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Is Elko Copying Cignetti

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Law Of The Quad
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9:31a, 1/9/26
Indiana is built on hooking the right guys in the portal.
According to the WSJ they look for more than size and speed.
They study the players mobility by the way they stand, move and they want production.
They are not chasing stars,

What Elko pulls from the portal looks like he's on the same plan.

https://www.wsj.com/sports/football/indiana-curt-cignetti-353afd29?st=nVeDVp&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink
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ObviousLazyRiverIsObvious
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9:32a, 1/9/26


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NomadicAggie
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9:36a, 1/9/26
AG
Average age of Indiana's team is 23 years old. That's only a couple years younger than the average NFL team.

The way to win in the NIL era is to get full grown men playing against 19-20 year olds. Stars no longer matter nearly as much.
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MIAGD
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9:39a, 1/9/26
AG
Good information but I wouldn't say he is copying him. Maybe following the same mindset that name chasing in the portal is not the best investment. Like most things in life doing your research and putting in the hard work to identify certain players beats money whipping a problem.
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FootballFrenzy
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In reply to MIAGD • 9:41a, 1/9/26
MIAGD said:
Good information but I wouldn't say he is copying him. Maybe following the same mindset that name chasing in the portal is not the best investment. Like most things in life doing your research and putting in the hard work to identify certain players beats money whipping a problem.

And he's done a really, really good job. People keep forgetting that this year was still part of the rebuilding process. Our defense should be nasty next year.
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Hank the Grifter
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9:42a, 1/9/26
I hope he copies his "Heisman trophy winning QB" model. That would have helped just a *smidge* this year.
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SteveA
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In reply to NomadicAggie • 9:46a, 1/9/26
AG
Quote:
Average age of Indiana's team is 23 years old. That's only a couple years younger than the average NFL team.

The way to win in the NIL era is to get full grown men playing against 19-20 year olds. Stars no longer matter nearly as much.

Kinda like TCU's "6 years of eligibility" team a couple of years ago...
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HowdyTexasAggies
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In reply to NomadicAggie • 9:48a, 1/9/26
AG
NomadicAggie said:
Average age of Indiana's team is 23 years old. That's only a couple years younger than the average NFL team.

The way to win in the NIL era is to get full grown men playing against 19-20 year olds. Stars no longer matter nearly as much.


And as usual, MSM is generally blowing off this fact. Cignitti is certainly a great coach, but the reality is he has one of the oldest rosters in all of NCAA.

Similarly, part of our success this year was that we had one of our oldest rosters in maybe 10 years or more.
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Aggieland35
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9:48a, 1/9/26
Really hoping reed can improve next year. He has the potential to be a great passer he has a strong arm and can throw 70-75 yards.
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Guy12
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9:49a, 1/9/26
Is he? Who knows. But every single coach should look at what Cignetti's doing. It's probably the most unprecedented turnaround in college football.
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Bunk Moreland
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In reply to Guy12 • 10:08a, 1/9/26
Guy12 said:
Is he? Who knows. But every single coach should look at what Cignetti's doing. It's probably the most unprecedented turnaround in college football.


Every coach should look at taking all the studs from their awesome G5 conference team that already know how he coaches, how he practices, his philosophies, have chemistry etc...and go to a P4 school that simultaneously secured the commitment of a billionaire and other major donors to fully invest into a program, to then play a 70+ ranked strength of schedule in year 1, then parlay that in year 2?

Cig is a great coach, but what he's 'doing' is something pretty unique to him that other coaches don't have the luxury of. Now other coaches do have other luxuries. But this claim that he's laying some blueprint to follow, which I've heard nationally as well, doesn't make sense.

I'm very interested to see how he does after this year and beyond when the old JMU guys wash out and he has to develop through new recruiting and portal only. My guess is he'll do extremely well, but I'm intrigued to see.
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ffco
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In reply to NomadicAggie • 10:14a, 1/9/26
NomadicAggie said:
Average age of Indiana's team is 23 years old. That's only a couple years younger than the average NFL team.

The way to win in the NIL era is to get full grown men playing against 19-20 year olds. Stars no longer matter nearly as much.

I think this is an under-appreciated fact. UTSA's best season was pre-NIL, but the team was kinda old.
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evestor1
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10:14a, 1/9/26
I am a flag and 7v7 coach.

I have been very successful recruiting age and size (assuming relevant speed is there.) It works pretty well. My assumption is that 23 year olds vs 18 year olds is the same.


A 23 year old can still run a 4.4, but weighs 10 lbs more, is likely higher football IQ, higher EQ, and may even have dad strength.
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Loftin
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10:19a, 1/9/26
AG
I hope Elko is heading on the same path as Cignetti. Their 2024 season is VERY similar to our 2025 season. They were a surprising 11-1 team who was ripped for an "easy" schedule, with the lone loss coming against their best opponent in late November. They proceeded to lose in the first round of the playoffs, feeding the narrative that they were frauds. They've rebounded nicely this year. I'd like to see us do the same.
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Jarrin Jay
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10:37a, 1/9/26
AG
It's age and experience. IU just about every players is a 4/5/6 year player and have started and played a ton of games. Even with an avg. QB they would have won 9 or 10 games this season.

I really like this portal class Elko is putting together, though ideally any portal xfer would have 2+ years remaining.
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94chem
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In reply to Guy12 • 10:43a, 1/9/26
Guy12 said:
Is he? Who knows. But every single coach should look at what Cignetti's doing. It's probably the most unprecedented turnaround in college football.

Even Bill Snyder took a few years at KSU. That was previously the greatest turn-around I can recall (for football).

Billy Gillispie holds the record for basketball.
94chem,
That, sir, was the greatest post in the history of TexAgs. I salute you. -- Dough
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ttaggie
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In reply to Law Of The Quad • 10:46a, 1/9/26
AG
I think Elko is smart.
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ttaggie
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In reply to NomadicAggie • 10:51a, 1/9/26
AG
I don't remember which coach said it, but there is a quote out there that a college football player can have a 5 star production or 5 star potential. But only 4th and 5th year guys get 5 star production.

Don't know how true it is...but even in this age of NIL, the senior heavy teams tend to do really well.
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Iraq2xVeteran
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10:57a, 1/9/26
AG
I read this article yesterday, and I think Laine Higgins wrote a great article about Curt Cignetti has proven himself to be the premier evaluator in the country. Cignetti has always prioritized production over potential. Now, he chases character and flexible ankles in equal measure. However, the Higgins omitted the fact that the average age on Indiana's roster is 22.5.

https://www.facebook.com/100067346734793/posts/the-average-age-on-indianas-roster-is-225-/1190426006545613/

At the start of the season after 53-man cutdowns, the Packers were the youngest with an average age of 25.23, and the Commanders were the oldest with an average age of 28.09. The Bears were 16th with an average age of 26.02 years.

https://www.phillyvoice.com/ranking-nfl-teams-age-after-53-man-cutdowns-2025-edition/

Getting 23 or 24-year-old men to play against 18-20-year-old men seems to be the way to win in the NIL and transfer portal era. Of course, some young recruits can make older players look silly. For example, then 17-year-old Ryan Williams, Alabama wide receiver, made much older defensive backs look foolish. But recruiting ratings don't matter nearly as much as they used to.

I like this portal class that Mike Elko is putting together, but it would be more ideal if these players would have 2+ years of eligibility remaining.
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94chem
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In reply to ttaggie • 11:00a, 1/9/26
ttaggie said:
I don't remember which coach said it, but there is a quote out there that a college football player can have a 5 star production or 5 star potential. But only 4th and 5th year guys get 5 star production.

Don't know how true it is...but even in this age of NIL, the senior heavy teams tend to do really well.

A former Aggie football player friend of mine was asked years ago why football players don't go from high school to the NFL like basketball players. He said that in his entire career, he had only seen one college freshman who was NFL-ready physically. I'm sure there have been a few more since then, but the point is still valid. The player he singled out was Ray Childress.

You think about Malachi Toney. He would be returning kicks in the NFL, until he got blown up and fumbled a couple of time. Ryan Williams would be on the practice squad until he learned to catch. Every year, Saban would lose a ton of guys to the NFL and reload with...juniors, 21-22 YO 4 and 5 star players. JoPa said that every freshman starter you have equals one loss.

This isn't new; it's just magnified. Experience and talent. But if you had to choose, experience may be the right answer, especially if you're talking about 5th and 6th year players.
94chem,
That, sir, was the greatest post in the history of TexAgs. I salute you. -- Dough
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TyperWoods
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In reply to 94chem • 11:12a, 1/9/26
94chem said:
Guy12 said:
Is he? Who knows. But every single coach should look at what Cignetti's doing. It's probably the most unprecedented turnaround in college football.

Even Bill Snyder took a few years at KSU. That was previously the greatest turn-around I can recall (for football).

Billy Gillispie holds the record for basketball.



Snyder used JUCO guys A LOT.

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gA_CMAB_FA
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In reply to Loftin • 11:16a, 1/9/26
Loftin said:
I hope Elko is heading on the same path as Cignetti. Their 2024 season is VERY similar to our 2025 season. They were a surprising 11-1 team who was ripped for an "easy" schedule, with the lone loss coming against their best opponent in late November. They proceeded to lose in the first round of the playoffs, feeding the narrative that they were frauds. They've rebounded nicely this year. I'd like to see us do the same.


One big diffence is that Cignetti upgraded to Mendoza at QB for 2025.
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94chem
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In reply to TyperWoods • 11:17a, 1/9/26
TyperWoods said:
94chem said:
Guy12 said:
Is he? Who knows. But every single coach should look at what Cignetti's doing. It's probably the most unprecedented turnaround in college football.

Even Bill Snyder took a few years at KSU. That was previously the greatest turn-around I can recall (for football).

Billy Gillispie holds the record for basketball.



Snyder used JUCO guys A LOT.


Yesteryear's portal. Lots of guys have recruited jucos. Snyder turned a bottom 3 program in history into a national championship contender. KSU was the losingest D1 program in history, and was on a 26 game losing streak when he took over, had been to one bowl game in history, and had something like 4 winning seasons in 50+ years.
94chem,
That, sir, was the greatest post in the history of TexAgs. I salute you. -- Dough
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Detmersdislocatedshoulder
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11:25a, 1/9/26
if i were coach i would only recruit high school skil
position guys. young guys can step in as freshman and play a skill position but as far as the lineman go portal me baby. i want the grown men on both lines.
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Agsrback12
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11:27a, 1/9/26
I hope he's also got his eye on what Miami did. Stud OL and DL and add from there. They have been dominant up front for the most part making it easier on the others around them.
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gA_CMAB_FA
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In reply to Agsrback12 • 11:34a, 1/9/26
Agsrback12 said:
I hope he's also got his eye on what Miami did. Stud OL and DL and add from there. They have been dominant up front for the most part making it easier on the others around them.

Really need to add two solid 320# DTs to the rotation to be dominant vs the run.
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leardriver
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11:35a, 1/9/26
AG
Quote:
Good information but I wouldn't say he is copying him. Maybe following the same mindset that name chasing in the portal is not the best investment.

Or, to paraphrase Red Sox owner John Henry in "Moneyball", they'll be sitting on their asses, while Indiana [or similar] is winning the CFP...!

CB, '67
Sometimes if you want a different answer, you have to ask a different question.
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TxAg76
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In reply to Agsrback12 • 11:39a, 1/9/26
AG
Agsrback12 said:
I hope he's also got his eye on what Miami did. Stud OL and DL and add from there. They have been dominant up front for the most part making it easier on the others around them.

Love the straight downhill running attack too. Going right straight at the LB's and safeties.
Most kids on D these days don't have the stomach to keep sticking their nose in there with a big back coming right at em in that kind of downhill attack for 4 full quarters.
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Agsrback12
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In reply to TxAg76 • 12:05p, 1/9/26
TxAg76 said:
Agsrback12 said:
I hope he's also got his eye on what Miami did. Stud OL and DL and add from there. They have been dominant up front for the most part making it easier on the others around them.

Love the straight downhill running attack too. Going right straight at the LB's and safeties.
Most kids on D these days don't have the stomach to keep sticking their nose in there with a big back coming right at em in that kind of downhill attack for 4 full quarters.


Right?! I was just about to edit my post and add "especially in the 7on7 is king days of current football."

A lot of these kids are not huge fans of contact and especially on a 4 quarter basis when it comes down to it.
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APHIS AG
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In reply to Law Of The Quad • 12:19p, 1/9/26
Law Of The Quad said:
Indiana is built on hooking the right guys in the portal.
According to the WSJ they look for more than size and speed.
They study the players mobility by the way they stand, move and they want production.
They are not chasing stars,

What Elko pulls from the portal looks like he's on the same plan.

https://www.wsj.com/sports/football/indiana-curt-cignetti-353afd29?st=nVeDVp&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

Our Heisman Trophy winner was a 3-star. We have always recruited well concerning the rankings and according to the statisticians concerning the rankings, we should be in the 9-10 win season every year and competing for an NC.

The portal has changed all that.

Just like this year where we rank ninth in the country in recruting. And where is Indiana? 34th.
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NyAggie
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In reply to NomadicAggie • 2:00p, 1/9/26
AG
NomadicAggie said:
Average age of Indiana's team is 23 years old. That's only a couple years younger than the average NFL team.

The way to win in the NIL era is to get full grown men playing against 19-20 year olds. Stars no longer matter nearly as much.


In the old days teams that weren't perennial powers would rise up every few years when they had a senior and junior laden roster but nowadays you can stay experienced and mature by using the portal
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terata
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In reply to NomadicAggie • 3:07p, 1/9/26
AG
Indiana did what it took to win. Maybe if A&M did so, we might do well enough to win a lot more.
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terata
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In reply to NyAggie • 3:08p, 1/9/26
AG
What's wrong with that? Every AG say over and repeatedly, we want to WIN. Lets WIN!
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Bunk Moreland
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In reply to terata • 3:10p, 1/9/26
terata said:
Indiana did what it took to win. Maybe if A&M did so, we might do well enough to win a lot more.


Please spell out in detail what you think Indiana is doing that A&M is not in an effort to win?
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TER_2015
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In reply to MIAGD • 3:26p, 1/9/26
Exactly. Can't quite remember the actual article but Elko did mention he wasn't going after stars as much as what the team needed in any specific position. If it happens to be a 5 star then great. If not oh well. It's great to find the best of both worlds but there are diamonds in the rough and those other guys who can aren't overly flashy but can sure get the job done. Age does help in some cases though due to experience and maturity. If you think about it there are way more 4,3,2 stars individually and collectively than 5 stars. Cignetti sees that and is taking advantage of it.
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