Tag: Jimbo Fisher

Texas A&M’s next head coach needs to make 2024 4-Star WR Dre’lon Miller a priority

2024 4-star WR Dre’lon Millers’ future in College Station will likely depend on who becomes the next head football coach at Texas A&M.

Texas A&M’s 2024 recruiting class took several hits in the last two months after four-star offensive tackle Weston Davis flipped his commitment to LSU and four-star wide receiver Dre’lon Miller decommitted on Oct. 17.

After the firing of former head coach Jimbo Fisher, Miller’s collegiate future hangs in the balance. However, he took an unofficial visit during the Aggies’ Oct. 28 home win over South Carolina, and Texas A&M surprisingly remains the favorite to regain his commitment. That will likely depend on who becomes the next head coach, an announcement that could come much sooner than later.

Whoever accepts the position, retaining interim head coach Elijah Robinson, who also serves as the defensive line coach and lead recruiter, is an absolute must. To provide a blueprint for Miller’s playing future, hiring an offensive-minded head coach coupled with a highly competent staff could be enough o reel the Silsbee, Texas, native back in.

Miller is a cheat code on offense, displaying the speed, agility and insane versatility as a kick/punt returner that mirrors senior A&M wide receiver Ainias Smith, who just happened to have his biggest game of the season against the Gamecocks with Dre’lon in attendance.

Behind senior quarterback Jayden Daniels, the LSU Tigers have one of their best offensive seasons since 2019. They have been tenaciously pursuing Miller, who officially visited Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Nov. 11.

According to 247Sports, Miller is the 66th-ranked prospect, the 14th-ranked wide receiver, and the 12th-ranked player in Texas in the 2024 cycle.

Texas A&M will take on 14th-ranked LSU on Saturday, Nov. 25 at 11 a.m. CT., and ESPN will carry the game.

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Moose Muhammad’s highlight reel game against ACU has not gone unnoticed

Moose Muhammad popped back up on the scene in major way last weekend, and the main stream media is impressed

If anyone knows highlight plays, it’s NFL veteran and Super Bowl winner LeSean “Shady” McCoy. He couldn’t help but notice the performance that Moose Muhammad put on against the ACU Wildcats and named him the Speak on FS1 “Crazy Work” winner of the week.

It’s been a curious year for the junior wide receiver following what seemed to be a breakout season in 2022. Leading into last week’s game Moose only had 159 yards and one touchdown through nine games. Well, the dynamic receiver put his elite hands and athletic ability on full display again to the tune of 104 yards and a Sports Center top-ten highlight-worthy catch.

With the shakeup of Jimbo Fisher being fired and with eligibility left it will be interesting to see what Moose decides to do in the future. His talent is undeniable and is one catch away from a specular play.

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Texas A&M AD Ross Bjork is right: The Aggies next head coach needs to be on an incentives-based deal

In a recent interview, Texas A&M AD Ross Bjork noted that an incentives-based deal is likely in the cards for the next Aggie head coach.

Amid Texas A&M’s exhaustive search for the next head football coach, Aggie athletic director Ross Bjork will likely be judged for years to come by his selection. The previous regime hired former head coach Jimbo Fisher, who will be paid $76.8 million over the next seven years of his deal.

Last weekend during a radio segment on “Aggie Fan Zone,” Bjork took us on a deep dive into the search while revealing several changes to the hiring process. He noted that coaches, including those who have recently interviewed for the position, continuously rave about what A&M has to offer as one of the top programs in the country.

“They are saying, ‘You already have the giant of resources. If you have the right plan – recruiting, culture, leadership, having the right schemes, offense, defense, special teams and you hire a great staff, you have already got that. You have already got that combination.”

While a host of journalists and media members have ridiculed the idea that Texas A&M is among the “best” programs in the country, I don’t have to tell you the numbers don’t lie, as GigEm247 beat writer Carter Karels said it best regarding the Aggies’ decade-plus prolonged mediocrity on the gridiron:

“That perception might not make sense to everyone, because in the modern era, the Aggies have lacked a proof of concept. They have not won a national championship since 1939. They have not played in a conference championship since 1998. And in the last 25 seasons, they have reached 10-plus victories only once.”

But Bjork is correct that everything from high-end resources and recruiting success to unwavering fan support from the 12th Man makes this a turnkey position. And, yes, as many of you have already seen from our colleagues at For The Win, Bjork’s “This is not an 8-4 job” comment has made the rounds.

Still, he is moving toward the future past Jimbo’s failures while setting parameters for the new head coach to be judged on his job performance year after year.

While I recommend you listen to the full interview in the link above, Bjorks’ comments regarding a new incentive-based contract that will be given upfront in the first set of monetary negotiations is the right idea, which was avoided when Fisher was hired in 2017.

“We have to get the contract right,” Bjork stated. “We can’t do what we did before. … So we have level set with everybody that we have talked to. Here are the parameters. Here is the structure.”

Again, this isn’t a difficult concept to understand when it comes to truly competing for championships, or at the least, contending consistently. Yes, Bjork deserves the blame for extending Fisher’s massive deal after one successful season in 2020, but everyone deserves a mulligan, and it looks like he’s learned from that mistake during this search.

“But then it’s like, we are not giving bonuses to go to the Liberty Bowl. CFP, first round, quarterfinals, semifinals, host, win the national championship. You win the national championship, and you will get paid like a national championship coach.”

Arizona’s Jedd Fisch, UTSA’s Jeff Traylor, Duke’s Mike Elko, Washington’s Kalen DeBoer and Texas A&M interim head coach Elijah Robinson are the known candidates to have either received an interview or are being considered for the position.

Texas A&M will take on 14th-ranked LSU on Saturday, Nov. 25 at 11 a.m. CT., and the game will air on ESPN.

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Texas A&M AD Ross Bjork said Aggies football ‘is not an 8-4 job’ and is only fooling himself

Believe in yourself the way Ross Bjork believes in the Aggies’ potential

Give Ross Bjork credit for this: He’s not backing down from a fight with reality.

The Texas A&M athletic director has dug a deep trench as he embarks on a search to replace Jimbo Fisher as the head coach of his football team. Despite 75 million reasons to keep Fisher around a bit longer, the ever-growing list of big-brand programs in need of a new coach and the rather thin market for the schools who do need a replacement at the top, Bjork remains undeterred in his quest to watch this all blow up spectacularly in his face by setting unreasonable expectations.

There are not a ton of high-profile coaches out there looking to jump to Texas A&M right now. Which means he’s going to have to pick from a group of rising names in the sport and hope he guesses right.

First Bjork tried to speak with Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell about the gig. And, never mind the fact that Campbell played his college ball at Texas A&M before spending a decade in the NFL, coaches simply don’t leave young Super Bowl contenders for a mid-tier SEC job.

Campbell, in the nicest and most relatable way possible, turned his alma mater down the way most of us do when they call asking for more money.

“I know some people there and I love my school,” Campbell told reporters in Detroit. “That’s my alma mater and I want to do anything I can to help them but coach for them.”

It would be malpractice if Bjork didn’t at least attempt a phone call with his employer’s most sought-after alumni. Sure. But in case anyone thought that was just a set up to lower expectations in College Station, Bjork is here to remind us all that, no, he’s very serious.

It is at this point I must point out that Bjork has been the athletic director for three FBS schools. From 2010-2012, Bjork was at Western Kentucky, where he inherited head football coach Willie Taggart, who never finished with more than seven wins in a season with the Hilltoppers.

From 2012-2019, Bjork was at Ole Miss. There he inherited head football coach Hugh Freeze, defended him until the bitter end and ultimately replaced him with Matt Luke when Freeze could no longer remain in control.

Notably, Luke was the interim coach at Mississippi after Freeze was forced out. He went 6-6 that fall with the only conference wins coming against Vanderbilt, Kentucky and Mississippi State. That was enough to convince Bjork to drop the interim tag and anoint Luke to navigate the program through the fallout of the NCAA’s investigation into Freeze. Luke was fired after three seasons. The six wins in his first season was the highest mark he’d reach there.

By then Bjork was already at Texas A&M where he inherited head football coach Jimbo Fisher.

Do you see where this is going?

Bjork is now leading his first real coaching search for a college football program at any level. There are no looming NCAA punishments to hold him back. No shortage of money to spend on his guy. No extenuating circumstances. Just the ego of a fanbase who believes they should be competing to national titles every year.

Which means all the pressure is on Bjork to nail this. Comments like his “8-4” jab will only make it harder on himself.

All of which is to say, in the new era of the SEC, where Texas A&M will have to contend with Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Oklahoma, LSU, Tennessee and Ole Miss, the Aggies could do a lot worse than routinely going 8-4.

Bjork should know, since that’s been the average record at Texas A&M for 12 years now.

‘We’re looking forward to the challenge this week’ Elijah Robinson speaks on the preparation for LSU

Hear what Interim Head Coach Elijah Robinson had to say in Monday’s press conference

Elijah Robinson got his first win as the Texas A&M head coach on Saturday over the ACU Wildcats and he did it his way.

While it wasn’t an overly flashy win, they got the job done after a difficult week following Jimbo Fisher’s dismissal. Even though they put up over 35 points in consecutive games, Coach Robinson knows this week will be a much more arduous task.

He acknowledged how this year’s game will be different and that LSU’s passing game is one of the best in the country led by Heisman contender Tigers QB Jayden Daniels.

“He’s extremely talented. He does a really good job. He’s a problem. He’s a true weapon. We have to be on top of our game to give ourselves a chance.”

You listen to everything Coach Robinson had to say during the entire press conference below:

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‘We are coming in with a new game plan. The confidence is there’ Ainias Smith speaks on the preparation for LSU

Hear what wide receiver Ainias Smith had to say in Monday’s press conference

The Aggies took care of business in the last home game of the season last weekend and are traveling to Death Valley to take on SEC rival LSU.

This has been a back-and-forth series and has blossomed into an intriguing rivalry over the past few years. When the Aggies entered the SEC, Arkansas was the obvious choice for a rival going all the way back to the SWC days in the 80’s. However, over the past ten years, it’s been a one-sided contest in the Aggies’ favor.

LSU and Texas A&M on the other hand have traded victories over the past six games and are 3-3. Saturday, if the Aggies can pull off the upset over the No. 14 Tigers it will be the first back-to-back win over them since 1994-1995.

Ainias Smith speaks on the possibility of returning for his final season of eligibility:

“I have not made a decision yet. I will make it when I make that decision.”

You can watch the entire press conference:

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on Twitter: @whosnextsports1.

Aggies Hot Board 2.0: Five Texas A&M head coach candidates to replace Jimbo Fisher

Here are five new head coaching candidates to take over at Texas A&M after the recent firing of now-former head coach Jimbo Fisher.

Texas A&M fired head coach Jimbo Fisher on Nov. 12. Fisher finished 45-25 record, including a dismal 27-21 SEC record, in slightly less than six full seasons. In a shock to many, TexAgs’ Billy Liucci reported the move last Sunday, three days after the Board of Regents met.

Elijah Robinson is off to a good start in the interim role thanks to the Aggies’ 38-10 win over Abilene Christian on Saturday afternoon. The long-time veteran assistant received the game ball after the win in the last home game of the season. Senior wide receiver Ainias Smith noted:

“I’m so proud of Coach E, so happy for him, so glad that he’s getting the things that he’s getting. I’m so glad that we got the win for him.”

“He has been doing a real good job, an amazing job. … The seniors got to present him with the game ball today. That was cool.”

While Robinson remains a candidate for the position, Texas A&M athletic director Ross Bjork is reportedly interviewing many candidates. Only a few names, including UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor, have been released to the public.

Heading the list of more realistic options, here are five Texas A&M head coach candidates to replace Fisher.

Social Media Reacts to Texas A&M’s 38-10 win over ACU

Aggie followers flock to the internet to voice their opinion on the Texas A&M’s win over ACU on Saturday

In the first game post the firing of Jimbo Fisher, the Aggies started off a little shaky on offense but found their footing en route to a 38-10 victory on Senior Day in Aggieland.

Jaylen Henderson got his second start and was running for his life most of the game due to the amount of pressure brought by the ACU Wildcats. However, when he got a little time to survey the field, he made them pay. His favorite receiver was Moose Muhammad, to the tune of four catches for 106 yards and a touchdown.

The defense did not have that many splash plays but was consistent all day long, only allowing 242 yards of total offense and racking up six tackles for loss. Safeties Jarred Kerr and Bryce Anderson were all over the field and combined for ten tackles.

Interim Coach Elijah Robinson looked comfortable after Fisher’s dismissal, and no matter what happens over the next few weeks, he will always be remembered here in Aggieland.

Here are the best social media reactions from Texas A&M’s 38-10 win over ACU Saturday.

Dan Campbell addresses the head coaching job at Texas A&M

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell loves Texas A&M, but the head Texas A&M coaching job may not be in the cards

With all the names floating around to replace Jimbo Fisher, Dan Campbell is an extremely familiar name among Aggies everywhere, especially those to attended the University in the late 90’s.

When recently asked about his interest in the position below is what he has to say:

“Maybe. But that’s all good. Certainly, I know some people there and I love my school, That’s my alma mater and I want to do anything I can to help them but coach for them. So, and I’ll do that.”

“Certainly, the hire is important, and it needs to be somebody that understands the state of Texas, understands the history of Texas A&M and can communicate with young people and develop them. I think that’s where it starts. Strong leadership.”

The current Detroit Lions head coach spent four years playing tight end at Texas A&M (1995-1998) before being drafted in the 3rd round to the New York Giants.

After a 10-year playing career Campbell started his coaching career after with the Miami Dolphins and the New Orleans Saints before landing in Detroit in before the 2021 season. After what now looks to be a one year rebuild with the Lions, Campbell engineered a solid end to the 2022 season with a win on the road vs. Green Bay to end their playoff hopes, leading to this season’s 7-2 start, sitting just below Philadelphia for second place in the NFC.

With all his current success in the Motor City, leaving a budding NFL franchise to the many headaches that coaching in the Power 5 brings is definitely not the right move, for now, at least.

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How to watch: Texas A&M vs. ACU football game

The Aggies will play their final home game on Saturday against ACU

Texas A&M (6-4, 5-3 SEC) will host ACU (5-5, 3-3 WAC) at Kyle Field on Saturday morning in Bryan-College Station, Texas, at 11 a.m. CT.

Last weekend the Aggies gained bowl eligibly but host their head coach when Jimbo Fisher was let go shortly after the big win. The team will have to put their emotions aside as interim head coach Elijah Robinson is tasked with getting the team through the rest of the season.

This is the first time the teams will be meeting on the football field in school history, and ACU is catching the Aggies at a very interesting time in their program. They are also fighting to finish their season about .500 while Texas A&M march towards another eight-win season.

Texas A&M’s 2023 regular-season home schedule has contests against ULM, Auburn, Alabama, South Carolina, Mississippi State, and ACU.

The Aggies’ Road schedule features games at Miami, Arkansas, Tennessee, Ole Miss, and LSU.

2023 Texas A&M Aggies football schedule: Downloadable smartphone wallpaper

Below is gameday, television, and radio information for Saturday’s Texas A&M – ACU contest at Kyle Field.