Tag: Lyle Hemphill

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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Texas A&M HC Mike Elko has added a key veteran to the offensive coaching staff

Texas A&M has added Rutgers assistant coach John Perry to the 2025 coaching staff

Texas A&M coach Mike Elko’s reflection period after the 2024 season concluded has resulted in two key additions to the 2025 coaching staff, starting with former James Madison defensive coordinator Lyle Hemphill and, as of Saturday, former Rutgers WR coach John Perry.

Perry, who has spent the last two collegiate seasons in New Jersey, has served as the Scarlet Knights’ assistant wide receivers coach after coaching in the NFL with the Houston Texans (2014-20) as the team’s tight ends coach (2014-16) and the receivers coach (2017-20).

During his tenure with Rutgers, the program’s wide receiver corps produced three wide receivers with over 400 yards. At the same time, wideouts KD Duff and Ian Strong finished the year with over 1,000 yards through the air, which is impressive when considering Rutgers’ offensive history.

With the Houston Texans, nothing compares to Perry’s time helping former standout wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins’s development track, assisting the all-pro to lead the team with 104 receptions for 1,165 yards and seven touchdowns during the 2019 season.

Perry’s long and successful coaching resume will help Texas A&M’s revamped wide receiver room continue to develop alongside wide receiver coach Holmom Wiggins next season and beyond.

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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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Texas A&M hires former JMU DC to 2025 defensive staff

Aggie head coach Mike Elko brings in former staffer for a fresh set of eyes to his defensive unit in 2025

The 2024 Texas A&M football season under first-year coach Mike Elko wasn’t bad, but to go 1-4 to close out the regular season with an underwhelming bowl performance it was seen as a mixed bag.

One of the issues that was apparent, and visibility irritated him after the USC loss was the inability to stop any passing plays. The defense didn’t live up to their end of the bargain when it came to helping out their young QB and a change was needed. As a result, Elko has brought in a former staffer for a fresh perspective and where they can make improvements and develop the talent on the roster.

It’s been reported by Matt Zenitz of 274Sports that former James Madison DC Lyle Hemphill will be hired to the A&M defensive staff in a senior assistant role. Hemphill spent two years with Elko at Duke as the safeties coach and then co-DC before taking the job at JMU where he spent last season.

In his solo season at JMU, the defense finished No. 21 in the country in scoring defense and led the nation with a 20+ turnover margin logging 17 interceptions along with 12 fumble recoveries. The SEC will be a big step up in competition, but Hemphill will bring a fresh perspective to an Aggie team that struggled defensively down the stretch.

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