Despite earlier reports that Amazing Race All-Star hybrid team Mark Jackson and Mallory Ervin would be eliminated early on, a new interview with Jackson's initial partner seems to hint the opposite.

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In an interview with Reality TV World, Bopper Minton, who was eliminated at the race's starting line during the premiere episode on Sunday, Feb. 23, hints that people could be underestimating the strength of the team, which is considered weaker because they are virtual strangers, whereas the other teams have all raced together before.

When Minton was asked what teams stood out to him as strong competitors this season, the first racers who came to his mind were none other than Mark and Mallory, before he suggested other teams that were also strong.

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"There are several teams," he said. "You got 'The Cowboys' Cord McCoy and Jet McCoy. It's their third time. So they're the total package, so the competition level on this season is hard. It's hard to [pick] people out right now. There's [Brendon Villegas] and [Rachel Reilly]. They're fighters. If you give that team a second chance at something, you might get your butt beat."

Minton also revealed his reasons why he believes the show's producers chose Ervin as his replacement when he was forced to withdraw last minute because of an enflamed pancreas.

"It had to be somebody that's run the race before-which Mallory has-it had to be somebody from Kentucky-which Mallory is-and so, actually, when it comes down to it, they had no other choice, I don't think, than to let Mallory fill my shoes," he said. "She's the only one who brings the energy, you know, as far as being from Kentucky and how we're the Kentucky team."

Minton did promise though that if his health would allow him to participate, he would absolutely consider running the race again a second time-with or without Mark.

"Me and Mark had that conversation and I would do it in any way. If they called me right now and said, 'Bop, would you like to do the Race again? How do you feel about that?' I'd say, 'Brother, I'm going to come now. I'm going to put a backpack together right now and jump on an airplane and I'm heading to LA,'" he said. "If I run with Mark, I run with Mark. If you pair me with someone else, I'm game for that too. I'm ready. I'm ready to do it again, period."

Watch a preview for the next episode of Amazing Race All-Stars here. The episode airs Sunday, March 2 at 8 p.m. EST on CBS.

Tags
The Amazing Race, CBS, Reality TV