Tag: Jay Bateman

All signs point to Texas A&M DC Jay Bateman returning for the 2025 season

Amid rumors of leaving for another DC position, Jay Bateman will stay on staff in 2025

The latter half of Texas A&M’s 2024 season revolved around defensive coordinator Jay Bateman’s questionable play-calling and lack of second-half adjustments that led to multiple losses this season, including the Las Vegas Bowl loss to USC.

However, outside the Texas A&M fan base, Bateman was not seen as a problem, even earning a Broyles Award nomination for the top assistant in college football. Texas A&M’s defense finished 63rd overall but 90th in passing yards allowed, which is a significant weakness down the stretch.

Still, A&M’s rush defense improved but fell off before ending 43rd. It was the only defense area that improved under Bateman, so it’s safe to say the list of positives is small.

Going into the offseason, it was assumed that Bateman would return, as most assistant coaches don’t get fired after one season. However, coach Mike Elko hired former James Madison DC Lyle Hemphill to the 2025 staff last week, leading to rumors of Bateman leaving for another DC position.

Over the last few days, rumors regarding Bateman being directly connected to Virginia Tech’s defensive coordinator job opening nearly came to fruition until ESPN CFB insider Pete Thamel reported that the Hokies are targeting Arizona Cardinals linebacker coach Sam Siefkes for the job.

While Jay Bateman’s popularity among the fan base is divided, the news that Mike Elko will likely call defensive plays next season places him in an odd spot. However, given his recruiting prowess and vast coaching experience, Bateman is still a valuable coaching staff member.

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Who will call defensive plays for Texas A&M during the 2025 season?

Could HC MIke Elko get back to calling defensive plays next season?

On Wednesday afternoon, noteworthy coaching news surfaced: Former James Madison defensive coordinator Lyle Hemphill is set to join Texas A&M’s staff. Hemphill will partner with current defensive coordinator Jay Bateman, who is starting his second season with the Aggies.

Hemphill, who served under head coach Mike Elko during his two-year stint at Duke as the Blue Devils’ safeties coach and Co-DC, is coming off an impressive season as James Madison’s defensive play-caller as the Dukes’ defensive finished 21st nationally and led the nation with a 20+ turnover margin, logging 17 interceptions along with 12 fumble recoveries

However, TexAgs’ Billy Liucci noted that Hemphill would not serve as co-defensive coordinator. Given Jay Bateman’s struggles as the team’s primary defensive play-caller last season, could Elko call the defense next season?

While the rumors swirl, this would be the right move, especially concerning late-game adjustments, as Bateman failed to slow down opponents in losses to South Carolina, Auburn, and USC in the Las Vegas Bowl, mainly due to issues in the secondary and a lack of timely blitzing.

Mike Elko aspires to be both the team’s CEO and game manager. However, the Aggies’ 2025 schedule is challenging, and Elko’s experience as one of the top defensive coordinators over the past decade would keep opposing offenses guessing throughout the season.

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New report indicates a potential big change to Texas A&M’s defensive staff

According to a new report, Texas A&M could bring back a familiar name to the defensive staff

Texas A&M’s 2024 season ended at the hands of USC in a 35-31 loss in the Las Vegas Bowl in the early hours of Saturday morning, as the Aggie defense collapsed in the final quarter after holding a dominant 24-7 lead late in the game.

While the Aggies were shorthanded due to opt-outs and transfer portal departures, it’s fair to say that defensive coordinator Jay Bateman’s lack of second-half adjustments, especially during USC’s game-winning drive, was something we had all witnessed throughout the regular season.

This led coach Mike Elko to make a post-game statement regarding the lack of improvement in several defensive areas under Bateman’s guidance.

“I think the story of the game is the story of our season. We can’t cover the forward pass well enough to be a good football team, and so that’s my fault.I think the story of the game is the story of our season. We can’t cover the forward pass well enough to be a good football team, and so that’s my fault.”

While Elko blamed himself, this was Bateman’s defense, as Elko opted to give him complete control before the season. Still, before any news comes out, everything I’m about to report is purely based on recent reporting and speculation.

On Tuesday, Florida-based sports writer Barry Jackson disclosed that a recent report from On3 disclosed that after Miami coach Maio Cristobal fired defensive coordinator Lance Guidry, the Hurricanes contacted current Georgia Tech DC Tyler Santucci.

However, Jackson pointed out that the Aggies are also in the mix for Santucci, which more than likely means Elko has reached out to the up-and-coming defensive play-caller, who served as Duke’s DC and LB coach in 2023, and Texas A&M’s co-DC and linebacker coach during the 2022 season.

Suppose the Aggies are in the mix for Santucci to return to College Station. In that case, this means one of two things: Jay Bateman will be relieved of his defensive coordinator duties or demoted to an assistant role going into the 2025 season.

During Tyler Santucci’s first season with the Yellow Jackets, Georgia Tech’s defense allowed 24.3 points per game and was ranked as the top third-down defense in the ACC at 32.2 percent allowed.

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Texas A&M cornerback Will Lee III has announced his future plans

Texas A&M star cornerback Will Lee III will be back with the Aggies in 2025

Whenever a college football season ends, waiting to hear the future plans for every veteran player becomes an exercise in its own right, especially concerning Texas A&M heading into head coach Mike Elko’s second season.

One of those players is coming off one of his best games of the year, as starting cornerback Will Lee III announced on Tuesday via X that he would return to College Station for a final season after recording 42 tackles, 39 solo tackles, two interceptions, and ten pass deflections.

While the Aggies’ loss to Texas was certainly disappointing, the only real highlight of the matchup for the home team was Lee’s exciting 93-yard interception return, which resulted in A&M’s only points on the night.

Standing at 6-3 and over 190 pounds, Lee is built to become an elite boundary corner and will enter the 2025 campaign as one of the best defenders on the roster with a host of experience at the JUCO, Big 12, and now SEC levels.

Head coach Mike Elko and his staff will look to add more depth in the secondary through the transfer portal this offseason, but this is a great start.

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Texas A&M DC Jay Bateman named as a Broyles Award nominee

First-year A&M defensive coordinator Jay Bateman was named as Broyles Award nominee

On Tuesday afternoon, the selection committee announced that Texas A&M DC Jay Bateman was named as a nominee for the 29th annual Broyles Award.

Bateman has done a good job in his first year with a defense full of transfers. They rank in the top half of the SEC in TFLs (78) and around the middle of the pack for the rest of the defensive categories. The award is given to the top assistant coach in the nation to be named after the season at an event to be held on February 13 at the Oaklawn in Arkansas.

The 65 nominees in this year’s class were selected from approximately 1,500 assistant coaches representing 131 FBS programs across the country. The Broyles Award selection process includes the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), broadcasters, a college football hall-of-fame selection committee, and current college head coaches.

Below, you can view the entire list from the official announcement via X

Congratulations to coach Jay Bateman on his nomination. Hopefully, the defense will reward their coach with a big game on Saturday when they take on Texas on November 30.

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Texas A&M LB makes Rivals midseason transfer All-American Defensive Team

Linebacker Scooby Williams has vastly improved compared to his final season in Gainsville

Coming into the 2024 season, Texas A&M’s linebacker rotation looked susceptible due to a lack of depth and overall talent after the Green Bay Packers drafted star Edgerrin Cooper in the 2024 NFL Draft.

The 2024 linebacker unit would always be led by sophomore Taurean York, who started nearly every game for the Aggies during his memorable 2023 freshman campaign. However, York needed help, especially in pass coverage, an area he struggled with.

Under new head coach Mike Elko and new defensive coordinator Jay Bateman, both coaches utilized the transfer portal at nearly every position, including linebacker. They landed commitments from former Pitt LB Solomon DeShields and former Florida backer Scooby Williams, whom Bateman coached during his final season as Florida’s LB coach.

However, while DeShields looked more polished, Williams struggled during his 2023 sophomore campaign. He looked lost on several plays and failed to fully utilize his size, strength, and athleticism to make tackles in space.

After earning the second starting spot opposite Taurean York, Scooby Williams has ascended, coming off one of the best games of his career after recording six tackles, two tackles for loss, and his first collegiate interception in last Saturday’s win over Mississippi State.

Williams is currently fourth on the team with 26 tackles. According to Rivals, he has been acknowledged as one of the best transfer portal additions this season, and he placed the junior among 11 fellow stand-out transfers in their defensive midseason All-American Team:

  • DL Kyle Kennard — South Carolina
  • DL Walter Nolen — Ole Miss
  • DL Derrick Harmon — Oregon
  • DL Bradyn Swinson — LSU
  • LB Chris Paul Jr. — Ole Miss
  • LB Scooby Williams — Texas A&M
  • LB Teddy Buchanan — Cal
  • DB/WR Travis Hunter — Colorado
  • DB Caleb Downs — Ohio State
  • DB Andrew Mukuba — Texas
  • DB A.J. Harris — Penn State

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2025 4-star LB and Texas A&M commit has reportedly shut down his recruitment

According to a source, 2025 4-star LB Noah Mikhail is “100% committed” to Texas A&M

Texas A&M’s 2025 recruiting cycle is the first official class for Mike Elko amid his first season with the program as the first-year head coach. He has owned the California region, landing commitments from three of the state’s top 10 ranked 2025 prospects.

2025 4-star linebacker Noah Mikhail is one of those three players who pledged his commitment to Texas A&M earlier this year, joining 4-star cornerback Adonyss Currie and 5-star quarterback Husan Longstreet, while top-ranked cornerback and current Alabama commit Dijon Lee is still in the mix.

Mikhail’s commitment was never in doubt, though the red-hot Oregon Ducks have been attempting to flip the rising backer over the last few months. This led to Texas A&M defensive coordinator Jay Bateman visiting the senior last week.

On Saturday, it was revealed by Texas A&M recruiting insider Jaxson Callaway that Mikhail will not take any more recruiting visits and remains 100% locked in with the Aggies before putting pen to paper later this year.

During his 2023 junior season, Mikhail racked up 166 tackles, one sack, 15 tackles for loss, three pass breakups, and an interception at Bonita HS in La Verne, California.

According to 247Sports Composite, Mikhail is currently positioned as the 92nd-ranked prospect in the 2025 cycle, the 8th-ranked linebacker, and the 7th-ranked prospect in California.

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How the No. 24 Texas A&M football team defense can stop Arkansas in the Southwest Classic

The Aggies are heading 200 miles north to Arlington for their second SEC matchup of the season on Saturday against Arkansas at AT&T Stadium.

The Texas A&M football team is heading 200 miles north to Arlington this weekend for its second SEC matchup of the season on Saturday afternoon against Arkansas at AT&T Stadium.

The No. 24 Aggies (3-1, 1-0 SEC) will need a strong effort from their defense versus the Razorbacks (3-1, 1-0) to remain unbeaten in conference action. Texas A&M beat Arkansas 34-22 in the 2023 Southwest Classic.

A duo of upperclassmen defensive linemen with the same name, senior Shemar Turner and junior Shemar Stewart, each recorded a sack last week during a 26-20 victory against Bowling Green at Kyle Field. Aggies head coach Mike Elko and defensive coordinator Jay Bateman will be looking for similar production from the Shemar pairing on Saturday at Jerry’s World.

Texas A&M will be facing a familiar foe on the opposing sideline, Razorbacks offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino, who was the OC and quarterbacks coach in College Station under former head coach Jimbo Fisher.

Experienced Aggies like Stewart and Turner should have an advantage versus junior QB Taylen Green after practicing against Petrino’s playbook in 2023.

Texas A&M battles Arkansas at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN.

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Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

Texas A&M offers 2025 4-star Edge out of Houston (TX)

Texas A&M is now the 11th offer for rising pass rusher Tobi Haastrup, who once lived in London, England

Texas A&M’s 2025 recruiting class has a chance to add one of the ascending pass rushers in the cycle, as 4-star Edge Tobi Haastrup has received his 11th offer from the Aggies since arriving in Houston after living in London, England, for most of his life.

Knowing that the 2024 season can be used as a benchmark for future recruiting at every position, junior defensive end duo Nic Scourton and Shemar Stewart are only scratching the surface after last Saturday’s loss to Notre Dame, and visiting prospects are noticing.

Since head coach Mke Elko took over the program, landing Scourton from the transfer portal shows how the long-time defensive coordinator still holds an elite pedigree regarding productive pass rushers.

So far in the 2025 cycle, Elko has landed commitments from four defensive linemen, including 4-star prospects DJ Sanders and Landon Rink, who already look like game-wreckers in their senior seasons.

In his first season at Mayde Creek HS, Haastrup recorded five sacks in his first game. The raw but gifted athlete looks like a player who can easily develop in Elko’s scheme.

According to 247Sports, Haastrup is currently positioned as the 276th-ranked prospect, the 21st-ranked Edge prospect, and the 39th-ranked prospect in Texas.

https://twitter.com/upnextth/status/1831837645821149453?s=61&t=7Grt_BRNEg2xS6KG8YO0rg

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LB Scooby Williams was one of Texas A&M’s highest rated players vs. Notre Dame

Texas A&M LB Scooby Williams offseason work as begun to pay off

Texas A&M’s season-opening 23-13 loss to Notre Dame was a mixed bag for fans wanting to see improvement under new head coach Mike Elko. Outside of the Aggie offense failing to find its footing, A&M’s defense was mightily impressive outside of stopping the run late.

One of the defenders who stood out in his Aggie debut, former Florida linebacker Scooby Williams, looked like a new man just a season after struggling in his final season with the Gators. He showed off the athleticism, length, and closing speed that made him a 4-star recruiting prospect.

On the field for 51 defensive snaps, just second to fellow starting linebacker Taurean York (59) on Saturday night, Williams recorded five tackles, three solo tackles, and a tackle for loss while being near the ball carrier or receiver on nearly every play.

Since transferring to Texas A&M, questions regarding Williams’ defensive instincts have slowly been put to rest. Aggie defensive coordinator Jay Bateman served as Florida linebacker coach last season, providing Williams continuity during his first season in College Station.

Even more impressive, Williams was reportedly the second highest-rated defensive player (74.1) for the Aggies against Notre Dame, which is a positive sign for the junior backer.

Texas A&M will host McNeese 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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