If you’re tuning in for drama, you might be surprised by what’s brewing in College Station. Texas A&M football under HC Mike Elko has traded in the “SwagCopters” and headline-grabbing hype for something quieter, but no less intriguing. Gone are the days of Jimbo Fisher’s rapid-fire pressers and recruiting class fireworks. Elko, who once made Duke football interesting (no, seriously), has brought a new vibe to College Station. Think less reality TV, more “Undercover Boss.”
The 2024 season was a rollercoaster: following an opening loss to Notre Dame, the Aggies tore off seven consecutive wins, including an unbeaten SEC streak for a time. Playoff chatter, SEC championship aspirations, it was all on the table. Then came the crash: a brutal defeat to South Carolina’s ground game, a quadruple-overtime heartbreaker against Auburn, and a gut-punch defeat to Texas in the rekindled Lone Star Showdown. To be thorough, they blew a 24-7 lead to USC in the Las Vegas Bowl, culminating a late-season collapse that had fans scrambling for the TUMS.
And then, steps in Marcel Reed, the quarterback everyone’s talking about, though not always with the same tone. Sometimes its optimism, other times, resignation claims. Reed replaced injured Conner Weigman and flashed that dual-threat spark that makes dreamers out of fans. He threw for 1,864 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions last season, completing 61.3% of his passes. On the latest Locked on SEC episode, Corey Burton asked, “How do we feel about Texas A&M?” John Williams responded, “Good team, but tell me, can Marcel Reed become a passer?”
Co-host John Miller chimed in: “I feel like every week I gave up on Marcel Reed, he would have a good game, and then I’d start to buy in, and then he would prove the previous opinion right.” He continues, “I just need to see some consistency from him before I buy into Texas A&M this year.” If you’ve been watching the “Marcel Reed Experience” at Texas A&M, you know it’s been just as consistent as Texas weather, sun one day, tornado warning the next.
Last season, for instance. Reed would go wild one week. Like that gutsy comeback victory over LSU, where he took charge midway and led 31 second-half points. But just when he earned trust, he’d come apart at the seams. In the Texas game, Reed went 16-of-23 for just 146 yards, threw an interception, and never got into a rhythm. Against South Carolina, the offense just shut down as Reed couldn’t get the ball down the field, and in the Las Vegas Bowl, he couldn’t finish off a 24-7 lead, allowing USC to come back.
John Williams asks, “Is Marcel Reed going to be able to throw well enough? Is he going to make that developmental jump to become a better passer to win some of those football games for him?” Reed’s got wheels; he can run. He can improvise and make defenses cry for help, but can he now put it all together as a passer? That’s the million-dollar question looming over Texas A&M’s 2025 campaign. “You’re going to have to rely on Marcel Reed to pick up a big-time third and nine, third and 12 to keep a drive going to go get a game-winning score.”
A year ago, Reed ran for almost 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns, which is crazy for a quarterback. But as a passer, he was good but not great, 61.3% completion, 1,864 yards, 15 touchdowns, and six interceptions. He was able to make some breathtaking throws, but then he’d top it off with a missed read, mounting trouble for HC Mike.
Texas is Reloaded with Mike Elkon’s transfer game plan
If you’re trying to keep up with Texas A&M’s transfer portal saga this offseason, grab some snacks; it’s been busy. But in a good way. Mike Elko and his staff have been working the portal like veteran eBay snipers, snagging key talent and plugging some big gaps left by last year’s departures. “Got some weapons for him in the transfer portal…. Casey Conpsion of NC State, Mario Craver of Mississippi State, and some of the other pieces as well.” Wide receiver KC Concepcion of NC State and a few more important names made it to the roster. This WR is a game-changer; he accumulated almost 1,300 yards and 16 touchdowns in two seasons with the Wolfpack, and he’s just what A&M needed after losing Noah Thomas and his eight touchdowns.
Concepcion joins Mario Craver and Houston’s Jonah Wilson, making the Aggies’ receiver corps suddenly loaded and dangerous in 2025. Honor on the defensive line, Elko opted for experience and got some serious SEC-proven talent. The Aggies added cornerbacks Julian Humphrey from Georgia and Jordan Shaw from Washington, both with starting experience and much-needed depth in a secondary that was horrible last season. The defensive line saw an upgrade with Tyler Onyedim from Iowa State, T.J. Searcy from Florida, Sam M’Pemba from Georgia, and Dayon Hayes from Colorado. These are not bodies that are potential starters who can assist in replacing the production lost from Shemar Stewart, Shemar Turner, and Nic Scourton.
Of course, it’s not all additions. Ernest Campbell entered the portal this spring, and more roster churn is expected after the spring game. As A&M has to meet the scholarship cap by August. And here’s the good news on the medical front: running backs Le’Veon Moss and Rueben Owens returned healthy after sitting out large portions of last season. Moss was one of the most efficient backs in the SEC before getting hurt in his knee, and if he’s back, the Aggies’ backfield could be a real force.
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