Status of Le'Veon Moss remains a 'wait-and-see' as of Monday

Click HERE to view Texas A&M’s Monday press conference.

According to an old saying, if you have your health, you have everything.

Therefore, No. 7 seed Texas A&M should have everything on Saturday when facing No. 10 seed Miami at 11 a.m. at Kyle Field in the College Football Playoff.

But whether the Aggies will have everybody is still uncertain.

Coach Mike Elko gave the Aggies an overall clean health report at his weekly press conference on Monday.

“Health overall for the team is good,” Elko said. “That was a priority, to get rested, get refreshed. You want to go into the playoffs fresh and ready to roll.”

But are they ready to roll with running back Le’Veon Moss back in the lineup?

Moss, an All-SEC running back in 2024, sustained a leg injury vs. Florida 10 weeks ago.

There have been reports that he has returned to practice, but Elko wasn’t ready to say Moss will play.

"We’re kind of in wait-and-see mode on that one,” Elko said. “We’ll see where that goes.”

Rueben Owens II has taken over the starting running back role in Moss’ absence. He leads the Aggies with 618 rushing yards.

Still, Owens appears to be looking forward to getting Moss back in action.

“When Lev returns, it’s going to add an extra spark to the offense,” Owens said. “Lev is explosive.”

Will Huffman, TexAgs

Le’Veon Moss has not played since suffering an ankle injury on Oct. 11 vs. Florida.

Bulletin for the board

A&M All-SEC offensive left tackle Trey Zuhn III may have unintentionally created a stir in Miami last week when asked about Hurricanes star defensive end Rueben Bain Jr.

“I don’t think he’ll be a threat that we need to worry about too much. We have great players. We have a great offensive line. We’ll be able to handle him,” Zuhn said on Dec. 7 after the CFP selection show announced A&M would play Miami in the first round.

Fans and media interpreted Zuhn’s comment as disrespectful, although Dametrious Crownover, A&M’s right tackle, suggested Zuhn was just showing confidence in the A&M offensive line.

“I know as an offensive line we’re ready to do our job,” Crownover said. “I think that’s what Trey was speaking on. It’s just the fact that we know what we’re capable of, and if we go out there as a duo, what we’re capable of, we’ll be perfectly fine.”

A&M coach Mike Elko also played down the quote while lauding Bain and Miami’s other defensive end, Akheem Mesidor. Both were All-Atlantic Coast Conference first team selections.

"I think you put a mic in front of a kid after the selection ceremony, and you know,” Elko said. “We’ve got a tremendous amount of respect for their defensive ends. They’re very talented football players. Our guys know that. I certainly anticipate them to be very fired up to play, regardless of what gets said.

“I certainly don’t think bulletin board material is necessary when you go to the playoffs, but we have a lot of respect for those two kids.”

Will Huffman, TexAgs

All-SEC first-team selection Trey Zuhn III was also the recepient of the Jacobs Blocking Trophy.

Volleyball victory

Elko opened his press conference by offering congratulations to the A&M volleyball team for their dramatic upset of No. 1 Nebraska on Sunday and for advancing to the Final Four.

The Aggies led 2-0 after the two sets, and Nebraska won the fourth set in a 37-35 marathon. A&M then came back to clinch the fifth set, 15-13.

“I obviously have to start by congratulating coach (Jamie) Morrison and the women’s volleyball team for what happened yesterday,” Elko said. “Not just the win, but in so many ways, the way they won.

“For them to lose the fourth set, 37-35, turn around and still find the resiliency and the grit to still put it out in the fifth set. It’s just remarkable. Hats off to them and certainly good luck to them in the Final Four.”

Elko said he wants the football team to have the same mindset the volleyball team displayed.

“I’m quite certain those girls took the court yesterday not really caring what anybody had to say, believing in who they were, believing in their culture, believing in their program. And they went out, and they fought, and they won a volleyball game,” he said. “That’s the same mindset we try to have as a football program.”