Greg McElroy offers insights on Weigman's potential in Klein's offense

During the second day of the 2024 SEC Media Days in Dallas, ESPN college football analyst Greg McElroy caught up with the TexAgs gang to discuss Texas A&M's hire of Mike Elko, the Aggies' strengths and weaknesses entering the fall and much, much more.

Key notes from Greg McElroy interview

• During the football coaching search, I went to bed under the assumption that nothing was happening because it was 2 a.m. I was like, “Well, enough is enough. We'll figure this out tomorrow.” Sure enough, when I woke up, “Mike Elko is the new head coach of the Texas A&M Aggies.” I think it's a great hire.
   
• First of all, I think Elko brings great stability. I think he has built up equity in the state of Texas, which, frankly, I think matters. Barring the unique circumstances of a former head coach like Steve Sarkisian, who did a great job at Alabama and has been in the NFL but doesn't really have Texas ties, that's a unique scenario. Look at every other coach right now, whether it is Power 5 or Group of 5, that has not spent time in Texas. There's not a single one.
   
• Whether it's Texas State’s G.J. Kinne, Joey McGuire at Texas Tech or Sonny Dykes at TCU, all of these guys have some type of experience in the state of Texas, and I think that matters. I think we're in a unique state and operate a little differently, and I think Elko having been there before is a really valuable thing.
   
• The No. 1 thing I like about Texas A&M? I think their defensive line is going to be really good. If you're going to be good in this league, quarterbacks are a great place to start, with the D-line being the second most important position. Now, I do have some question marks because I think they’ll be really good in the interior.
   
• I'm not a super-experienced defensive line talent evaluator. I'm not going to be able to watch Nic Scourton against Big Ten linemen and tell you it's going to translate. All I know is that the guy has a really good first step, and that's a pretty good place to start.
   
• I really like the versatility and depth that the Aggies have at receiver. They have a couple of guys that can play inside and out, and I love that.
   
• A&M’s quarterback is excellent when he's healthy. Conner Weigman doesn't have a huge arm, but it's enough. I think he's accurate with a quick release. I think Collin Klein’s offenses are really thoughtful.
   
• I thought Chris Klieman would have been a great fit at A&M in part because I thought if Klein came, that offense could do some things. I just never thought Klein would ever leave Kansas State, but maybe if Klieman came, he would, so I thought it was tremendous to get him.
   
• I think Klein will put Weigman in positions where he's not going to be quite as exposed to injury, hits and other things that are unnecessary.
   
• Concerns for A&M? The defensive backend and the cornerbacks. I was talking to Kirby Smart about this, and he said everybody has corner issues, relatively speaking. Nowadays, freshmen are going to be out there, and they're probably going to have to play.
   
• The offensive line has been an underachieving unit for some time now, and I would like for that group to come together and try to keep their quarterback upright. Those are my concerns.
   
• When we look at that A&M-Miami game last year, that was the best quarterback performance of the year from both teams. Then look at how things finished up for both. The secondaries might have been part of that issue.
   
• The perception of Weigman, and if we rewind a little further to the LSU game the year before, he was rock solid in that game and threw some touch passes in the endzone. He was a guy who was young in his career. He was the guy that you wanted.
   
• I'm not of the mindset that he's a future top-three pick in the NFL Draft. I don't think he has that ceiling, but then again, I didn't think Joe Burrow did either after his first year in the SEC. Anything is possible, but the best ability is availability.
   
• I never had a single doubt about the Kalen DeBoer hire. They were like, “He can’t recruit… He’s not from the South.” If you're a nice person, you're going to be fine down here, and he's a nice person. I look at how he has won, and I look at the modern-day player.
   
• Maybe we’re just a different generation of players. If Nick Saban told me to run through that glass window to my immediate peril, I would do it because that is what I was told to do. I didn't care that practice was hard. It was supposed to be. I didn't want music at practice because it was a distraction. That wasn't what appealed to me.
   
• I just think that the players changed a lot. I think you have to really meet the players where they're at now, and you have to have great patience in answering the questions that they might have.
   
• I think there's a real possibility that A&M will be excellent. Like, really, really good. A big reason why I believe that is because their home schedule is one that is going to leave a lasting impression on the College Football Playoff committee. I think they can beat just about anybody in Kyle Field.
   
• Those that are at the top like Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Ole Miss and Missouri, and there are about four more that can get in there, like A&M, LSU, Tennessee and even Oklahoma. Oklahoma has guys who can take over the game, but their schedule is really challenging.