Everything HC Mike Elko and Rueben Owens during Texas A&M's spring press conference

[ASFN Admin]

The 2025 Texas A&M football team is on the field for spring ball, and there is a lot of excitement leading into year two under head coach Mike Elko.

The Texas A&M Aggies experienced a challenging end to the 2024 football season, facing injuries and defensive struggles that led to a three-game losing streak. Despite this setback, their 8-2 start showcased the team's potential when fully healthy and unified under Coach Mike Elko's leadership.

With Conner Weigman transferring to Houston and Noah Thomas joining Georgia, Marcel Reed steps into the spotlight as the starting quarterback for the 2025 season. The wide receiver position promises intense competition, offering fans exciting talent to watch develop. The Aggies' offensive line and running back corps are set to be key strengths, with the offensive line returning nearly all five starters and Rueben Owens leading the backfield. Le’Veon Moss, recovering from injury, will add depth and power to the running game.

After an offseason spent building strength and resilience under renowned coach Tommy Moffitt, the Aggies are primed for a consistent and disciplined season in 2025. Fans can anticipate a team eager to capitalize on its potential and deliver results.

Coach Elko knows it's early but likes where they are headed​

"Obviously, three practices in, I'm not going to make any grand statements about where we're at. We're headed in a good direction and looking forward to where it goes."

Elko speaks on Marcel Reed's progress​

"Marcel (Reed) has been good. Obviously, it's early. There is still a lot to do. He has embraced the challenge in taking the next step."

"He knows, and he wants to throw the ball better. He's meeting that challenge head-on."

Elko on Rueben Owen's return from injury and progress this offseason​

"Rueben (Owens) would've gotten his reps regardless. It is nice to see him back and healthy. From the time he got hurt in fall camp to now, you see the way he has attacked this thing. You see his passion for football."

"He has attacked every bit of it. … He still needed to get his timing back."

Elko on fixing Texas A&M's man coverage defense​

"It's just making sure we clean up expectations, clean up the way we're teaching, clean up the way they're learning and processing."

"It has been good. We spent a lot of time in walkthroughs. … There is not a single person in our building that is excited with how we played defense down the stretch. The players have a lot of pride in making sure it gets back to the way it was. The coaches have a lot of pride in making sure it gets back to the way it was."

Elko on the competition at the defensive tackle position​

"I wouldn't say anything is set. It's an open audition for everybody to go and get reps."

"Our challenge is to all of those guys is to go and earn reps. … You've got five guys that if you put them on a podium, they wouldn't tell you that their plan is to sit on the bench and take a back seat."

Elko on his enhanced involvement in Texas A&M's defense next season​

"We've kind of addressed it throughout the offseason that I'll have a bigger role in what we're doing."

"It's an identification of an issue that needs to be solved and believing I have an ability to help solve it."

Elko on replacing defensive linemen Shemar Stewart, Shemar Turner, and Nic Scourton, who will all be selected in the 2025 NFL Draft​

"That's college football. If you're running a program right in the SEC, you're going to have NFL talent walk out the door at the end of the season."

"There is a lot of kids in that locker room that want to step into that spotlight. Cashius Howell. Rylan Kennedy. Some of the transfers we brought in … Those kids want to become household names to Aggie fans."

Elko on running back Rueben Owen's returning from injury​

"Towards the bowl game, I felt alright, but I wasn't 100 percent."

"Now, I feel a lot better. It still has a little pain to it, but nothing I can't get through during the spring."

Owens on how he dealt with missing nearly every game during the 2024 season​

"It really hurt because I felt like I was having a good fall camp and was going to have a big sophomore year."

"I just had to get through it and get to work immediately so I could get back as fast as I could."

Rueben Owens on learning from running back Le'Veon Moss​

"Seeing Le'Veon (Moss) and basically learning. You learn a lot from the sideline. I know a lot more now that I didn't know then."

Owens on Texas A&M's loaded 2025 running back room​

"Our room, we're brothers. We stick together. We're all talented, and we're all going to have good years. It's going to be very different."

Owens on running behind Texas A&M's veteran offensive line​

"I'm glad all of them guys came back. With them blocking for me and for all of us, it could be very good."

Owens on his message to Le'Veon Moss, who is also returning from injury​

"It's football. Injuries happen. He got right after it, too. … You just have to have a strong mind to get through it, and you'll be good."

Owens has gained strength this offseason, which will help his running style​

"I got way stronger. It'll help me break tackles more, run harder."

Owens on how Marcel Reed has improved this spring​

"Marcel (Reed) has been throwing pretty good. He's just got to get more confident in throwing because he can throw the ball."

Owens on how he and Le'Veon Moss compare as runners​

"There's a few similarities, like the explosiveness. Le'Veon is a real powerful runner. He's a strong runner. I feel like I'm more of a finesse runner."

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

This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: HC Mike Elko and Ruben Owens speak during Texas A&M's spring presser

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