Elijah Robinson Working Double Duty For Syracuse And Texas A&M Entering Early Signing Period And Bowl Game

COLLEGE STATION -- Elijah Robinson is not like most coaches. And no, that's not based on comments delivered by players wishing him the best in his future endeavors.

Robinson, who will coach his final game at Texas A&M next week in the TaxAct Texas Bowl, is pulling double duty these days. On days when preparation is going on for the Aggies matchup against No. 20 Oklahoma State, he's donning a black shirt with Maroon lettering across the middle.

On quiet afternoons around Kyle Field, he's changing uniforms (quite literally) to recruit for Syracuse, his new employer for the 2024 season.

Early Signing Period is hours away, so sleep comes in shifts for the 38-year-old interim coach trying to do right by his former employer.

“When I’m here, I’ve got my A&M shirt on, and I’m preparing these guys for this bowl game,” Robinson said Tuesday in preparation for the Texas Bowl. “When I’m at Syracuse, I’m recruiting — that’s all we can do right now — and I’m evaluating the players there. That’s part of this business, and I’m trying to the best of my ability to give both sides everything I’ve got.”

Robinson made it clear when interviewing for positions that he intended to stick it out with A&M through the bowl game. Fran Brown, who the Orange hired to replace Dino Babers and a longtime friend of Robinson's, obliged by his wishes when offering him the defensive coordinator position.

After Jimbo Fisher's firing, Robinson took over for the final two games. The Aggies went 1-1, winning against Abilene Christian while falling apart in the second half on the road to Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels and No. 13 LSU.

It's clear Robinson is a future head coach just looking for the right home. For now, he intends to end his tenure as the acting coach before Mike Elko takes over fully with a winning record.

“He’s kept things stable,” said A&M quarterback Jaylen Henderson. “There are a lot of guys who maybe weren’t going to play (in the bowl game) who are playing because of coach Robinson. We made a commitment to finish the season, and he’s done a great job."

Robinson's job is to recruit the best talent to Syracuse for 2024. He's landed some players, including former A&M defensive lineman Fadil Diggs, a native of Camden, N.J., who came to College Station after Robinson persuaded him to come down south.

But Robinson still speaks highly of A&M and the new staff in place. He keeps things honest with recruits when talking about both programs and isn't shying away from telling top-level players to consider the Aggies as a destination in the future.

"If a recruit reaches out and asks me my thoughts about Texas A&M, I’m going to always tell them about this program and what this school can do for them."

Elko, who tried to keep Robinson on staff as his defensive line coach and top recruiter, should bring a new era of Aggie football to Kyle Field in 2024. A&M has talent returning and continues to land promising names via the transfer portal.

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Whoever A&M lands as part of its Early Signing Period class falls on Elko's shoulders. Robinson is here to coach the players who plan to stick it out through the bowl game and perhaps longer, though numbers are unknown for the time being.

With opt-outs, transfers and injuries, the Aggies could be short-handed against the Pokes (9-4) in front of what's expected to be a soldout crowd at NRG Stadium. Unlike in 2021 when Fisher pulled out of the Gator Bowl against Wake Forest due to a COVID-19 outbreak in the locker room, Robinson plans to field a team regardless of the numbers.

Players also aren't backing down despite the loss of talent.

"It's doing it the Aggie way," said senior tight end Max Wright. "It's finishing it out and seeing it through throughout all the chaos we've had this season. We're rallying the troops and saying, 'why not?'"