Tag: Ishmael Aristide

What will Texas A&M safeties room look like if junior Jacoby Mathews transfers in spring portal?

Mike Elko, Jay Bateman, Ishmael Aristide and Jordan Peterson are assessing what the Aggies safeties room will look like if Mathews departs.

Following the 2023 regular season, former Texas A&M junior safety Jardin Gilbert returned home and chose LSU in the NCAA Transfer Portal.

Now Gilbert’s presumed replacement at starting safety is potentially departing from College Station as well. Jacoby Mathews entered the spring transfer portal on Saturday afternoon.

While the incoming junior could still return, head coach Mike Elko, defensive coordinator Jay Bateman and co-defensive backs coaches Ishmael Aristide & Jordan Peterson are likely currently assessing what the Aggies safeties room will look like if Mathews does find a new home.

Gilbert is gone, Mathews is in the portal and incoming junior Jarred Kerr remains from the 2023 roster. Transfers include seniors Trey Jones from Central Michigan & De’Rickey Wright from Vanderbilt.

As a Texas A&M staff member texted Aggies Today on Saturday, “Don’t forget about (incoming sophomore) Dalton Brooks. He’s an all-conference player.”

According to TexAgs executive editor Billy Liucci on X, Mathews’ decision to enter the portal “had a lot more to do with no adjusting to heightened expectations inside the program in all areas.”

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With Tyreek Chappell’s return, how deep is the Aggies’ cornerback room?

With the official return of cornerback Tyreek Chappell, Texas A&M’s CB room is now a predominant strength compared to last season.

Texas A&M and head football coach Mike Elko received more good news regarding next season’s roster, as incoming senior cornerback Tyreek Chappell, who entered the transfer portal in December, removed his name and will officially return for the 2024 campaign.

This offseason, Elko, who watched the Aggies’ dismal defensive performance against Oklahoma State in the TaxAct Texas Bowl, was well aware of last season’s consistent struggles in the secondary due to the lack of depth, talent, and overall size at the cornerback position.

Needing to rebuild the cornerback room, Elko dominated in the open market, adding five veteran CBs from the portal, including Will Lee Jr., Dezz Ricks, Donovan Saunders, Jaydon Hill, and BJ Mayes.

While Chappell isn’t the biggest corner, he was by far the most competent defender on the boundary over the last two seasons. For those unaware, Elko helped recruit him to College Station back in 2021 during his time as Texas A&M’s defensive coordinator, right before he departed for Duke.

Including returning second-year cornerbacks Bravion Rogers and Jayvon Thomas, two players who are bound to improve after their “baptism by fire” 2023 season, Texas A&M’s cornerback room now looks like a predominant strength heading into spring football next month.

Making some predictions, here’s what the secondary depth chart might look like in 2024 after Tyreek Chappell’s return.

Texas A&M football program adds Joseph Headen as a defensive back scouting assistant

Mike Elko has hired Joseph “Joe Joe” Headen as a defensive back scouting assistant, Headen announced via social media on Wednesday evening.

Texas A&M football head coach Mike Elko has continued to bolster his staff recently and made another addition to conclude the first month of 2024.

Elko has hired Joseph “Joe Joe” Headen as a defensive back scouting assistant, Headen announced via social media on Wednesday evening.

“Excited to join the Aggie football staff as the DB Scouting Assistant,” Headen stated on X. “Ready to get to work!”

Headen was a 5-foot-10, 180-pound safety and graduated from Bishop McDevitt High School in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He played four seasons at Old Dominion University from 2016-2021. He redshirted as a true freshman and sat out in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

After finishing his playing days, Headen got into coaching at Virginia Tech. He spent three seasons in Blacksburg as the assistant director of player engagement. He will now work for Elko and defensive backs coach Ishmael Aristide as a member of the cornerbacks staff.

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Report: Texas A&M’s coaching staff visited 2024 4-star LB out of San Juan (CA)

It has been confirmed that Texas A&M’s coaching staff have paid a visit to 2025 LB Weston Port out of San Juan, California.

Texas A&M’s hiring of new head football coach Mike Elko has already paid dividends this offseason, already showing that he can recruit. At the same time, his hiring provided a sense of calm to a chaotic atmosphere during the last two years under the Jimbo Fisher regime.

With a focus on building the 2025 recruiting class, Elko’s first in his tenure, the Aggies have already landed three players in the cycle, including recent acquisitions in 4-star linebacker Kelvion Riggins and 4-star cornerback Deyjhon Pettaway last weekend.

This week, it has been reported by TexAgs’ Andrew Hattersley that Texas A&M cornerbacks coach Ishmael Aristide, one of the Aggie’s leading recruiters among Elko’s new staff, traveled to San Juan Hills (CA), to pay Port a visit and further grow the relationship between both parties.

Even after adding Riggins to the class, Weston Port’s versatility as an outside backer with defensive end experience and an already polished pass rush arsenal is much too intriguing to pass up for the future. During his 2023 junior season, Port recorded 128 tackles (84 solo tackles), 2.5 sacks, 11 QB hurries, 13 tackles for loss, and two interceptions.

According to 247Sports Composite, Port is currently positioned as the 355th-ranked prospect in the 2025 recruiting class, the 39th-ranked linebacker prospect, and the 32nd-ranked player in California.

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Texas A&M 2024 5-star WR commit Terry Bussey ranked No. 15 on On3 Sports’ 2024 On300

Bussey has remained committed to College Station but LSU and Georgia remain in the mix for him before National Signing Day in February.

Basically by proxy, Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko has already received a hard commitment from one of the top prospects in the Class of 2025, who is now getting deserved honors to solidify himself among the best.

On Monday morning, 5-star wide receiver Terry Bussey was ranked No. 15 in On3 Sports’ 2024 On300. The 5-foot-10.5, 180-pound playmaker from Timpson High School in Texas committed to the Aggies way back on Sept. 28, during the previous regime under Jimbo Fisher.

Despite the change in leadership, Bussey has remained committed to College Station. As noted by On3, LSU and Georgia remain in the mix for Bussey before National Signing Day in February.

“I’ve been getting to know the new staff,” Bussey told On3 earlier this month. “It’s been great building a relationship with coach Elko, coach (Ishmael Aristide) and I’m building relationships with other coaches they already have on staff. They’re great guys, great people, they know a lot about football and they’re great football-minded people.”

Bussey has 30 offers and has taken a total of five visits respectively to Aggieland, Alabama, LSU, Oklahoma and Texas.

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Report: Texas A&M football program hires Aggies alumnus Jordan Peterson from Kansas as DBs coach

According to a report from Billy Liucci of TexAgs, the Aggies have hired Kansas co-defensive coordinator Jordan Peterson as co-cornerbacks coach.

The old cliche goes “Everything happens for a reason,” and that is certainly evident in Aggieland over the past nine days.

The day after Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko retained Bryant Gross-Armiento as a senior defensive analyst, Wesley McGriff decided to return to Auburn rather than becoming passing game coordinator & co-defensive backs coach alongside Ishmael Aristide.

Now only eight days later, Elko has found McGriff’s replacement and it’s a face that diehard members of the 12th Man will know. According to a report from Billy Liucci of TexAgs, the Aggies have hired Kansas co-defensive coordinator Jordan Peterson as co-cornerbacks coach.

Peterson is a Texas A&M alumnus who played four seasons at Kyle Field before graduating with a bachelor’s degree in sport management in 2009 along with his master’s in education curriculum and instruction in 2010. As a 5-foot-10, 185-pound safety, he racked up 81 tackles 15 pass deflections, 4 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery.

After becoming a two-time All-Big 12 Academic First Team selection, Peterson got his start in coaching as a graduate assistant in College Station from 2010-11. He coached at Fresno State from 2012-16, New Mexico from 2017-19 and had been with the Jayhawks for the last four seasons from 2020-23.

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Texas A&M HC Mike Elko’s cornerback haul from the transfer portal might define the Aggies 2024 season

After landing five cornerbacks through the transfer portal, Texas A&M 2023 weakness may have become a strength heading into 2024.

The totality of Texas A&M’s 2024 Transfer Portal additions has been nothing short of spectacular, as new head coach Mike Elko has addressed nearly every position group after quickly examining the strengths and weaknesses the roster presented during the Aggies’ loss to Oklahoma State in the Texas Bowl last month.

Defensively, several losses to the portal led by former five-star DL Walter Nolen (transferred to Ole Miss) and EDGE Fadil Diggs (transferred to Syracuse) led Elko and his staff to make one of the splashier moves the offseason after acquiring star pass rusher and Bryan, Texas native Nic Scourton, who, in just his second seasons at Purdue led the Big Ten in sacks (10) last season.

However, the five cornerback additions, including Will Lee Jr. (Kansas State), Dezz Ricks (Alabama), Jaydon Hill (Florida), BJ Mayes (UAB), and Donovan Saunders (Cal Poly) will likely have a more significant impact on next seasons results more than the defensive line, as last year’s lack of size, depth and experience gave way to multiple opposing receivers accounting for 100-plus yard outings, including 213 yards for Ole Miss WR Tre Watson.

On paper, Will Lee Jr. (6’3″), who started every game last season for Kansas State, recorded a 76.2 PFF coverage grade and looks like a “plug and play” option. At the same time, UAB transfer BJ Mayes (6’1″) also brings the height, length, and man coverage ability that was dreadfully lacking in the secondary in all of A&M’s 6 losses in 2023.

Former Alabama cornerback Dezz Ricks (6’1″) brings the most potential at the spot, as the No.2-ranked cornerback in the 2023 recruiting class has a chance to immediately earn a starting/rotational spot on the outside due to talent alone, getting a chance to suit up as soon as spring football begins.

Depth-wise, Donovan Saunders (6’3″) brings a year of starting experience on the boundary, while Jaydon Hill will likely see time in the slot as he did last season with the Gators. Lastly, returning cornerbacks Jaylon Thomas, Bravion Rogers and Sam McCall may have struggled when thrown into the fire last season. However, the talent is still there, and new CB coach Ishmael Aristide possesses the coaching chops to help aid their transition into year two.

With a bevy of potential offensive juggernauts in SEC next season, including the Texas Longhorns, it’s no surprise that Elko had made these moves in droves.

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Texas A&M DB Tyreek Chappell’s dad indicates that he’ll be back for his senior year in College Station

Texas A&M defensive back Tyreek Chappell is returning to Bryan-College Station for his senior season in 2024 according to a source with vast knowledge of the situation.

Texas A&M cornerback Tyreek Chappell is returning to Bryan-College Station for his senior year in 2024 according to a source with vast knowledge of the situation.

Tyreek’s father, Merrill, shared via social media on Tuesday evening that his son will be back for one more season at Kyle Field.

“Senior season loaded let’s go son,” Merill stated on X with a photo of Tyreek in Aggies Maroon & White.

The 5-foot-11, 185-pound defensive back was a 3-star recruit in 2021 coming out of Northeast High School in Philadelphia. Merill currently coaches running backs for head coach Chris Riley at Northeast.

Tyreek had a breakout true freshman campaign at Texas A&M in 2021. Chappell was selected to the SEC Coaches’ All-Freshman Team and The Athletic’s Freshman All-America First Team. He also earned the Aggies’ Defensive Top Newcomer Award.

Chappell will now be instructed by head coach Mike Elko, defensive coordinator Jay Bateman and cornerbacks coach Ishmael Aristide.

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Report: Wesley McGriff reverses course and returns to Auburn after accepting Texas A&M job

After agreeing to leave Auburn for Texas A&M on New Year’s Eve, Wesley McGriff has apparently changed his mind according to Justin Hokanson.

After agreeing to leave Auburn for Texas A&M on New Year’s Eve, Wesley McGriff has apparently changed his mind.

According to Justin Hokanson, the Auburn reporter for On3 Sports, McGriff has reversed course and will be returning to the Tigers to coach defensive backs. He had agreed to work for head coach Mike Elko and serve as co-defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator on the final day of 2023.

McGriff was supposed to work alongside Ishmael Aristide, who was hired in early December to coach cornerbacks and followed Elko from Durham after coaching on his Duke staff for one season. The move comes one day after Elko retained Bryant Gross-Armiento to serve as a senior defensive analyst after coaching defensive backs on Jimbo Fisher‘s staff.

As pointed out on New Year’s Eve by Billy Liucci of TexAgs, McGriff has more than just SEC coaching experience, he is also a talented recruiter who has developed elite prospects into dependable NFL players.

McGriff returns to Auburn to continue his third separate stint with the Tigers, including 2016, 2019 to 2020 and 2023 to the present day. He served as the secondary coach at Lousiville in 2022. McGriff also has previous experience at Florida and Ole Miss.

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Bryant Gross-Armiento retained by Texas A&M to serve as senior defensive analyst

Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko is a very smart man and knows when you have a good person already in your building, you do everything you can to keep them, which is exactly what he did this week.

Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko is a very smart man and knows when you have a good person already in your building, you do everything you can to keep them, which is exactly what he did this week.

According to Carter Karels, the Texas A&M beat writer for 247Sports, the Aggies will retain Bryant Gross-Armiento in an off-field role. Gross-Armiento previously served as defensive backs coach under Jimbo Fisher. As noted in the report, the Aggies Athletics website recently updated Gross-Armiento’s title from secondary coach to “senior defensive analyst.”

After serving as cornerbacks coach for Elko at Duke, Ishamael Aristide was hired to the same role in Bryan-College Station on Dec. 5. In the final hours of 2023, Wesley McGriff was hired from Auburn to serve as co-defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator. Per Karels, Gross-Armiento is expected to work directly under Aristide and McGriff.

Gross-Armiento has been in Aggieland since 2021 and boasts an impressive factoid. Back in July, he was named the fifth-best recruiter in the country and fourth-best in the SEC.

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