Tag: Marcel Reed

‘I have to be the pillar they can lean on,’ Texas A&M QB Marcel Reed is ready to lead

“It’s a new room. I am the leader of it now. That’s a new role and I have to take accountability. I have to be the pillar they can lean on.”

Texas A&M redshirt freshman quarterback Marcel Reed spoke to the media this week and was asked about what he’s focusing on in the upcoming Las Vegas Bowl game.

“Just taking what they give me. Don’t try to force anything, taking what they give me. Try to stay ahead of the sticks and move the sticks when we need to, convert on third downs,” Reed said Tuesday afternoon. “Really, just stay calm in the pocket and don’t get too ancy. I feel like sometimes I leave too early and cause a little bit of a disruption for myself and really the whole scheme of the play. But this game, I’m going to be relaxed, calm, and go out and play my game.

“It’s a new (QB) room. I am the leader of it now. That is a new role, and I have to take accountability. I have to be the pillar they can lean on.”

The Aggies (8-4) will play USC (6-6) at Allegiant Stadium on Dec. 27 at 9:30 p.m. CT on ESPN.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Shaun on Twitter: @Shaun_Holkko.

Texas A&M QB Marcel Reed revealed his recruiting pitch for transfer portal visitors

Texas A&M has landed five commitments from the transfer portal, and QB Marcel Reed has been a big part of it

Texas A&M’s transfer portal success now includes five additions, including former Mississippi State wide receiver Mario Craver, who committed to the Aggies on Tuesday morning.

Beating out Alabama for Craver, a native of the state, a big part of Coach Mike Elko’s strategy has been getting current players involved. This isn’t new, as every player is tasked with showing transfer players around campus, “selling” the program and University, and how each transfer can better their playing and educational future, which is the primary goal.

On Tuesday, Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed joined Mike Elko during A&M’s pre-Las Vegas Bowl press conference. The Aggies will face USC on Friday, December 27.

Reed, who will enter the 2025 offseason as the presumed starter, was asked about his involvement in guiding past and current visitors from the portal, revealing his official pitch:

“I would start with Kyle Field. Who wouldn’t you want to play here? You dream about playing in a great atmosphere, and we have the best in the country. Then the relationships that are here at A&M… Finally, Coach Elko. He never tells a lie to you. He is straightforward.”

While Kyle Field is undoubtedly the main draw on Saturdays, Elko and his staff are slowly building a culture that has begun to reap the benefits heading into the core of the offseason, and starting with only three players opting out of the Las Vegas Bowl outside of the 19 players who have departed through the portal.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.

Is Texas A&M QB Marcel Reed a potential Heisman candidate in 2025?

Texas A&M QB Marcel Reed has a chance to take complete control of the offense in 2025

Texas A&M’s 2024 season didn’t live up to the mid-season expectations after the Aggies stood at 7-1 and 5-0 in SEC play, but after the loss of star running back Le’Veon Moss, the offense sputtered and never looked the same.

Despite the late-season quarterback transition to redshirt freshman Marcel Reed, progress was evident. Reed led the Aggies to a perfect 3-0 record, concluding his inaugural season with a 4-3 overall record.

Statistically, Reed completed 61% of his passes for 1,572 yards and 12 touchdowns while running for 501 yards and six touchdowns, living up to his dual-threat billing in several games. While OC Collin Klein endured scrutiny for poor playcalling toward the end of the year, it’s assumed that he will fit the offense to Reed’s skillset even more so in 2025.

However, Reed’s struggles in the passing game were evident in the season finale loss to Texas, throwing for just 146 yards and an interception against the Longhorn’s elite secondary. Still, Reed’s first entire season was just the start of what’s to come for a player with all the traits to turn into a star signal caller.

Gaining healthy mass is crucial for Reed to maximize his potential this offseason. However, Coach Mike Elko needs to bring in playmakers at wide receiver and tight end from the transfer portal to complement the returning and incoming players, especially five-star WR Jerome Myles.

Suppose we’re discussing Reed as a Heisman Trophy candidate. In that case, he’ll need borderline elite blocking and a true No. 1 wide receiver, which could be Myles as soon as the youngster steps on campus. However, the realistic option looks like former Texas Tech wideout Micah Hudson, who committed to the Aggies on Sunday night.

Reed’s confidence and work ethic match on-field talent, which should garner preseason praise. However, expect the media to recognize Reed as something other than the 2025 starter after the Aggies landed veteran QB Jacob Zeno from the portal.

Zeno’s commitment only benefits Reed and the young Aggie quarterback room, providing insurance and barring future injuries. However, if Marcel Reed is going to reach new heights, having a worthy opponent to push him toward his goals and challenge him throughout fall camp is the best path to success.

The bottom line is that Marcel Reed’s speed, elusiveness, and ability to make plays out of structure are why he should at least be considered a Heisman candidate.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.

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

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Shaun on Twitter: @Shaun_Holkko.

What does UAB transfer Jacob Zeno bring to Texas A&M QB room?

Watch what new Aggie QB Jacob Zeno can add to A&M’s quarterback room

This transfer portal season is crucial for Texas A&M as Mike Elko gained a ton of momentum early in the season that tapered off after going 1-3 to finish the season, missing out on the SEC championship game.

The first domino dropped when they brought in 7th-year quarterback Jacob Zeno for a visit and closed the deal with him committing on Tuesday. With both Conner Weigman transferring to Houston and Jaylon Henderson entering the portal, there was an immediate need for a veteran to push the young QB room in Aggieland. Zeno is the prototype QB needed for the role and does some of the things well that Marcel Reed needs to work on to take the next step.

Will Zeno be the starter? Unless he blows away the competition during the off-season, it will probably not happen. I’d expect Reed to do enough to keep his starting job with Zeno as QB 2 and Miles O’Neil in a third-string role.

Ideally, he will put enough pressure on Reed, forcing him to improve while being an experienced teammate to lean on when needed. Either way, he is the exact type of quarterback A&M was looking to bring in, and doing it this early in the transfer window allows them to focus on other needs for the team.

Steven Hamner of the QB Spotlight gives an excellent breakdown of what Zeno can add to the team and some reasons why he might be a good fit.

 

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on X: @whosnextsports1.

Texas A&M redshirt sophomore QB has reportedly entered the transfer portal

It’s official: Texas A&M QB Conner Weigman has officially entered the transfer portal

Texas A&M’s 2024 season ended at a disappointing 8-4 and 5-3 in SEC play after losing three out of their last four games, including the season finale 17-7 loss to rival Texas in the revival of the Lone Star Showdown.

With Early Signing Day set to begin on Wednesday, Elko and his staff are on fire recruiting-wise. They have landed three commitment flips, including former Missouri commits, led by five-star OL Lamont Rogers and four-star athlete/running back Jamarion Morrow.

However, the transfer portal gives and takes, as four players from the 2024 roster have entered the portal since Monday, and according to ESPN CFB insider Pete Thamel, redshirt sophomore quarterback Conner Weigman is the newest name on the list.

This is not surprising after Weigman’s injury-riddled Aggie career, as the once heralded five-star recruit couldn’t quite find his footing as a consistent threat in the passing game during his final season in College Station.

After being benched in favor of redshirt freshman quarterback Marcel Reed, Weigman’s future with the program was immediately in question. Despite Reed’s struggles in the loss to Texas, he looks like the presumed starter heading into the 2025 season.

Weigman finished his A&M career with a 9-4 record in 13 starts, 2,694 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.

Weigman will have many suitors, and I can safely say we will all cheer for him once he finds a new home.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.

‘They physically annihilated us” Texas A&M HC Mike Elko is well aware of the Aggies’ issues

Texas A&M HC Mike Elko is well aware of the problems that led to Texas’s 17-7 win

Texas A&M (8-4, 5-3 SEC) didn’t live up to the billing against rival Texas (11-1, 7-1 SEC), losing 17-7 behind one of the worst offensive showings on the year, including starting quarterback Marcel Reed’s indecisive passing performance that ultimately doomed the offense from the start.

However, head coach Mike Elko’s decision to go for two key fourth-down attempts instead of taking the easy points (field goals), combined with OC Collin Klein’s confusing play calls, directly led to the loss.

The Aggies were given multiple chances to keep things in striking distance after forcing two late turnovers, including cornerback Will Lee’s pick-six, but even that couldn’t get the offense going. After the game, head coach Mike Elko provided a realistic take on how frustrating Texas made things throughout the game.

“South Carolina was an edge and tackling issue. Auburn was we got worn down… Tonight, we had way too many misfits. Simple execution errors.”

“Hat off to (Texas) because they physically annihilated us.”

On both sides of the ball, the Aggies didn’t deliver, outside of the turnovers forced by Lee and linebacker Taurean York, while the offensive line did hold up in pass protection for most of the night.

Marcel Reed has enough time to pass for a majority of his shotgun snaps but missed on several open receivers on 2nd and 3rd down. At 8-4, Texas A&M will head to a bowl game while Elko and his staff are focused on signing as many talented prospects as possible during Wednesday’s Early Signing Day.

The future is bright under Elko’s guidance, but questions regarding Collin Klein and even defensive coordinator Jay Bateman’s handle on the offense and defense are up for debate.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.

Look: The Texas A&M football team arrives at Kyle Field ready to play

View some of the best photos from the Texas A&M football team arriving at Kyle Field

The time is here, and a decade’s worth of trash-talking will be settled on the field Saturday night. No. 20 Texas A&M will battle No. 3 Texas for the spot opposite Georgia in the SEC championship game.

Everyone in Kyle Field in the surrounding area better have their earplugs ready because the volume is going to be turned up to the max. With a title shot on the line, the Aggies and Longhorns will renew their rivalry that spans over 130 years, 118 meetings, and 3 conferences in front of what should be a record crowd.

A&M is a heavy underdog, but we all know when it comes to rivalries everything can be thrown out the window no matter what the analyst may say leading up to the game. The Lone Star Showdown is back, and college football will be a better place because of it.

Below are some of the best photos from the Aggies arrival to the stadium:

 

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on X: @whosnextsports1.

Texas A&M HC Mike Elko praises QB Marcel Reed’s continued improvement

Redshirt freshman quarterback Marcel Reed needs to produce against the Texas Longhorns

Texas A&M (8-3, 5-2 SEC) enters the final week of the regular season with everything on the line, as the Aggies will face the Texas Longhorns (10-1, 6-1 SEC) for the first time in 13 seasons, as the epic rivalry has returned for good.

Even more important, the winner of Saturday’s game will take on Georgia in the SEC Championship game, as the Aggies’ season was saved after Alabama’s shocking Week 13 loss to Oklahoma. Knowing the challenge ahead, Texas A&M starting quarterback Marcel Reed must have a big day through the air to give the Aggies a chance.

On College GameDay, head coach Mike Elko took the stage with Kirk Herbstreit, whose sons played with Marcel Reed in high school, to discuss Reed’s maturation this season after taking over as the full-time starter.

Reed’s best moment was in the second half of the 38-23 comeback win over LSU when he led the Aggies to five consecutive scoring drives. However, Elko praised Reed’s improvement as a passer, especially in the middle of the field, highlighting his perfect pass to Noah Thomas that led to a 73-yard touchdown in the loss to Auburn.

Against Texas’s elite secondary, Reed must display proper footwork and throw with timing and accuracy to hit his open targets, which will open up the running game.

No. 19 Texas A&M will host No. 3 Texas on Saturday, Nov. 30 at 6:30 pm. CT. The game will air on ABC.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.

3 Keys to victory for No. 20 Texas A&M vs. No. 3 Texas on Saturday night

Saturday night could go either way, but the Aggies need to play smart football

It all comes down to Saturday night, as No. 20 Texas A&M (8-3, 5-2 SEC) will host the No. 3 Texas Longhorns for a spot in the SEC Championship game against Georgia on Dec. 7. The Aggies and Longhorns will meet on the field for the first time in 13 seasons.

It’s been quite the season for first-year head coach Mike Elko, who would exceed expectations with a win over the Longhorns but has dealt with plenty of adversity ranging from roster health to penalty issues.

At the same time, Texas has cruised through its first SEC schedule outside of the October home loss to Georgia. However, with everything on the line, the Aggies are playing for everything, while the Longhorns currently have a 97% chance to make the College Football Playoff and will likely be in regardless of the loss.

Playing inside a packed and very loud Kyle Field, here are the three keys to victory for Texas A&M before both teams take the field on Saturday night:

Keep Quinn Ewers/Arch Manning in the pocket:

Yes, Texas quarterback Arch Manning is now in the conversation amid Quinn Ewers’ ankle issues, but it’s expected that Ewers will start. Throughout the season, Ewers has relied on his check-down option while avoiding vertical shots due to pressure in his face, meaning Texas A&M’s defensive line needs to show up on Saturday night.

Defensive ends Nic Scourton and Shemar Stewart are likely off to the NFL next season, but in the overtime loss to Auburn, both players were basically invisible. If the Aggies have any chance at winning, both players, combined with Cashius Howell, Shemar Turner, and Rylan Kennedy, need to wreak havoc in the backfield.

Keep Texas’s passing attack in the middle of the field:

Cover 2 is a popular coverage scheme that has kept explosive offenses from taking the top off the defense. It forces the quarterback to “dink and dunk” down the field and allows defenses to blitz more often. Interestingly enough, Longhorns’ tight end Gunnar Helm leads the team in receptions and receiving yards and has been the most consistent receiver on the roster.

Texas A&M’s secondary has been average to above average for most of the season, mainly due to the lack of continuity and the loss of senior cornerback Tyreek Chappell. However, this is the final game of the regular season, and playing disciplined football while not allowing receivers to leak out for big gains is the key to keeping the Longhorns from blowing the game wide open.

QB Marcel Reed needs to make plays for four straight quarters:

Texas A&M’s defense needs to step up, but if this is going to be a back-and-forth scoring fest, which is possible, Texas A&M’s dual-threat signal caller will need to be the playmaker we saw during the second-half comeback against LSU.

OC Collin Klein’s job is simple: run the ball and set up play-action passes while sprinkling so QB runs when warranted. After calling a relatively poor game in the loss to Auburn, Klein has a lot to prove, so utilizing Reed’s skillset, trusting his arm, and providing easy passing outlets will only elongate the Aggies’ offensive possessions to drive the field.

No. 19 Texas A&M will host No. 3 Texas on Saturday, Nov. 30 at 6:30 pm. CT. The game will air on ABC.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.