Tag: Collin Klein

Texas A&M offers 2026 3-star QB and standout baseball player out of Cincinatti (OH)

Texas A&M has offered rising dual-sport athlete out of the 2026 recruiting class

Texas A&M’s coaching staff recently met with one of the rising prospects in the 2026 recruiting class, three-star quarterback Matt Ponatoski, who is also a standout baseball player who is well aware of what the Aggies offer from a dual-sport perspective.

After visiting College Station this past weekend, Ponatoksi sat down with Texas A&M OC Collin Klein. According to 247Sports, Klein visited the incoming senior in Cincinnati to watch him throw, and their relationship has grown ever since.

During his 2024 junior season, Ponatoksi produced a school record of 4,217 yards and 57 touchdowns and completed an impressive 70% of his passes.

However, one of the primary reasons Texas A&M is one of his top schools in consideration is the Aggies’ elite baseball program, as the 2025 team is widely considered the best team in the country. Ponatoski explained his admiration for both programs with 247Sports‘ Allen Trieu:

“I love Texas A&M because they are really open to me playing both sports,” he stated. “I was on an official visit for baseball this past weekend and had a blast. I love the baseball coaches and have started to build a relationship with some of the football coaches.

Texas A&M is in arguably the best conference for both sports and is always competing for a championship and that is something I want to be a part of.”

While Ponatoski will visit Arkansas, Georgia Tech, and Mississippi State later this spring, Texas A&M seems like the clear frontrunner.

According to 247Sports, Pontoski is currently positioned as the 35th-ranked quarterback in the 2026 cycle and the 21st-ranked prospect in Ohio.

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According to one analyst, If QB Marcel Reed improves, Texas A&M’s offense could be ‘lethal’

If Marcel Reed improves in the pocket next season, Texas A&M offense should be one of the top units in the SEC

We’re still in the early part of the college football offseason, but that doesn’t mean predicting future success is off the table, especially concerning Texas A&M’s 2025 offense under incoming redshirt sophomore QB Marcel Reed.

After Conner Weigman transferred to Houston this offseason, Marcel Reed is the full-time starter. With nine starts under his belt during the 2024 season, the former four-start dual-threat signal caller still needs to improve as a pocket passer, especially from an accuracy standpoint.

Still, Reed had one of the better years despite not starting every game, finishing with 1,864 passing yards, 15 passing touchdowns, seven rushing touchdowns, and 547 rushing yards, placing 22nd overall (75.6) and fifth among SEC quarterbacks in total QBR.

Coach Mike Elko and Offensive Coordinator Collin Klein have concentrated on assisting Reed via the transfer portal this offseason, bringing in wide receivers KC Concepcion, Micah Hudson, Mario Craver, and Jonah Wilson. However, Hudson is presently taking a leave of absence from the program.

Furthermore, Texas A&M’s offense line will return nearly every starter, including six incoming freshmen from the 2025 class, while Le’Veon Moss will return for a final season alongside Reuben Owens and Amari Daniels in a loaded backfield.

PFF College’s Max Chadwick is one of the rare analysts this offseason who is bullish on Texas A&M’s revamped offense but knows that if the Aggies are going to reach their potential, only if Marcel Reed becomes a trusted pocket passer.

“If Marcel Reed develops more as a passer, Texas A&M’s offense is going to be lethal.”

For those unaware, Reed has been working hard over the last month with the quarterback Country Nashville. His mindset, maturity, and confidence in his ability could help him lead the Aggies in 2025.

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Transfer WR KC Concepcion brings much needed playmaking ability to Texas A&M

Texas A&M has likely found it’s new No. 1 wide receiver after landing KC Concepcion from the transfer portal

Texas A&M’s offense was sporadic, but statistically, first-year OC Collin Klein gets more than a passing grade after the Aggies finished 25th in points per game (31) and 16th in passing yards (292) even after veteran running back Le’Veon Moss was lost for the season.

However, after the run game fell off, the Aggies were forced to beat teams through the air, as redshirt freshman quarterback Marcel Reed showed improvement but lacked playmakers at wide receiver outside of freshman Terry Bussey, who wasn’t utilized as much as he should have been.

Needing to replenish depth and starting talent at multiple positions, coach Mike Elko knew that improving the wide receiver corps would help aid Reed’s development and add an explosive element to the offense.

After landing critical commitments from transfer receivers Micah Hudson (Texas Tech) and Mario Craver (Mississippi State), Elko beat out Alabama, North Carolina, and Colorado for former NC State WR KC Concepcion just a day after the Aggies’ 35-31 loss to USC in the Las Vegas Bowl.

Concepcion ended his Wolfpack career with 1,655 total yards, including 1,299 yards receiving and 16 touchdowns through the air.

On tape, the incoming junior looks like the best playmaker on A&M’s roster. While his production dropped off this season, his run-after-catch ability and impressive quickness will allow the Aggie offense to pick up chunk gains on short passes.

Combined with Micah Hudson and Mario Craver, both young but highly athletic and twitchy route runners, Collin Klein can’t complain about any talent discrepancy concerning play calling next season.

While it might be a stretch to compare him to the great Percy Harvin, it certainly isn’t far-fetched to note the similarities between Concepcion and former Texas A&M wide receiver Christian Kirk.

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Texas A&M revamped wide receiver room is a litmus test for OC Collin Klein

Heading into Year 2, Texas A&M OC Collin Klein has more than enough offensive talent to work with

Texas A&M landed its most significant offseason commitment thus far on Sunday afternoon, as former North Carolina State wide receiver Kevin “KC” Concepcion chose the Aggies over Colorado, Alabama, and North Carolina.

While coach Mike Elko and his staff still need to add more depth along the defensive line and potentially another linebacker, safety, and cornerback from the portal, Concepcion is one of the best playmakers in the country and automatically improves the Aggies’ 2025 passing game barring improvement from starting quarterback Marcel Reed.

However, OC Collin Klein, who will enter his second season with the Aggies, is now on notice after an up-and-down season from a playcalling perspective, even though the Aggies ended the year averaging 31 points per game, tied for 25th nationally.

Offensive coordinators are evaluated based on their creativity and how well they use their talent.

Although A&M had some talent as a wide receiver this season, Marcel Reed should be acknowledged for his improvement in the passing game despite his poor performance in the season-ending loss to Texas. He helped the Aggies achieve an average of 292 passing yards, placing 16th nationally.

Indeed, these figures are quite satisfactory. However, the 0-4 season finish, along with a deficiency in dynamic passing plays, was a driving factor behind the recruitment of Micah Hudson, Mario Craver, and KC Concepcion from the portal. Each of these players contributes speed, athleticism, and route-running skills, which are essential for aiding Marcel Reed in becoming a more dependable passer.

For Klein, his run-based scheme won’t change much, especially with the return of veteran running back Le’Veon Moss, but to become a balanced offense, more play-action looks coupled with enhanced mesh passing concepts will help create chunk plays and set and get Marcel Reed in rhythm early.

Furthermore, Klein was hired due to his ability to scheme receivers’ open, especially those who can consistently separate in coverage and find openings in the zone.

Texas A&M’s defense is a whole other story, but with the 2025 offense looking nearly complete on paper, it’s time for Collin Klein to deliver as a playcaller.

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Johnny Manziel thinks Texas A&M freshman QB Marcel Reed ‘needs to give the fans some hope’

“He needs to continue to take the next step and give the fans some hope going into next season. This is gonna be the guy and his team.”

Ahead of the Texas A&M football team’s game against USC in the Las Vegas Bowl, Johnny Manziel shared his thoughts on the upcoming matchup.

Johnny Football provided his analysis and opinion regarding the play of redshirt freshman QB Marcel Reed during the Aggies’ 2024 season and Conner Weigman’s departure on the Action Network’s Big Bets On Campus podcast.

“I think this is another chance for Marcel Reed to be able to go out and showcase his ability,” Manziel said. “He needs to continue to take the next step and give the fans some hope of going into next season – this is gonna be the guy, and this is gonna be his team. With Conner Weigman going into the portal, it very much is that.

“I think we need to see a little bit more offensive fireworks, and I think this is another chance for Collin Klein to go out and showcase his ability of being the play caller for this team moving forward.”

Texas A&M (8-4) battles the Trojans (6-6) on Dec. 27 at 9:30 p.m. CT at Allegiant Stadium on ESPN.

Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

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Should Texas A&M retain OC Collin Klein going into the 2025 season?

Collin Klein’s poor playcalling in the loss to Texas has created the conversation

Texas A&M (8-4, 5-3) looked absolutely miserable on offense during Saturday’s 17-7 loss to rival Texas (11-1, 7-1 SEC), and outside of head coach Mike Elko’s questionable decision-making, offensive coordinator Collin Klein deserves a bulk of the blame.

When arguing why an assistant coach should or should not be retained for the following season, it is fair to observe how the coordinator dealt with personnel changes. In this case, Collin Klein’s lack of adjustment in his play calling after the loss of star running back Le’Veon Moss resulted in A&M’s 1-3 finish on the year.

Moss’s importance as a reliable first —and third-down option was virtually eliminated after his injury, as backup Amari Daniels wasn’t big enough or strong enough to take defenders stuffing the gaps.

This forced redshirt freshman quarterback Marcel Reed to develop as a passer quickly and create a less balanced offense despite Daniels’ impressive effort, while the passing game didn’t create “lay-up” options for Reed to gain any real rhythm through the air.

Reed’s worst game unsurprisingly came against the Longhorns, passing for 143 yards and an interception, looking lost in the pocket despite wide receiver Noah Thomas gaining separation against Texas’s stout secondary. However, nothing compared to Klein’s play calls on two 4th down attempts, including the final goal-line stand with just under four minutes in the fourth quarter.

Noting Amari Daniel’s lack of power in the running back, Klein called inside zone on both 4th down attempts, as the first-year coordinator confusingly trusted the O-line to suddenly overwhelm the Longhorn’s defensive line, resulting in Daniels being pushing back five yards and virtually ending the game.

Klein’s play-calling history is mixed during his time at Kansas State. He implemented the same QB-centric scheme, relying on QB runs and 12 or 13 personnel with little imagination in the passing game. Again, as we saw after Moss’s injury, the offense never looked right, and every pass had to be perfect to find any success.

While quarterback Conner Weigman failed to fit in said scheme, Reed’s dual-threat skill set is the only positive to come out of the play calling, showing what it could look like during A&M’s 38-23 win over LSU.

That isn’t sustainable, and the lack of adjustment will result in 8-4 or worse finishes.

I don’t expect Mike Elko to go in a different direction after one season, but I can safely say that Collin Klein is on thin ice, especially if the Aggies load up on enough offensive options to compete in 2025.

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2026 4-star QB out of Draper (UT) has committed to Texas A&M

Texas A&M has landed one of the top signal callers in the 2026 class

Texas A&M’s recruiting success under first-year head coach Mike Elko continued on Thursday, as one of the top signal callers in the 2026 recruiting class, 4-star quarterback Helaman Casuga has committed to the Aggies, giving OC Collin Klein his second QB commit after landing 2025 5-star Husan Longstreet.

So far this season, Texas A&M’s 5-1 record and 3-0 start in SEC play has excited numerous recruits in the 2025 and 2026 cycles, including Casuga, who chose the Aggies over hometown Utah and USC, feeling that A&M’s offensive system under Klein’s playcalling is the best first for his skillset.

After his most recent Texas A&M visit, Casuga became a fan of a program on the rise. He recently spoke with 247Sports’ Blair Angulo about what the Aggies offer under Mike Elko’s guidance.

“Offensive coordinator Colin Klein was a Heisman finalist and he’s a dawg. I feel like I can learn a lot from him and coach Mike Elko. They are a giant monster waiting to be awakened.”

Casuga threw over 6,475 yards and 60 touchdowns in his last two seasons, including 4,145 yards and 34 touchdowns during his 2023 sophomore season.

According to 247Sports, Casuga is currently positioned as the 178th-ranked prospect, the 13th-ranked quarterback prospect, and the 4th-ranked prospect in Utah.

https://twitter.com/hayesfawcett3/status/1846962185458577499?s=61&t=7Ot-6Efe5paAqCm7TWbCjA

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Texas A&M HC Mike Elko, OC Collin Klein praise WR Terry Bussey’s maturity

Texas A&M WR Terry Bussey is starting to figure things out, which is great news for the Aggie passing game

Texas A&M is atop the SEC standings at 5-1 and 3-0 in conference play. On Saturday afternoon, the Aggies destroyed the then-9th-ranked Missouri Tigers 41-10, and they Are entering their first of two bye weeks this season.

Focused on rest, lifting, and film study this week, Aggies head coach Mike Elko and OC Collin Klein spoke on Monday to recap the win while pointing out the progress freshman wide receiver Terry Bussey has made this season after leading the Aggies in receiving yards against the Tigers.

Despite his age, Bussey, the No. 1-ranked athlete in the 2024 recruiting class, is one of the more explosive receiving options on the roster. However, after initially deeming him a quarterback due to his elite versatility at three positions during his prolific high school career, Bussey’s route running, speed, and soft hands were too impressive not to be involved in the offense this season.

After recording 3 receptions for 76 yards, including a 33-yard catch and run, Bussey’s best play came as a defender after a risky throw by quarterback Conner Weigman nearly threw an interception, which was batted away by the freshman whose understanding of the corner position came into play.

On Monday, Elko was asked about Bussey’s instincts on the near interception and why he wasn’t surprised by the freshman’s instincts to break up the play.

“I thought it was a great play. Obviously, it was critical. … If Terry doesn’t do that, it’s a very clear pick.”

“He’s growing every day into a technically sound football player. … Every time he goes out there, he’s becoming a better and better technically sound football player. He knows that. It’s great finding more and more ways to give him the ball.”

“Technically sound” is a term used when describing veteran players with vast experience and an understanding of the game, as OC Collin Klein furthered the coaching staff’s praise of how well Bussey is adjusting to the offense.

He’s an incredible young man from top to bottom. His level of maturity is impressive.”

“Obviously, he has a great skillset. … To watch his maturation as a route runner and how he has improved has been really fun to watch.”

If Bussey and the passing game led by QB Conner Weigman find continuity in the second half of the season, starting with another SEC road test against Mississippi State on October 19th, Texas A&M’s offense will be one of the toughest units to stop for the rest of the schedule.

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2025 4-star WR and Florida State commit is currently visiting Texas A&M

One of the top 2025 wide receiver prospects is reportedly visiting College Station today

Texas A&M’s (2-1. 1-0 SEC) Week 4 home matchup against Bowling Green (1-1) will feature just some of the Aggies’ 21 commits in the 2025 recruiting class as head coach Mike Elko looks to keep the momentum going against the Falcons on Saturday night.

However, while the 2025 cycle is filled with future defensive talent, securing elite prospects at the wide receiver position has been an issue under first-year wide receiver coach Holmon Wiggins, whose impressive recruiting track record during his time at Alabama has failed to carry over to College Station.

However, according to recruiting insider Jaxson Callaway, Elko and Wiggins are reportedly hosting 2025 4-star wide receiver and current Florida State commit Daylan McCutcheon on Saturday, looking to take advantage of the Seminole’s immense struggles on the field this season.

Amid his senior season at Lovejoy HS in Lucas, Texas, McCutcheon is a quick-footed, twitchy athlete with plenty of speed who consistently takes the top off of most secondaries while putting up big numbers over his last two seasons.

During his sophomore and junior seasons at Lovejoy, McCutcheon reeled in 117 receptions, 1,704 yards, and 22 touchdowns through the air.

According to 247Sports Composite, McCutcheon is currently positioned as the 106th-ranked ranked prospect, the 14th-ranked wide receiver prospect, and the 20th-ranked prospect in Texas.

2025 4-star wide receiver Kelshaun Johnson and 3-star wideout Tristan Norman are Texas A&M’s only receiver commits in the cycle thus far.

Texas A&M will host Bowling Green on Saturday, Sept. 21. The game will be available to stream on ESPN+ and SEC Network+.

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Who will become Texas A&M QB Conner Weigman’s go-to recevier?

Texas A&M’s wide receiver corps needs to step up as SEC play nears

Texas A&M (1-1) demolished McNeese State 52-10 on Saturday afternoon, as the head coach, Mike Elko, earned his first win with the program since taking over late last year.

Inheriting starting quarterback Conner Weigman, the redshirt sophomore returned to the field for the first time in over a year against Notre Dame to open the 2024 season, but after a career-low performance with just 100 yards and two interceptions on the night, doubt set in from the fan base.

Bouncing back in week 2, Weigman threw for 125 yards and two touchdowns while earning a Pro Football Focus-leading 97.7 offensive grade and 96.6 passing grade, returning to setting his feet and delivering accurate throws.

However, several drops from his receivers, including from former La Tech WR Cyrus Allen, took away from what could have been an even more productive outing. While Allen led the game with 75 receiving yards, it hasn’t been established who Weigman’s primary, dependable receiving option will be.

An easy name is junior wide receiver Noah Thomas, who caught his first touchdown of the year against McNeese, but his lack of explosiveness in his cuts continues to be an issue. Senior Moose Muhammad III is another intriguing candidate due to his quickness and athleticism, but consistency has also been a problem.

Former Troy wide receiver Jabre Barber officially returned from injury but only saw the field for eight snaps. Freshman Terry Bussey, possibly the most explosive option, though inexperienced, played 33 snaps at wide receiver while scoring on a 65-yard jet sweep but did make a reception.

Finally, senior Jahdae Walker, who left Saturday’s game due to a hand injury, might be Weigman’s go-to option in the middle of the field if every previous receiver mentioned fails to step up, as he was by far the Aggies’ most productive and dependable receiver down the stretch of the, finishing the 2023 season with 590 yards and two touchdowns, including three 100-plus yards games.

Time will tell which players step up, but time is of the essence.

Texas A&M will travel to Gainsville to take on the Florida Gators on Saturday, Sept. 14 at 2:30 p.m. CT. The game will air on ABC.

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