Tag: texas aggies football

Aggies QB competition adds candidate as Elko proclaims ‘Henderson is always ready to go’

Weigman entered the season as the Aggies starting QB but another injury to the incumbent has opened the door for multiple other candidates.

Junior quarterback Conner Weigman entered the season as the unquestioned Texas A&M starter but another injury to the incumbent has opened the door for multiple other candidates to emerge from the signal caller competition.

Redshirt freshman QB Marcel Reed is making a strong case after starting the last three games. However, Aggies head coach Mike Elko mentioned another option following a 21-17 win against Arkansas in the Southwest Classic at AT&T Stadium.

“We have great relationships in that room, in general. Jaylen Henderson is always ready to go, as well. We have three QBs we trust that can play. Marcel was the guy today,” Elko said yesterday. “Marcel is still growing. Still up and down moments with him. He is a young kid. For us to be an explosive offense, we need Noah (Thomas) to be a playmaker. It was great to get him in the offense today.”

Next up for No. 21 Texas A&M is a challenging SEC morning matchup against No. 11 Missouri. The Aggies host the Tigers at Kyle Field on Saturday at 11 a.m. on ABC.

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Coach Elko has ‘built a culture of brotherhood’ at Texas A&M according to RB Le’Veon Moss

When Mike Elko replaced Jimbo Fisher as Texas A&M head coach, he created a culture of accountability by holding the team to a high standard.

When Mike Elko replaced Jimbo Fisher as head coach at Texas A&M, he created a culture of accountability by holding his coaching staff, players and himself to the highest standard.

In the process, Elko has also created a family environment in College Station. Following a 21-17 win against Arkansas in the Southwest Classic at AT&T Stadium, Aggies junior running back Le’Veon Moss spoke to the media.

“We are playing more together. He built a culture of brotherhood. It’s ‘Play for the man next to you.’ It’s a brotherhood. We stand strong together,” Moss said yesterday. “We pride ourselves on finishing the fourth quarter. That was the main focus, just finishing the fourth quarter.

“I knew my defense would get the stop, and we would run the clock out.”

Next up for Texas A&M is a challenging SEC morning matchup against No. 11 Missouri. The Aggies host the Tigers at Kyle Field on Saturday at 11 a.m. on ABC.

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Instant reactions to No. 24 Texas A&M football team win over Arkansas

The Aggies concluded the Southwest Classic era at AT&T Stadium on Saturday with a gritty conference win vs. Arkansas on national television.

The Texas A&M football team concluded the Southwest Classic era at AT&T Stadium this weekend with a gritty conference victory versus Arkansas on national television.

On Saturday afternoon at Jerry’s World in Arlington, the No. 24 Aggies (4-1, 1-0 SEC) won their fourth consecutive game with a 21-17 win against the Razorbacks (3-2, 1-1) on ESPN. The victory is Texas A&M’s 12th in the last 13 meetings versus Arkansas.

The conference contest looked like it would be a shootout initially as both teams scored on quick, three-play possessions to tie the score at 7-7 in the first quarter. The Aggies scored on a 58-yard touchdown pass from redshirt freshman quarterback Marcel Reed to junior wide receiver Noah Thomas.

Texas A&M knotted the score 14-14 early in the second period with a 5-yard rushing score from Reed that was set up with a forced fumble in the red zone by junior defensive lineman Shemar Stewart. In the final quarter, Reed threw a go-ahead 5-yard tuddy to senior tight end Tre Watson.

Next up for the Aggies is a challenging SEC morning matchup against No. 11 Missouri. Texas A&M hosts the Tigers at Kyle Field on Oct. 5 at 11 a.m. on ABC.

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How the No. 24 Texas A&M football team defense can stop Arkansas in the Southwest Classic

The Aggies are heading 200 miles north to Arlington for their second SEC matchup of the season on Saturday against Arkansas at AT&T Stadium.

The Texas A&M football team is heading 200 miles north to Arlington this weekend for its second SEC matchup of the season on Saturday afternoon against Arkansas at AT&T Stadium.

The No. 24 Aggies (3-1, 1-0 SEC) will need a strong effort from their defense versus the Razorbacks (3-1, 1-0) to remain unbeaten in conference action. Texas A&M beat Arkansas 34-22 in the 2023 Southwest Classic.

A duo of upperclassmen defensive linemen with the same name, senior Shemar Turner and junior Shemar Stewart, each recorded a sack last week during a 26-20 victory against Bowling Green at Kyle Field. Aggies head coach Mike Elko and defensive coordinator Jay Bateman will be looking for similar production from the Shemar pairing on Saturday at Jerry’s World.

Texas A&M will be facing a familiar foe on the opposing sideline, Razorbacks offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino, who was the OC and quarterbacks coach in College Station under former head coach Jimbo Fisher.

Experienced Aggies like Stewart and Turner should have an advantage versus junior QB Taylen Green after practicing against Petrino’s playbook in 2023.

Texas A&M battles Arkansas at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN.

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Freshman Marcel Reed achieves feat that hasn’t been done at Texas A&M since Johnny Manziel

Redshirt freshman quarterback Marcel Reed has certainly made the case to start for Texas A&M and he continued building upon it this weekend.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Marcel Reed has certainly made the case to start for the No. 24 Texas A&M football team and he continued building upon it this past weekend.

During a narrow 26-20 victory on Saturday night at Kyle Field against Bowling Green, Reed accomplished a feat that hasn’t been done by an Aggie since Johnny Manziel.

According to Texas A&M Athletics Communications, the freshman is the first Aggies quarterback to throw for 2 touchdowns and rush for 80+ yards in back-to-back games since Johnny Football in 2012. Jerrod Johnson (2009), Stephen McGee (2006) and Reggie McNeal (2005) are the only other Texas A&M signal callers to do so in the past 30 years.

Reed completed 16-of-29 attempts for 173 yards and 2 scores with 12 carries for 91 yards against the Falcons. In a 33-20 win on Sept. 14 at Florida, Reed connected on 11-of-17 throws for 178 yards and 2 TD with 13 rushes for 83 yards and 1 tuddy.

The Aggies continue SEC play with the Southwest Classic on Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. against Arkansas at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

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John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

‘Texas A&M will be a top 10 team,’ according to Bowling Green head coach Scott Loeffler

“I know there was talent there. He’ll keep moving the needle and making it a super-disciplined group, and Texas A&M will be a top 10 team.”

Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko is widely respected around the country for the work ethic he instills in each program that he leads.

Ahead of a home matchup against Bowling Green this weekend at Kyle Field, Falcons head coach Scott Loeffler shared his opinion of Elko and the impact he’ll have at the helm of the Aggies (2-1, 1-0 SEC).

“I know there was talent there. He’ll make it better,” Loeffler said this week. “He’ll keep moving the needle and making it a super-disciplined group, and Texas A&M will be a top 10 team before we can even blink.”

Although Elko and Loeffler haven’t coached together before, the former has spent time with the Falcons during his career. Elko served as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Bowling Green for five seasons from 2009 to 2013. Loeffler has been the Falcons head coach since 2019.

The Aggies host Bowling Green on Saturday evening at 6:30 p.m.

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No. 24 Texas A&M football team thrashing at Florida among most viewed Week 3 college games

The Texas A&M Aggies had an opportunity for redemption on national television this past weekend in the swamp and a thrashing was delivered.

The Texas A&M football team had an opportunity for redemption on national television this past weekend in the swamp and a thrashing was delivered.

The Aggies (2-1, 1-0 SEC) jumped out to a 20-0 lead at halftime and 33-7 with 5:29 left in the third quarter. Texas A&M ultimately beat Florida 33-20 to begin conference play. The victory vaulted the Aggies back into the top 25 at No. 24.

Texas A&M redeemed itself from the season-opening loss at home versus Notre Dame on ESPN. The Aggies’ win on ABC was the fourth-most watched collegiate contest in Week 3 at 4.8 million, according to The Athletic college football reporter Stewart Mandel.

SEC programs represented 5-of-6 teams in the top three games: Georgia at Kentucky (6.6M on ABC), Alabama at Wisconsin (5M on FOX) & LSU at South Carolina (4.9M on ABC). The fifth-most viewed matchup, Colorado at Colorado State (3.2M on CBS), was only two-thirds of the audience that tuned into the Texas A&M contest.

Next up for the Aggies is a matchup at Kyle Field with Bowling Green on Saturday at 6:30 p.m.

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‘That is how we handle things’ HC Mike Elko reveals his QB plan for the rest of the season

Mike Elko is keeping Texas A&M’s quarterback announcement under wraps

Texas A&M’s 2024 season isn’t a rebuild amid head coach Mike Elko’s first season with the program. Last Saturday’s 33-20 win over Florida proved that this roster is ready to compete every week.

After backup quarterback Marcel Reed’s first career start, which was a rousing success, starting quarterback Conner Weigman’s shoulder injury continues to add to the building narrative that Elko has a quarterback dilemma on his hands.

Ahead of facing Bowling Green this weekend, Elko will go with the healthiest signal caller, Marcel Reed. However, after Wednesday’s practice, it was revealed that Weigman returned to throwing, while the reimaging of his AC joint showed no further damage.

During Elko’s weekly radio show on Wednesday, the first-year head coach made an interesting statement regarding the quarterback’s outlook, revealing that the fan base and the media alike will not know who will start weekly, especially if Weigman is a game-time decision for most of the season.

“People who get to know me will know that it will probably be a game-time decision for the rest of the season. That is how we handle things. We have a lot of real, honest conversations internally, but those stay internal.”

This is a strategic move to keep opponents guessing, especially concerning Marcel Reed’s versatility as a runner. In contrast, Weigman’s injury could keep him off the field longer than expected.

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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Texas A&M HC Mike Elko provides positve update on QB Conner Weigman’s shoulder

Conner Weigman is steadily progressing through his shoulder injury

Texas A&M’s recent 33-20 SEC road win over the Florida Gators has brought the Aggies back to the good graces of the fan base after ending a 10-game conference losing streak. At the same time, the offense finally looked the part behind backup quarterback Marcel Reed.

However, redshirt sophomore quarterback Conner Weigman’s shoulder injury was why Reed was given the starting opportunity in the first place, making his performance more impressive with his poise and veteran-like decision-making, impressing every Aggie fan and media member alike.

However, during Wednesday’s SEC Teleconference,  head coach Mike Elko stated that he has yet to name Saturday’s starting quarterback. After this week’s medical diagnosis, he provided a positive update on Weigman’s AC joint injury, which found no further damage.

“The imaging turned out good, so we did not find any more problems than what we were dealing with,” Elko stated on Wednesday. “It is an AC sprain, and everything else is very much intact. We are just in the process now of recovery, rehab and trying to figure out where he is able to get himself to.”

As Weigman continues to rehab this week, Marcel Reed, who completed 11/17 passes for 117 yards and two touchdowns while racking up 83 yards and another score on the ground, has solidified the No. 2 spot over junior quarterback Jaylen Henderson.

So far this week, Weigman has returned to throwing to test out his shoulder. His eventual return to the lineup hinges on the next two days.

“He was able to throw it around a little bit today, which is how Wednesdays have gone,” Elko stated. “We will see what it looks like through the back end of the week as we make our decision heading into Saturday.”

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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Texas A&M HC Mike Elko hasn’t chosen his starting QB vs. Bowling Green

Texas A&M’s starting quarterback vs. Bowling Green has yet to be announced

Texas A&M’s recent 33-20 SEC road win over the Florida Gators has brought the Aggies back to the good graces of the fan base after ending a 10-game conference losing streak. At the same time, the offense finally looked the part behind backup quarterback Marcel Reed.

Due to quarterback Conner Weigman’s shoulder injury, Reed was waiting and ready to take on the challenge. He passed his first test with flying colors after accumulating three touchdowns through the air and on the ground.

This week, ahead of Texas A&M’s week 4 home matchup vs. Bowling Green, Elko told reporters during Wednesday’s SEC Teleconference that he has yet to decide who will start under center against the Falcons as Weigman progresses with this shoulder. However, Elko quickly noted Marcel Reed’s advanced knowledge of the playbook.

“I do not think there is any part of the playbook that he can’t run.”

Reed’s performance should garner him another shot to prove his worth as a starter, but it’s no fault of Weigman, who is doing everything in his power to get back to 100% and help the team reach their goals, whether that’s as the starter or No. 2 option.

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

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