When Mike Elko left Duke for Texas A&M in late 2023, there were plenty of questions about whether his success in Durham could translate to the SEC. After last week's 2026 NFL Draft, those questions have been answered in emphatic fashion.

Ten Texas A&M players heard their names called over the draft's three days, a historic haul that cements Elko's reputation as one of the game's elite talent developers. The Aggies' draft class was the largest in program history and a testament to the culture Elko has built since taking over in College Station.

"Maybe it's a testament to our ability to evaluate players and who the right players and right fits are," Elko said ahead of Texas A&M's first-round College Football Playoff game. "And then to develop them and fit them into our culture and our system so that they can go out and perform at an elite level."

For Duke fans, this success story has a familiar ring. In just two seasons in Durham, Elko transformed the Blue Devils into a program known for physical play and player development. He proved that even at a school not traditionally known for producing NFL talent, hidden gems could be uncovered and polished to professional sheen.

Perhaps no player better exemplifies that than quarterback Riley Leonard. A three-star recruit out of Fairhope, Alabama, Leonard blossomed under Elko's guidance into one of the best signal-callers in Duke history. That kind of eye for talent is exactly what's powering Texas A&M's rise.

Now armed with the resources and recruiting reach of an SEC powerhouse, Elko is blending high school blue-chippers with transfer portal finds to create something special in College Station. If this draft class is any indication, it won't be long before the Aggies are in the thick of national championship conversations.