An ESPN reporter believes that a Texas connection could be a factor in Texas A&M’s coaching search.

Adam Rittenberg believes that the Aggies will be looking for a coach that is familiar with the state of Texas and the Texas A&M program, something they didn’t have with Jimbo Fisher.

“I do think it will matter this time around to have someone more connected to the program,” Rittenberg said on Thursday. “I know that hasn’t been the case in the past at times, certainly wasn’t the case with Jimbo, who really had not been in that state or around the Texas A&M program before he got the job.”

Rittenberg mentioned 2 names specifically, Mike Elko and Jeff Traylor, as possible candidates for the job.

Elko is currently the head coach at Duke, and he served as Texas A&M’s defensive coordinator from 2018 to 2021.

“Both of them would be a lot more comfortable with maybe walking in the door for that situation,” Rittenberg said. “Especially for Mike, he’s been there, he’s done a good job as an A&M assistant, defensive coordinator. He understands the place and pressure and all that.”

Traylor, the current head coach at UTSA, has not been with Texas A&M’s program before, but he’s served as head coach for several high school football teams around the state and would be welcomed by the community, Rittenberg believes.

“I think Jeff Traylor would just be a huge hit for that community,” Rittenberg said. “He’s guy that connects with people from Texas, anywhere from Texas, but especially east Texas.”