The hiring of Mike Elko as the defensive coordinator by Jimbo Fisher can be seen as nothing but a success. Texas A&M football benefitted from the young coach’s schemes and the defense was one of the best in the SEC for most of the season, compared to being one of the worst just the season before.
The Aggies’ defense went from No. 78 in yards allowed (408.5) and No. 87 in points allowed (30.7) in 2017 to No.32 in yards allowed (348.4) and No. 47 in points allowed (25.3). They were allowing just 22.2 points per game, which would have ranked No.