Texas A&M Set to Make Major Recruiting Hire from ACC Powerhouse After Mike Elko’s Warning to 133 FBS Programs

Mike Elko isn’t here to play nice with the rest of the FBS. And this time, he’s not just upgrading on the field, he’s weaponizing the recruiting trail.

The latest piece of Mike Elko’s master plan is snagging one of the most respected recruiting names in college football. As 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz reported on X on June 4, “Texas A&M is currently expected to hire David “Pop” Cooney in a recruiting related role.” Don’t let this vague job title fool you. This move is as strategic as it gets. As Zenitz added, David Cooney “spent the last eight seasons working at Miami, including three years as director of recruiting and the last two as assistant wide receivers coach.” He’s a guy who helped land some of the most loaded classes in the ACC.

Texas A&M is currently expected to hire David “Pop” Cooney in a recruiting related role, sources tell @CBSSports/@247Sports.

Spent the last eight seasons working at Miami, including three years as director of recruiting and the last two as assistant wide receivers coach.… pic.twitter.com/XILSgHQ9zp

— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) June 5, 2025

David Cooney’s last two seasons were spent grooming WRs as Miami’s assistant receivers coach, where he had a front-row seat to a unit that averaged 348.2 receiving yards per game in 2024 which ranks third in the nation. By comparison, Mike Elko saw his team’s passing game limped to 210.3 yards a game, a forgettable 87th overall. If Texas A&M needed a signal to supercharge their skill positions, this is it.

The move also follows a familiar Mike Elko rhythm that added Lyle Hemphill to the defensive staff as a key offseason addition. And these hires only throw weight on the warning that the Aggies HC gave to 133 FBS teams at Houston Coach’s Night. “I think this is really important,” he said. “Our goal is to build the best program we are capable of being. When we do that, it won’t matter who we play or who is in the SEC. No one will be able to stop us.” Well, part of that goal is already in progress with talks about hiring David Cooney. 

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