Before Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko and his three-player representatives, junior linebacker Taurean York, senior guard Ar’maj Reed-Adams, and senior cornerback Will Lee III, a host of SEC media members spoke to the TexAgs radio crew during the first two days of SEC media days this week to discuss the 2025 outlook for the Aggie football program.
On Tuesday, Georgia, Texas, and Auburn took the stage, while SEC Network host Laura Rutledge spoke to TexAgs Live host David Nuño, and was one of the few media members this week who felt that Texas A&M is being highly undervalued this offseason, while cross-town rival Texas has received all the national praise.
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Nothing Rutledge said is new for those of you who have been paying attention, those of us who cover the program, knowing that starting quarterback Marcel Reed’s improvement this offseason, paired with the returning veterans and 14 transfer portal additions, have the Aggies on the right track to compete for a College Football Playoff berth.
“I don’t thing enough people are talking about A&M” Rutledge stated. “I don’t want to overdo this, because, I get superstitious about A&M, I have a couple best friends who are A&M fans, so, they get mad at me if I’m overhyping the team, but, I am an honorary A&M fan.”
Getting Rutlege’s now confirmed A&M fandom out of the way, the SEC host expressed her belief in the Aggies’ ability to get through what is widely seen as one of the toughest schedules in the country.
“I think they’re gonna be pretty good, Marcel Reed coming back, he’s got way more experience under his belt, and getting thrown into the fire you saw some flashes, you saw some freshman moments, right, it’s a moment of an experience, and now he’s got time under his belt.”
Rutledge is even more confident in Texas A&M’s defense improving with Mike Elko taking over as the play caller, which should help with early and late-game adjustments that were an issue last season.
“I think Elko taking over the defensive play calling is big, that’s hit background, his bread and butter” said Rutlege. “He is such a good coach and he has impressed me in so many ways, and I just think its, and I know A&M fans are like, “we’ve got to win” and this has been the story, right? There’s been lot’s of money spent, and how you see it actually translate, it will be better in my opinion, and there are key parts in the schedule that are really going to matter. I think they’re a team that people are overlooking right now.”
Texas A&M will open the 2025 season against UTSA on Saturday, August 31, inside what should be a packed Kyle Field.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: SEC Network Host believes Texas A&M football is being ‘overlooked’
