Texas A&M Penalties Take Different Shape in Season-Opening Win
Source: KBTX News 3 Sports. Casualplayhub News adds summary, context, and editorial framing while linking back to the original report.
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — The penalty narrative at Texas A&M has taken a noticeable turn. After a frustrating start to the 2025 campaign where the Aggies piled up seven or more infractions in four of their first five games — including 13 each against Notre Dame and Auburn — head coach Mike Elko vowed to crack down. He even floated the idea of a "Coaches Cabo Fund," a penalty-fining system designed to fund a staff vacation. Whether that system ever materialized remains unclear, but the team's discipline did improve over the course of the season.
Saturday's 50-0 blowout of Missouri State brought penalties back into the spotlight with eight flags costing 80 yards. Yet Elko, speaking Monday, drew a sharp distinction between the errors of the past and those committed in the opener. "You're always concerned (about penalties)," Elko said. "I do think they were different. I think last year, we had a lot of really lazy, focus penalties. I didn't think that was the case (Saturday). A lot of them, in my opinion, were kind of on the line."
Six of the eight fouls came on offense, with four attributed to the offensive line. Defensive end Anto Saka was flagged for roughing the passer on Missouri State's second drive, giving the Bears a first down. The drive fizzled four plays later into a punt. Elko assessed that play as borderline — "on the line" of being a call or no-call. Similarly, he believed Isaiah Horton's offensive pass interference penalty in the first quarter was a close judgment. Horton appeared to push off before hauling in a 26-yard pass from quarterback Marcel Reed that would have placed the Aggies at the Missouri State 40. That drive ultimately ended in a punt — one of only two for A&M all game. Elko also expressed tolerance for left tackle Tyree Adams' holding call. "Had one holding penalty, which I thought was an aggressive penalty, at least," Elko said.
Last season, tackle Dametrious Crownover led the team with 11 penalties, followed by guard Ar'maj Reed-Adams (nine) and guard Chase Bisontis (eight), per Pro Football Focus. On defense, cornerback Will Lee III drew six flags, while cornerback Dezz Ricks and defensive end Cashius Howell each had five. The Aggies' eight penalties in the opener tie them for 86th nationally. "Obviously, we can't continue to go eight for (80), but it just felt a little bit different than it did at times last year," Elko said.
Elko also unveiled the program's first internal players of the week for the season. Quarterback Marcel Reed earned offensive honors after completing 70% of his passes for 233 yards and two touchdowns, adding 20 rushing yards on seven carries. It was only the second time in his career — and first since last season's Arkansas game (71.9% completion rate) — that he hit or surpassed the 70% mark with 11 or more attempts. "Thought it was a really, really good start for him for the season," Elko said.
Defensive end Ryan Henderson, a somewhat surprising selection as defensive player of the game, made the most of just four snaps. In the second quarter, on a fourth-and-2 from the A&M 49-yard line, Henderson burst into the backfield and dropped quarterback Skylar Locklear before he could take a meaningful step on a keeper. Later, with 13 minutes remaining, he forced a Locklear fumble recovered by DJ Sanders. Elko noted that A&M's defense held Missouri State to only 40 plays, limiting opportunities for more snaps. "We talk a lot about depth and we're deeper at defensive end than we've ever been in my time here," Elko said. "We have a lot of guys that are capable of going out there and playing really good football. I think it's an extremely competitive position to get snaps."
T.J. Searcy was named defensive line player of the week after recording two tackles — one for loss — and a quarterback hurry. On the offensive line, Tyree Adams earned the nod after playing 73 snaps. Per PFF, he posted an 80.2 pass-blocking grade and a 60 run-blocking grade, allowing just one pressure. "I thought there was a lot of good," Elko said of the offensive line. "Certainly, some things that we had to clean up. I think it was a little bit of a storm in that it was a lot of things that we hadn't practiced with a lot of guys out there playing together. You had no idea what to predict the scheme was going to look like and so we certainly didn't play to the level or standard we needed to early in the game. Everybody's aware of that, but it was good to see us adjust."
Finally, Mario Craver was recognized as special teams player of the week after returning three punts for an average of nine yards. "He did a really nice job," Elko said. "Wound up only averaging nine yards a return, but one of those, because he grabbed on, saved us, and stepped out of bounds. So, he really had two returns for about 29 yards, which was really good."
Article commentary
Mike Elko's measured response to Texas A&M's eight penalties in the season opener reflects a nuanced understanding of discipline in football. While the raw number — 80 yards in flags — might alarm fans recalling last year's struggles, the coach's distinction between 'lazy, focus penalties' and those that are 'on the line or aggressive' is significant. It signals a shift in team culture: the Aggies are no longer committing careless errors but are instead pushing the boundaries of aggressive play, which can be corrected more readily through technique and officiating interpretation. Elko's frank acknowledgment that he can live with certain calls — like Tyree Adams' holding penalty — suggests a strategic acceptance of risk. In modern college football, where offensive line play often involves hand-fighting and edge rushers are taught to disrupt, a holding call can sometimes be a byproduct of physicality rather than sloppiness. The fact that six of the eight penalties came on offense, including four on the offensive line, points to an area needing refinement, but the nature of those fouls (aggressive vs. lazy) offers a more optimistic path forward. The emergence of depth at defensive end is another storyline worth tracking. Elko highlighted a 'competitive position' where multiple players — including Ryan Henderson, who made game-changing plays on just four snaps — can rotate and impact games. This luxury allows A&M to keep players fresh and apply pressure late in contests. Henderson's forced fumble and fourth-down stop underscore the value of a deep rotation, especially as the season wears on. Quarterback Marcel Reed's 70% completion rate in the opener, while not perfect, is a promising sign for an offense that struggled with consistency in 2024. His ability to connect on deep throws, even when penalties wiped out some gains, indicates chemistry with receivers. Elko's praise of Reed as having a 'really, really good start' reinforces the confidence the staff has in him. However, the Aggies remain tied for 86th nationally in penalties — a middling rank that must improve if they aim to compete for an SEC title. The difference this year is that the penalties appear to stem from aggression rather than apathy, which is a fixable issue. Coaches can teach players to walk the line without crossing it, but they cannot teach effort. Elko's approach, emphasizing accountability without panic, sets a tone that could lead to cleaner games as the season progresses. One cautionary note: The opponent was Missouri State, a lower-tier FCS program. As competition ramps up with SEC foes, the margin for error shrinks. A holding penalty that kills a drive against Alabama or LSU can swing a game. Elko's challenge will be to maintain the aggressive mentality while reducing the frequency of flags. If the penalties remain borderline and the team continues to show discipline in other areas — as evidenced by holding Missouri State to 40 plays — then A&M may indeed have turned a corner.