Texas A&M coach Mike Elko finalizes his staff, targeting an SEC-ready cornerbacks coach with proven recruiting and development skills to elevate the Aggies' defense.
Texas A&M’s 2026 coaching staff is nearly locked in, but one critical piece remains before Mike Elko can officially close the book on his second offseason in College Station.
With longtime defensive backs coach and elite recruiter Jordan Peterson departing for Kansas State, the Aggies are still searching for their next cornerbacks coach - a role that carries outsized importance in the SEC.
While Ishmael Aristide remains on staff, all signs point to Elko making an outside hire to fill the vacancy.
According to AggieYell insider Jaxson Callaway, the Aggies are prioritizing three key traits in the search: proven recruiting success, player development chops, and enough experience to step into one of the league’s most demanding defensive roles without a learning curve.
That emphasis makes sense. Cornerback is one of the most talent-driven positions in college football, and in the SEC, depth and development are just as critical as landing blue-chip prospects.
Texas A&M has invested heavily in its defensive front and linebacker room under Elko, but the back end remains the connective tissue that determines whether a defense is good or elite.
Elko originally hoped to have the hire finalized by last weekend, but widespread winter weather disrupted recruiting travel and slowed the process.
Despite the delay, momentum appears to be building.
Multiple candidates have already been interviewed, including Georgia Tech defensive backs coach Cory Peoples, though Callaway noted that at least one serious contender has been kept tightly under wraps.
That discretion aligns with Elko’s broader approach since arriving in Aggieland.
Rather than chasing splashy names, he has focused on fit, continuity, and alignment with his program vision. That philosophy has already shaped the rest of the 2026 staff, which features external additions like tight ends coach Derek Shay, defensive line coach Elijah Robinson, and linebackers coach Travis Williams, each bringing a clear recruiting footprint and developmental track record.
From a big-picture standpoint, this final hire is about more than filling a vacancy. It’s about maintaining momentum.
Texas A&M continues to recruit at a high level, particularly in the secondary, and the next cornerbacks coach will be tasked with protecting those relationships while expanding the program’s reach nationally.
If Callaway’s timeline holds, an announcement could come at any point this week.
When it does, it will signal that Elko’s staff build is complete... and that the Aggies are officially turning the page from offseason construction to on-field execution heading into the 2026 season.