CBS Sports writer Brandon Marcello loves Texas A&M's 'quiet' offseason

A national college football writer for CBS Sports, Brandon Marcello joined Friday's edition of TexAgs Radio as Week 0 is just 22 days away. Marcello spoke his thoughts on Texas A&M's spring and summer under Mike Elko, the Aggies' fall slate and much more. 

Key notes from Brandon Marcello interview

• Look what Mike Elko did at Duke in his two years there. To me, what I love about A&M this offseason is that it’s just been quiet. You’re not hearing any drama behind the scenes like we did with Jimbo Fisher. Elko is just a worker.
   
• His best hire, to me, was Collin Klein. I can’t wait to see what they do with Conner Weigman there and that offense. A&M is one of the unknowns nationally because they have been so quiet.
   
• In this new era of the SEC, it is going to be so tough to get to eight wins nowadays. It’s not necessarily going to be a bad thing anymore.
   
• I listen to the stories about Conner Weigman behind the scenes and how confident he is, and he’s almost got some swagger to him. That’s a quarterback you want leading them through this new era, and that’s what A&M needs. Someone who galvanized not just the fanbase but the locker room. I think he’s going to have a huge year.
   
• I think Notre Dame finally got the receivers they need. They’ve got some really good guys there. Seemingly, they pretty much replaced everybody. I love what they did by hiring Mike Denbrock to come back and lead that offense as the offensive coordinator. They seemingly have everything to be a College Football Playoff team this year and be one that could be dangerous.
   
• I do worry about Notre Dame when they can’t get a first-round bye in the playoffs. Great teams aren’t just great, they’re lucky from the injury standpoint. 
   
• Brian Kelly has the most ten-win seasons in a row in all of college football right now. All he does is win ten games a year. I’m not so sure LSU will win ten games this year, but they’re going to be an eight- or nine-win team. The way their offense stacks up right now, I do have the questions, but I still think they’ll be able to move the ball and score points. Defensively, my big questions are in the secondary.
   
• It better be the year that Ryan Day and Ohio State break through. Among that fanbase, it is a legit “national championship or bust.” They’re saying if they don’t win a national championship with this roster and the coaches they have right now, when the hell are they going to win it?
   
• Michigan is super talented at running back. Their defensive front might actually be, if not as good, maybe better than last season, considering the pieces, the depth they’ve got there and the development they have. I’m really confident in Michigan being able to start off well this year because of that defense. Texas vs. Michigan is one of the games of the year because of what it can mean for both programs.
   
• Knowing Kirby Smart and the type of coach he is, all this outside noise is just going to absolutely feed that monster. I think Carson Beck is the best quarterback in the country. He’s got the quickest release in all of college football.
   
• I think, to me, Tyler Van Dyke just has to stay healthy. I think the injuries just got to his head a little bit. It’s interesting at Wisconsin that Luke Fickell, who is about developing talent, has had to lean on two transfer quarterbacks in his first two years. They should be better, but I’m not sure how much better.