam Cushing, laid out the red carpet for the Lewisville, Texas native, who will be taking consecutive weekend visits to Oklahoma (June 14) and Texas (June 21) before ultimately making his final decision.

So, how did his visit go overall? According to multiple sources, including Rivals’ Landy Rosow, Fasusi has grown closer to Elko and Cushing over the weekend, trusting what the program has to offer regarding his future development:

“I trust Coach Elko and Coach Cushing.”

In talking to On3’s Chad Simmons, Fasusi’s brief but revealing quotes about the new era of Texas A&M Football under Mike Elko speak volumes about how the program has already progressed in just seven months under Elko’s guidance.

“I am down with the Elko era at A&M.”

Standing at 6 feet, 4 inches, and nearly 300 pounds, Fasusi is highly versatile. He has experience at both tackle spots. However, due to his quickness and impressive footwork, his future is clearly at left tackle. With more programs to visit this summer, the Aggies have certainly left a positive mark this weekend.

According to 247Sports, Fasusi is currently positioned as the 27th-ranked prospect in the 2025 recruiting class, the 5th-ranked offensive tackle, and the 7th-ranked prospect in Texas.

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Texas A&M OL coach Adam Cushing recently visited 2025 4-Star OL out of Oklahoma

Texas A&M OL coach Adam Cushing recently visited one of the top offensive line prospects in the 2025 cycle

As I’ve said throughout the offseason, Texas A&M’s 2025 recruiting class is built in the offensive trenches. Mike Elko and his staff, specifically O-line coach Adam Cushing, have landed four offensive line prospects this offseason.

Sporting the now 7th-ranked 2025 cycle, the Aggies aren’t finished adding talent at the position. Cushing recently took a trip to Bixby, Oklahoma, to see 2025 four-star OL Broderick Shull, who has started at right tackle for most of his career at local Bixby HS.

At a towering 6-5 and 275 pounds, Shull is a force to be reckoned with on the field. His size, strength, and footwork indicate his potential to excel at the next level. A testament to his dedication, Shull’s high motor has already made him an impressive run blocker, a skill that will undoubtedly benefit the team.

Unsurprisingly, Elko and Cushing are focused on adding at the tackle position to counter what every SEC team will throw at them off the edge.

According to 247Sports, Shull is currently positioned as the 29th-ranked offensive tackle and the 9th-ranked prospect in Oklahoma.

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Texas A&M OL coach Adam Cushing is looking like the best hire of the offseason

Texas A&M’s offensive line looks in good hands under new OL coach Adam Cushing

This offseason, Texas A&M’s 2025 recruiting class currently has nine commitments, including four offensive linemen. Head coach Mike Elko and new OL coach Adam Cushing are focused on building in the trenches after last season’s results were less than satisfactory.

Delving deeper into the four commits, it’s evident that Cushing has quickly established himself as a key figure in the program’s recruiting efforts this offseason. His adeptness at building relationships, combined with his impressive development background from his time at Duke and Northwestern, has left a strong impression on every offensive line prospect he has engaged with.

Out of the recent commits, four-star offensive tackle Connor Carty from Prosper, Texas, sticks out. Previous head coach Jimbo Fisher consistently had trouble recruiting the DFW (Dallas, Fort Worth) area, which looks to be an issue of the past under Elko and Cushing.

But let’s not just take my word for it, as 247Sports’ National Recruiting analyst Mike Roach has been quick to acknowledge the positive trend, recently highlighting Cushing’s remarkable success on the recruiting trail in the last two months. This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the new coaching staff.

“Duke with multiple OL picked which speaks to the development under Adam Cushing who has been a popular name with recruits since taking the job at Texas A&M”

During the 2024 Draft, Duke OL Graham Barton, one of the top prospects in the entire class, went 26th overall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while fellow Blue Devils interior offensive lineman Jacob Monk was selected in the fifth round by the Green Bay Packers, Cushing aided in both players development during the 2022 and 2023 season.

Heading into 2024, the news that Bryce Foster was cut from the team while simultaneously entering the transfer portal was only surprising to some, as the addition of former Utah center Koli Faaiu signals a major change in trajectory in what Cushing expects from the interior of the O-line next season, which was a major weak spot compared to the tackles.

However, Cushing can rely on veteran left tackle Trey Zuhn III and right tackle Reuben Fatheree II. Both guard spots are still in the competition faze, while Faaiu and sophomore Mark Nabou will likely battle for the starting center spot this fall.

All in all, Adam Cushing has proven his worth, with hopefully great on-field results to come.

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