Mike Leach has high praise for Texas A&M this week as Mississippi State plays host to the Aggies.

“They’re pretty explosive when they want to be,” Leach said Wednesday on the SEC coaches media teleconference. “They’ve got a pretty good quarterback and a really good running back and some explosive skill players. … They’re very athletic.”

The defense isn’t too shabby, either.

“I think it’s the way they run to the ball,” Leach said. “They’re tall, long guys who are good at running to the ball.”

The Aggies have certainly had a topsy turvy season after they bounced back from the Appalachian State loss to face a two-touchdown deficit even before getting a first down against Arkansas. That all came a week after the Aggies lost 2 players in the secondary in the first quarter against then-No. 13 Miami because of targeting penalties. Despite of all that, they won both games.

This was after they began the season ranked No. 6, and on Sunday in the new AP Top 25 poll regained 6 more spots, moving up to 17th after the 23-21 win over Arkansas.