Mike Elko’s new $69 million contract isn’t just about rewarding an 11-win season; it’s the first step in his ambitious plan to transform Texas A&M. Now, two months after the Aggies’ season ended against Miami, Elko sat down with On3’s J.D. PicKell to discuss what lies ahead, even hinting at a major NFL-style ambition he hopes to build in College Station.

“I think we made the next right step. I think when we got hired, one of the things that we spent a lot of time talking about was just how important it was that we started to become a program that people talked about, what we were accomplishing in the field.” Mike Elko said during the February 18 episode of the On3 podcast. “And I think, really, in two years we’ve been able to do that, and last year again we took another big step, and you know now we got to get to the end of the season, and we’ve got to finish things a little bit better.

But I think we’re really excited about the direction this program’s headed. I think we’re really excited about the things we’ve been able to accomplish.”

Since joining the program in November 2023, Mike Elko has posted a 19-7 record with Texas A&M. Last season’s 11-2 finish, which saw the Aggies top the SEC standings and climb as high as No. 3 in the AP Poll, signaled their arrival as a legitimate contender. Elko also beat Notre Dame (the first non-conference win in 40 years) and LSU (the first road game win since 1994). So, the Aggies have become a legitimate contender under him.

And it only looks like the trajectory is going upward. With the trust placed in him through the contract renewal, Elko told J.D. PicKell during the podcast that he plans to implement an NFL-focused development mindset system for the players entering the program.

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“Yeah, I think maybe just a little bit more comprehensive in our development process than what has happened around here. I think trying to find guys, we use the NFL as our target. I joked a lot with people when I got hired. You know, you can argue about which recruiting site you like more, whether you believe in four stars or all that stuff; it’s fine. At the end of the day, we got to find NFL players, and NFL players come in a lot of shapes and sizes. And that has to be the underlying goal of every kid that we bring into this program.”

That approach appears to be paying off. In the recently released 2026 NFL Scouting Combine invite list, Texas A&M had 13 players, setting a program record. That just includes the players who are going to the pros. There are those who are returning, having improved during the last campaign.

One player in particular who has made progress is Marcel Reed. Although he threw 12 interceptions last season, some due to underthrown passes and others because of miscommunication, his overall production nearly doubled compared to the previous year.

With Elko adding Isaiah Horton from Alabama, 2026 could be the season Reed fully takes the next step.

Isaiah Horton is Mike Elko’s solution to fully unlock Marcel Reed

Mike Elko’s January transfer portal looked impressive, but a name that stood out the most was Isaiah Horton. The wide receiver made it to the quarterfinals of the playoffs with the Crimson Tide, posting 42 receptions for 511 yards and scoring eight touchdowns. So, his leaving Alabama after just one season was shocking for some. But Isaiah Horton believed the move was a natural step he had to take.

“I made this decision because this is where I felt God was leading me,” Horton said. “There’s nothing against Alabama; it was nothing but love during the time I was there, and I will forever be thankful for the opportunity they gave me.”

This move tackles two things. One, it gives the Aggies very good depth at the receiver position. Second, it will make Marcel Reed’s job easier. Both Horton and Reed know each other from their 7-v-7 high school team in Tennessee, so the chemistry is already there. With Horton’s 6’4″ height, it will be easier for Reed to feed passes to him, who can out-strengthen defenders with his size.

If this connection delivers, the SEC would have a big problem in 2026.