Everything that is going on with Texas A&M interim head coach Elijah Robinson and his current role as the defensive coordinator at Syracuse is really strange. The Aggies are being led by someone who is actively employed by a completely different school.
Robinson has served as the defensive line coach in College Station under Jimbo Fisher for each of the last five seasons. Fisher was fired on Nov. 12. Robinson was named as his replacement in the interim.
Two weeks later, Texas A&M hired Mike Elko to replace Fisher. It was crucial for the former Duke coach to retain Robinson if he wanted to best keep the 2024 recruiting class in tact.
He failed to do so.
Fran Brown was hired by the Orange and later tapped Ejilah Robinson as defensive coordinator. They are close friends!
Although Robinson is set to take over the Syracuse defense, he was happy to stay on and coach the Aggies during their upcoming bowl game on Dec. 27. Everybody was thrilled at the time.
Texas A&M’s decision on Elijah Robinson may come back to bite Mike Elko and the Aggies.
Robinson was asked about potentially “poaching” players from Texas A&M’s current recruiting class during a press conference last week. The 38-year-old said that he would never engage in any such activity despite already having a new job and new responsibilities.
I will not encourage anyone. Those guys have to make the decision to go into the portal on their own. I will not at any point say, ‘Come with me.’ I have too much respect for the program and the university.
— Elijah Robinson last Tuesday
That is great in theory. So far, of the 13 Aggies to enter the transfer portal, none of them have announced that they are following Robinson to New York — yet.
However, four-star wide receiver commit Jaylan Hornsby flipped from Texas A&M to Syracuse. His decision likely had more to do with playing time than anything, and seemed to be a mutual parting of ways.
That doesn’t change the fact that a player once committed to Robinson and the Aggies is now committed to Robinson and the Orange as Robinson continues to lead the Aggies while recruiting for the Orange.
That trend also continued with 2024 five-star defensive lineman Dominic McKinley and his brother Darryus, a 2026 defensive line prospect. Dominic is committed to Texas A&M.
Robinson visited both brothers — on behalf of Syracuse — earlier this week. He is still coaching the Aggies ahead of their bowl game.
It goes even deeper!
Fadil Diggs, a former four-star prospect in the college football recruiting Class of 2020, entered the transfer portal earlier this month. He started in all 12 games for the Aggies in 2023 as an edge rusher under Robinson.
Diggs is now set to visit Syracuse. Robinson is recruiting him.
Texas A&M athletic director Ross Bjork should have generously cut ties with Robinson immediately after he accepted his new position. Instead, Robinson is coaching the Aggies in their bowl game while actively recruiting against them for the Orange.
The whole thing is very strange!